Drawknife suggestions?

[Paul Erickson]

I am looking to add a drawknife or two to my toolbox, and would appreciate suggestions as to manufacturers I should look for.

Thanks in advance.

cheers, Paul

[Mark Singer]

Paul,

The best drawknives are the smaller ones which are the newer ones, unless you are doing large work. I have the one show from Lee Valley and it is well balanced and has the "intimate" feel I like in a draw knife. The most important thing is to read the grain and carve from the correct side relative to the grain. I have used this on chairs , lamps and shaped table legs...I like pulling rather than pushing

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=31074&cat=1,130,43332


http://www.leevalley.com/images/item/woodworking/carving/17u0630s2.jpg

[Bob Smalser]

The flip side is that I use the knife regularly, and prefer a larger 10 or 12" one for leverage and clearance....it's a roughout tool, finish work being done with the spoke shave or plane.

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/3854395/47480760.jpg

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/7081299/91841729.jpg

I prefer the German-pattern knives with offset handles for versatility of position.

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/7081299/91882340.jpg

But the American-pattern knives also work well, and I frequently have both at the horse.

I like the oldies for quality and economy. Witherby, Swan, Schwieg and countless others. 10 bucks and an hour of work cleaning and sharpening.

And unless you are a genuine journeyman, the ones with folding handles gain you nothing except something elso to fuss with.

[Dave Anderson NH]

Many of the old makers offered a variety of sizes from a 6" wide cutting edge up to over 12". I have always felt most comfortable with a 8" or a 10". I disagree with Mark to the extent that it often is usefully to skew the blade while cutting and hence a longer blade is necessary so that you have adequate room to work between the handles. Skewing the blade is helpful for the beginner in that it helps prevent taking too deep a bite and helps prevent the blade from diving since more of it is laying flat on the surface of the wood.

Good antique brands are PEXCO (Peck, Stow, & Wilcox), James Swan, Buck Brothers, and ther are of course many more.

[Tyler Howell]

What's the best way to get an edge on those bad boys:confused: It just won't squeeze into my sharpening guide.:o

[Ernie Hobbs]

One of my favorite tools is my Austrian Draw Knife that I got from Lee Valley. It happens to be one of the least expensive draw knives you can find and is perfect balanced for fine work. I bought it a few years ago and have had no complaints. LV has it listed for $31.50.

[Bob Smalser]

What's the best way to get an edge on those bad boys:confused: It just won't squeeze into my sharpening guide.:o

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/5090019/69053195.jpg

Ya have to eventually learn to sharpen without jigs....set a bevel square up on the stone at 20 degrees and give it a try.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=7528&highlight=drawknife

[Dave Anderson NH]

Hi Tyler-Where you been hiding buddy?


I don't use a jig for drawknives-- big surprise huh?;) I find it easiest to take a block of hardwood and wrap a piece of sandpaper around it. Clamp the drawknife by one end in a machinists vise and move the block of sandpapeer while the knife remains fixed. Just eyeball the angle and lock your wrists and elbows to maintain the angle. It's just another application of the KISS principal. Bob's system would also work using a stone and still locking the wrists and elbows.

[James Carmichael]

On the sharpening note: should the back be flat, or slightly beveled?

[Tyler Howell]

Bob and Dave!

Thanks Guys!:o
Tied up with a mom in failing health here. Sure chews up a lot of time and energy. Family first.

I've been taking notes and trying to keep up so I can hit the ground running.

Looking back Bob, I have your tutorial book marked. I'll give them a try and post the results.

Thanks again.

[Marc Hills]

What's the best way to get an edge on those bad boys:confused: It just won't squeeze into my sharpening guide.:o

For what it's worth, I don't take my drawknife to the sharpening stone, I do it the other way around. I clamp the drawknife in my bench vise and wield the sharpening stones by hand. Much easier to hold the stone at a precise angle than the tool.

Mind those fingers though.

[Dave Anderson NH]

Hi James-

Personally I'm of the school that puts a slight back bevel on their drawknives. It's probably because that is the way I was taught years ago by Mike Dunbar. The rational is that a back bevel alows you to come up out of a cut- steer the cutting edge if you will. I personally find that it makes it easier for me to control the blade. There are just as many folks who feel that there is no way the edge should be back beveled. Kind of reeminds me of pins vs tails.

[Jimmy Walker]

Bob,

Hate asking in this thread, but did you build your own shaving horse? I'm sure you did. Any plans for one out there. Anyone with experince building one. I want to add draw knives to my WW, but don't I need a horse to make 'em work right?:confused:

Thanks in advance for answers.

[Marc Hills]

Lee Valley sells a set of plans for two versions of shaving horses: one of the traditional variety and a second "easy to build" version that also folds up for storage. I don't have the plans, but it caught my interest.

[Bob Smalser]

The Langsden horse is in my drawknife link above. Plans are there, too.

[James Mittlefehldt]

Speaking of Draw knifes, I stumbled, almost literally across one today at an antique mall, an 8 inch Witherby, for $20. Canadian, and wonder of wonders it cuts to.