Is 33" long enough for billets for a handle spliced bow?

[Julian]

I have a shorter piece of maple that I got along with my 67" board that I was going to carve some spoons from, but I was thinking I could maybe get a bow out of it with a splice. Would this be long enough?

[JWMALONE]

Two billets 33 inches that's 66, about two inches for the splice = 64 inch bow. I think that would work. Not sure how long that splice is supposed to be but I think you would have plenty for a 62-64 inch bow .

[Julian]

Two billets 33 inches that's 66, about two inches for the splice = 64 inch bow. I think that would work. Not sure how long that splice is supposed to be but I think you would have plenty for a 62-64 inch bow .

I thought most splices were 4-5"

I'll give it a go either way.

[sleek]

It depends on a few factors.

1. How long a draw
2. How heavy a draw
3. What splice design
3 1/2. What bow design
4. Never do a bendy handle with a splice.

[Julian]

It depends on a few factors.

1. How long a draw
2. How heavy a draw
3. What splice design
3 1/2. What bow design
4. Never do a bendy handle with a splice.

27", my bows usually come out around 40# to 50#, I'd do a Z splice with a handle piece glued on, American longbow design.

[sleek]

Id do a minimum 4 inch z splice with a belly cap glued on to cover the entire splice, taking your bow to a length of 58 inches. These billets are not enough for a long bow. But will make a killer recurve with sharp little hooks at the end.

The second answer id give is to do a take down. Perfect situation for that.

Last answer is to send em to me. I love billets.

[Del the cat]

A 4" splice only loses 4" overall, due to 4" overlap (not 4" off each limb)
So two 33" billets gives 66-4 which is 62"
Even if you allow an extra inch for fitting and fiddling that's 61" which is enough.
Del

[sleek]

A 4" splice only loses 4" overall, due to 4" overlap (not 4" off each limb)
So two 33" billets gives 66-4 which is 62"
Even if you allow an extra inch for fitting and fiddling that's 61" which is enough.
Del

I was thinking 4 inches cut into each billet. When the two halves slide into each other, its still a 4 inch splice.

[Hrothgar]

If you're not comfortable splicing a 61" bow you could always make/buy a metal coupling and turn it into a takedown.

[Del the cat]

A 4" splice only loses 4" overall, due to 4" overlap (not 4" off each limb)
So two 33" billets gives 66-4 which is 62"
Even if you allow an extra inch for fitting and fiddling that's 61" which is enough.
Del

I was thinking 4 inches cut into each billet. When the two halves slide into each other, its still a 4 inch splice.

Yeah, I did have to think about it a bit... I was sat there sliding my fingers into eachother 
You can keep one hand still and the other hand slides in, the don't both have to slide in a finger's length... I still had to try it again 
Del

[Eric Krewson]

I always make my splices 3 1/2" long so the 4" handle leather will cover them, I have made 3" splices when I had short billets. I always glue on another piece of wood the length of the handle and part of the fades on the back of the bow to fill out the handle and provide more reinforcement to the splice.

I have probably spliced around 100 bows together from billets with no failures.

[Marc St Louis]

You can make a 2" tapered finger joint which is as strong as a 4" Z splice, stronger when you factor in the amount of the splice removed when shaping the handle.  That would give you a 64" bow

[DC]

A 4" splice only loses 4" overall, due to 4" overlap (not 4" off each limb)
So two 33" billets gives 66-4 which is 62"
Even if you allow an extra inch for fitting and fiddling that's 61" which is enough.
Del

I was thinking 4 inches cut into each billet. When the two halves slide into each other, its still a 4 inch splice.

Yeah, I did have to think about it a bit... I was sat there sliding my fingers into eachother 
You can keep one hand still and the other hand slides in, the don't both have to slide in a finger's length... I still had to try it again 
Del

I fight with that every time, just can't seem to wrap my head around it. Always wind up with the two billets on the bench, sliding them back and forth.

You can always splice on tips. Make up tight little recurves and "V" joint them on the ends. It works great.

[pnwarcher]

You can make a 2" tapered finger joint which is as strong as a 4" Z splice, stronger when you factor in the amount of the splice removed when shaping the handle.  That would give you a 64" bow

Intriguing. Do you mean a joint that looks like "WW"?

[JWMALONE]

I used a butterfly joint on my last one. I put a plain scarf joint in it and glued it, then added a 4 inch butterfly joint, which only extends two inches into each piece. You lose no length, I guarantee ya  its as strong as any z,w or whatever joint.