Tools needed to build a longbow

[SVL]

I am going to build a longbow for my son and have been given a ready laminated stave that was worked up for an adult but has a bit of damage near the top end so I am going to cut it down for a seven year old.

What tools should I buy with my birthday money and what books have the best info of making longbows

[smog]

There are lots and lots and ...... of tools that you could get. But I would suggest a spoke shave, surform, coarse file, fine file, miles of sandpaper (from coarse down to as fine as you can find), then emory paper (down to 1000 grit for the final finish). A useful gadget is a profile guage (the thing you can use for copying the shape of skirting boards/awkwards shapes around sinks etc) - this is useful for making sure that you are maintaining a good profile. You will probably need a "tiller stick" to check the curve of the bow as it is drawn. You can make one of these using 3x2" timber with a "cut out" for the handle and then grooves cut into it every 3" so you can stand back and look at your masterpiece as it bends. A set of bow scales might be useful as this will let you know what weight you are working with. As the bow is for a youngster, keep the weight low.

There are a number of books available, so have a look. Richard head and Pip Bickerstaff are probably the best 2 authors.

Hope this helps - if not ask some more

Once its made - enjoy

s

[Kae]

The most important thing is to buy good quality tools. There are too many poor wood working tools available, and they just make things a lot harder!

• Spokeshave
• 
• Wickes green paint scraper
• 
• Short Rasp

• Easy enough to make a Tillering tool with wood.

• Glass Sandpaper
• Good quality varnish - Ronseal satin finish outdoor varnish is great, and doesn't damage the wood. - Best finish is achieved by applying with sponge or foam.

errr, I'm sure there is more, but I can't remember at the moment. My kits in the garage and its too cold at the moment, lol.

Any questions, just send me a pm.

Kae.

[smog]

Originally Posted by Kae

The most important thing is to buy good quality tools. There are too many poor wood working tools available, and they just make things a lot harder!
[list][*]Good quality varnish - Ronseal satin finish outdoor varnish is great, and doesn't damage the wood. - Best finish is achieved by applying with sponge or foam
Kae.

Totally agree with you Kae. I'm fortunate in having my grandfathers tools (he used to do a lot of wood work) and there is a local compoany that sells very good tools (Ok - at price to match)

I'm with you on the application of the varnish - sponge/foam is by far the best.

s

[Kae]

nope, the worlds gone crazy again, people are agreeing with me, lol.

I'm the same smog, Grandfather and Great Grandfather were wood workers and metal workers, so have a great collection of tools.

When one of the locks failed at our club, our equipment officer broke two modern screwdrivers trying to lever open the lock, my 90 year old screwdriver broke it easily, lol.

Kae.

[TJ Mason]

A drawknife is useful for mass removal of wood. Cabinet scrapers (available at Machine Mart in the UK) are good for finishing.

[Kae]

Drawknifes are great if you know how to use one.

I don't and make a bloody mess with them, lol.

Kae.

[Flying Whale]

Originally Posted by Kae

Drawknifes are great if you know how to use one.

I don't and make a bloody mess with them, lol.

Kae.

Bloody messes with draw knives...

I have a fantastic draw knife I bought in America, and have also only made a bloody mess with it. It has not yet been used on wood, but it was so sharp when it arrived I cut myself on it badly, and bled everywhere.

I would agree that you want to be very careful using a draw knife if you don't know how. It is very easy to reduce a lovely piece of wood to shaving in no time.

[geoffretired]

If you buy a spokeshave, make sure you get the right one. One is for inside curves one for outside curves, you need the outside variety. Also, it will need to be sharpened regularly; so an oilstone will be essential.

[laminatekid]

Unless the stave is perfect clean grain and is not backed with hickory and has no purpleheart core, go with edged tools. If it is as described you may be better to cut the stave out with a bandsaw at a workhop(local cabinet maker etc) and do all the rest with a rasp and a file.They remove wood slowley so less scope for mistakes and do not rip grain