traditional vs. modern tools

[Melissa Goudeseune]

Very interesting discovery this weekend. I carved the looms for my oars. They start off square (done with the bandsaw), then cut the corners at 45 degrees to 8-side them, then 16-side, then round.

The first oar, I did the 45-degree cuts with a jigsaw. Produced a tremendous amount of sawdust, and wasn't all that accurate :x.

The second oar, I did those cuts with this drawknife:

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=44502

It went faster, easier, less mess (shavings, not dust!), and it was more accurate to boot. I think I've found my new favourite tool .

I shaped the first oar blade using the knife as well, with similar great results.

Michel

[Greg Luckett]

All the link did was take me to a website asking what currency I wanted to use to browse with.... :?

http://www.leevalley.com/home/currency.asp?SID=&ccurrency=&urlto=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eleevalley%2Ecom%2Fwood%2Fpage%2Easp%3Fpage%3D44502

[Roger Peterson]

Pick the American flag and it will take you to the draw knife page priced in Dollars.

Roger

[Melissa Goudeseune]

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=44502&category=1,130,43332&ccurrency=1&SID=

Michel

[Greg Luckett]

That worked! Thanks.

Now to decided if I want that tool. I need a draw knife, but am not convinced about the French handles....sort of a pig in the poke thing. Wish I could really look at one....oh well.

I am needing to make a pair of oars and soon.

[mustangermatt]

I find a draw knife and a hand plane to be the most enjoyable and relaxing tools in my shop.

Not likely that I will ever use a round handled draw knife though, especially from france. To much of my grandfather in me, which is fitting since I am still using his knife and plane :-)

[Charlie Jones]

Draw knives are really useful tools . I used mine to rough down the keelson up toward the bow on the B and B Princess I'm building.

Back when Laura and I were doing Black Powder rendezvous and living history re-enactments, we'd use the draw knives to peel poles for teepees. Take the bark off a 20 foot long pine tree in just minutes.

But if you're gonna do draw knife work ya GOTTA have a spoke shave for the fine trimming at the end

By the way- I like the traditional American style handles myself.

[Melissa Goudeseune]

Ah, so that's how you hollow out the oar blade -- using a spoke shave.

I can't bring myself to use the belt sander to shape the oar blades after my experience with the jigsaw on the looms.

Michel

[Greg Luckett]

Draw knives are really useful tools . I used mine to rough down the keelson up toward the bow on the B and B Princess I'm building.

Back when Laura and I were doing Black Powder rendezvous and living history re-enactments' date=' we'd use the draw knives to peel poles for teepees. Take the bark off a 20 foot long pine tree in just minutes.

But if you're gonna do draw knife work ya GOTTA have a spoke shave for the fine trimming at the end

By the way- I like the traditional American style handles myself.[/quote']

I have not really used either a draw knife or a spoke shave since leaving home years ago. My father had them in his tools, which I used to build boats and furniture (as a teenager). I did use a draw knife in the Bees, but that was also years ago. From time to time I run into something which makes me wish I had those tools. At Johnson's Workbench in Southbend on Saturday, I was surprised at how many different spoke shaves there were. Now I need to study up and determine which one to purchase. I did not see any draw knives, but the local Ace Hardware carries one, though not as nice as the ones we have been looking at here.

Any recomendations?

Thanks,

Greg.

[Steve Day]

We used draw knives a lot with the Boy Scout Troop I worked with in Florida. We did most of our Pioneering Projects without many lashings as we used holes and pins to fasten the poles together. It was really fun to teach those boys how to use the draw knives and they got a good feel for how it was done in the "old days."

I find the draw knife and spoke shave really useful for projects like the oars. I have drawn out my oars and will cut them and start that process soon. Right now, I'm taking advantage of the warmer weather to do epoxy work.

Are we havin' fun yet?

Steve

[Dave Williams]

If you enjoy using the drawknife you wil LOVE a sharp spokeshave for fine work! My favorite tool by far.

Here's to kindness,

Dave

[Dave Williams]

I should have added. For smaller spars and oar looms the only real good use for power tools is maybe to saw out the four sided tapers. A bandsaw is the tool of choice for this, but long tapers can be done well with a circular saw. Only problem, with a small stick there is not much width to register the saw table.

If it is a big spar, then power may be useful to take it to eight sided and then sixteen, but it's a matter of scale and the hand tools are more satisfying.

That's what I think,

Dave

[Spinnaker55]

I recently ordered from the Rockler Company. Now I will have to get back in my catalog to reconsider a drawknife. They have nice products and great service, they have a mechanical caprenter's pencil on sale right now that is awesome. Has anybody created a pattern for shaping the centerboard. I hope to start mine soon, but wonder about getting the foil shape right.

[Spinnaker55]

I recently ordered from the Rockler Company. Now I will have to get back in my catalog to reconsider a drawknife. They have nice products and great service, they have a mechanical caprenter's pencil on sale right now that is awesome. Has anybody created a pattern for shaping the centerboard. I hope to start mine soon, but wonder about getting the foil shape right.

[Greg Luckett]

Wonder why the last two postings came through double?