Well I finally started my own and first self bow. The draw knife I had is an old one the neighbor gave me. The blade is an inch thick and unevenly worn. I have sharpened it but I am thinking I need one a bit sturdier (my shoulders are aching:)

Any suggestions on what kind/size or where to order a good one? Any other "carving" tools I should order?

Thanks and maybe I will post some pictures for advice. I am sure I will need some.

Find an old one at an antique store or flea market. In my opinion the steel in those is a better quality than the new ones for sale. You can get them for a decent price on ebay. Try to find one with a clean edge and no rust pitting.

Everyone has a preference for what they like, I prefer a straight blade instead of a curved one and the bigger the better. I can't work well with a skinny blade. I like handles to be on the same plane as the blade and not tilted up or down.

The most I paid for one at a flea market was $20 for an almost new Greenlee, I bought several workable ones for $10. You will see a lot of junk at the flea markets, if the blade is pitted, the handles are loose or have parts missing walk on by.

Sometimes you will see really nice knives on eBay for a fair price, I just checked and there are some nice ones but a bunch of junk as well. The price has gone up over the last few years, what you could get off ebay for $15 a couple of years ago will now cost you $25 or $30.

My father found a drawknife for me at an estate sale. Old, not too rusty & unevenly ground. Took it to work and put on a surface grinder at aprox 30* angle. Strop with leather & jewelers rouge or cardboard & zam. Only sharpened once on a diamond stone in 15 years. Really good steel in the old ones.

Use an old stainless steel serving spoon for a scraper. I am currently working on another scraper from an old sawmill bandsaw blade.

Other than that just some mismatched wood chisels and rasps. pretty simple set up. John

For working on decoys in the mid-80s I found one made in Germany in a woodworking store that is the sharpest draw knife I've ever owned. I also have a smallish antique one.

My Son just bought me this one for Christmas. It's an 8" vintage Witherby and the steel is just outstanding! I have already been making shavings on an old Osage branch that fell off a tree I have on my property. Gonna make a nice walking stick out if it. He got it off of ebay and I think he paid about 30 bucks for it.

Here's that branch and this Witherby strips wood off like nothing.

About looking for a needle in a hay stack. Found one in Good will and one in antique store, like new for $10.00. Menard's has them but made in China. I have made them out of a 18" Hacksaw blade. Good luck finding one. I'll send you a P.M.

https://www.highlandwoodworking.com/spokeshaves-drawknives.aspx

I don't know abut new, I saw some in Ace Hardware for around $60 I don't remember where they were made. Mine is an older one, blue wood handles, made in Germany, garage sale $3 item.

Best place for new ones: http://www.leevalley.com/us/home/Search.aspx? action=n

I have an old old w. butcher one that is awesome....

Flea markets are your friend.

I just bought another Snow & Nealley on ebay. NOS, still has the sticker on it, factory grind, never been sharpened. They haven't made drawknives for years, but it has the handle shape, angles, and thickness I like so I bought it... for a back up. lol. Had to pay for it though. $60 shipped, but worth every penny. The first Snow & Nealley I bought, I got new at a local woodworkers store and it was $55. That was over 20 years ago and it's made a pile of bows. I don't NEED any more drawknives, but sometimes I just can't help myself :^)

I got a really nice one from e-bay, the thing is razor sharp, when I set it down on the bench and if I am not careful and bump against it, I will have a nasty cut, I have cut myself a couple times just hanging it on the wall.....LOL!

My wife will start taking sharp things away from me if I keep this up.

I found that using a pair of large dress makers shears taken apart make excellent scrapers....Just info.

Stay away from anything stainless steel, stainless will not have an edge as fine as carbon unless you buy a really expensive one.

Jeff Durnell, I'm the same way. I don't NEED more than one draw knife but I can't resist the opportunity to pick one up at a decent price. I have close to 50 vintage draw knives hanging in my shop now.

Wow Clint, that's a lot. I try to keep from looking at them because I know I'll just want another. I sell them or give them away if I don't fall in love with them when I use them. I currently only have a half dozen or so.

I got on ebay just now and saw a couple I'd like to have. DANG it. Just... say... no...

If anyone is interested in a Snow & Nealley, there's a brand new straight-bladed one on ebay right now, quite reasonably priced at $29.99 I have one exactly like it, it's heavy duty, or I would have already grabbed it ;^) It's listed as (unmarked 13" drawknife).

Highland and Rockler have new ones but they will cost over a $100 for the better ones. >>>----> Ken

Farrier’s rasp is a useful tool. Has a very coarse side and a less coarse side ,but still pretty aggressive bite. Used for rasping horses hooves when shoeing. Available at feed stores, on line, maybe used for free from a local farrier.

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