Drawknives

[Don McDermott]

Hello everyone, I'm thinking of getting a drawknife, any suggestions on the best type to get? The widest piece of timber I'll be using it on will be about 10 inches wide. Is it best to stick to current makes or is it worth getting a vintage one off eBay, I've seen some I Sorby makes and W C Till. I know Sorby is usually quite good. Is there a guiding rule on how wide the cutting edge should be compared to the width of the timber? Thank you!

 

[Doug]

Ray Iles makes some excellent draw knifes & scorps, well worth having a look at https://www.oldtoolstore.co.uk/ray-iles-34-c.asp

 

[AndyP]

I bought this one off ebay for bark stripping

It worked fine on boards 3-4” thick.
Gripping the handles though is tiring and I reckon those that have the handles as an extension of the blade rather than at right angles would be easier on the hands. For bark stripping I found having the blade razor sharp was a disadvantage as it too easily dug into the wood; probably bad technique.
I’m sure others around here will have used them more than I.

 

[Mike G]

There's no advantage in a new one, Don, unless the old ones you are looking at are mangled irretrievably. Mine must be 90 or 100 years old judging by what I know of its history. They take very little time to master.

 

[Raymedullary]

Mine is somewhat unusual in as much as I made it (when I was teaching in Nigeria) from a Ford mini bus leaf spring with lati handles.

 

[Mike G]

Do you know, I think that's far more common than you might imagine, Ray. Lots of tools are made of leaf springs in Africa, as you probably know. Pangas in particular. The uncommon thing is that you made it yourself.

 

[HOJ]

@Don McDermott, I was given another one last year, I dont need 3, I'll grab a piccy later and post it up, if its of interest to you, you can have it for the cost of postage.

 

[Windows]

Looking at Doug’s link, it looks like you have to be a gent and pay gentleman’s prices to get decent sized handles. I’ve never used one, but the little knobs have always struck me as undersized for modern man hands when I’ve seen them used.

 

[HdV]

I have a nice one from Krischen that looks almost exactly like yours. I think, from the photo, the handles on mine are a bit more elongated. I found it helps to wrap your thumbs over the end closest to the metal when pulling. For me that really is easier on my hands, as I don't have to grip the handles so tight when doing it like that.

 

[HOJ]

 

[Don McDermott]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I used a drawknife once before when I was at boatbuilding college but have had no definite need for one since. But the oak bends for the wherry I'm building will need something a bit more substantial on the inside of the curve than a spokeshave and I figured a drawknife would be best -- and I remember enjoying it when I was at college.

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@HOJ Paul, that is very generous of you, thank you kindly! That looks like a perfect size as well, and I'd be very happy to give it a good home!

 

[HOJ]

@Don McDermott drop me a message with your postal address and I will get it packed up and sent.