Bowyers- cutting to profile-how

[stringnstik]

Hi all,
was draw knifing away on the weekend and now that Im shaping the wood rather than finishing cut straight or tapered boards. I found I had constant trouble eyeing the profile. If its for example a D or anything other than a flat bow shape I couldn't work out how to measure and mark the wood with guidelines. That is so its equal at the same point in both limbs.

It roughed out no problems and Im sure the tillering process will help reveal where its wrong (at the end of it all thats more important) but I was thinking how to make a template which would help keep it close so that tillering is an easier affair. OR am I debarking the wrong tree

A wood workers marking gauge is great for parallels but when you have a taper and also rounding it into the belly it all becomes a little haphazard.

Interested in thoughts.

[pdccr]

I tried making a bow from a tree yesterday, ended up with 2 pieces of wood and 20 times that in blisters

[ichiban]

i personaly just draw the ideal shape (profile) on the stave in a light pencil then study the grain to make any deviations then go over the lot whith a sharpy, once thats done and reduced i have a look at the side profile and do much the same.
works for me.

Dave.

[greybeard]

I have a series of templates that I use when making 'D' section longbows.

Dia. 11 Profile Template For 'D' Section.JPG (35.35 KiB) Viewed 1388 times

When I have a centerline marked down the back of the billet I draw the plan of the bow. Once the excess material has been removed I mark out the side profile and remove excess material. The squared edges of the belly can be removed by a spoke shave and I bring up the belly using a rubber backed plasterers sanding tool.

The stave is marked out at six inch increments from the centre and these are the reference points for the various sized templates.

Daryl.

[pdccr]

thats a good idea grey.