Anyone ever use a body and fender rasp for roughing out the shape of a bow. The kind of rasp that looks like a long cheese grater with a handle on one end? Seems like it would be a bit gentler on the wood than a draw knife, if you were careful. What about small block planes? do they have any use for making a self bow?

Anything that removes wood will work, there are no rules. I have no use for any style plane for any style bow, but I know several bowyers who do. Its all about what you learn with and what your comfy with.

Lock planes and spoke shaves can work on clean smooth staves. Once you get anything with lots of dips and curves they catch and tear a lot. If you want to go gentler with your draw knife, just turn it to 90 degrees and use it as an aggressive scraper.

For removing a lot of wood, I use a large knife. The weight of the blade works in your favor. When you are confident in your design and your use of tools, a band saw and a belt sander saves hours....

Band saw and belt sander can ruin a bow in seconds too.

I have used them and had good results....you just have to be careful.

I didn't use any power tools until my fourth bow. The first one, I only used a rasp. That hurt!

I made about 20 or 30 prior to getting my Grizzly band saw. Now I can build a bow in a day if I'm uninterrupted.......and inspired.

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