Billet Splices

[CRCopland]

My first few billet splice efforts a few years ago were disaster. I had read about the Z splice in TBBible volume 1 and how you would 12" of gluing surface by doing so. I had also seen a few bowyers on you.tube make it look easy. I soon found it was harder than it looked. I have a small bandsaw now and my last couple of splices have been acceptable.

The trouble I have with the Z splice is not only the difficulty in getting a fine fit but also the fact that I use a vice to hold my stave while thinning limbs and removing wood. Quite often I have to put a great deal of pressure in the handle area to hold the stave in place and this puts strain on the thin wood and epoxy at the joined area. i guess if I used a shave horse I could eliminate the problem but I like using the vice.

My last splice was a simple box joint splice, as shown on page 208 of TBB1. It has only 9 1/2" glue surface but the joint is much simpler to cut and fit. The handle area is also supported better in the vice better when clamped it is being clamped down. I will drill a small whole in the join and insert an epoxied wooden dowel through the grip.

Am I at much of a disadvantage by splicing billets in this manner? The join seems to be holding very well and I have been satisfied with the results.

[Jim Davis]

You will have less trouble if you leave the Z-spliced handle in the rough while working the limbs down and shape the handle after.

[superdav95]

You will have less trouble if you leave the Z-spliced handle in the rough while working the limbs down and shape the handle after.

Agreed.   Here’s a pic of the last one I did with yew billets. 

[Eric Krewson]

Sounds like you need some vise pads to hold your stave without much pressure. You don't have to clamp the splice in the vise, you can clamp the fade area.

I use these, easy to make, easy on and off.





I highly recommend a post to support your stave while you work, this will minimize the pressure you put on a stave while it is in the vise. This is an old picture with cheap magnet vise pads, they worked poorly.



Another thing, the glued area of your splice is a lot stronger than bare wood, it is highly unlikely vise pressure will harm it.

[Gordon]

I've spliced a LOT of billets with a Z-splice and never had an issue working a spliced bow down in a vice. But I am obsessive about getting a good fit and only use high quality glue that is suitable for the purpose. My opinion is that if your splice is failing while working a bow in a vice, then it would likely also fail in use.

[superdav95]

I've spliced a LOT of billets with a Z-splice and never had an issue working a spliced bow down in a vice. But I am obsessive about getting a good fit and only use high quality glue that is suitable for the purpose. My opinion is that if your splice is failing while working a bow in a vice, then it would likely also fail in use.

+1 for me too.  Never had any fail either.  Here’s a crude template guide I use when drawing one up.  Various other methods I’m sure would work as well too.  3.5” of z splice is plenty of glue surface if done right like Gordon says. 

[CRCopland]

Clearly my joins were not cut or fit well enough. More practice is needed. Also I have not been able to find the best type of epoxy (EA-40?) at any hardware stores in my area.

[Jim Davis]

I have always used Titebond II. Never had a glue failure.

[superdav95]

Clearly my joins were not cut or fit well enough. More practice is needed. Also I have not been able to find the best type of epoxy (EA-40?) at any hardware stores in my area.

I use ea 40 and it works well.  I order it online. 

[Eric Krewson]

If you have a poorly fitting splice, heat up both ends with a heat gun, put them together without glue and clamp them with a 3 C clamps, the splices will conform to each other and be a much better fit when they cool off.

[superdav95]

If you have a poorly fitting splice, heat up both ends with a heat gun, put them together without glue and clamp them with a 3 C clamps, the splices will conform to each other and be a much better fit when they cool off.

Great idea!   I’m gonna do this for my next one.   

[JW_Halverson]

If you have a poorly fitting splice, heat up both ends with a heat gun, put them together without glue and clamp them with a 3 C clamps, the splices will conform to each other and be a much better fit when they cool off.

Great idea!   I’m gonna do this for my next one.

Boiled and clamped splices are another option.

[Walski]

Here's how I Z-splice my billets.   I just did about 80 splices using this jig, it took 4-5 days to complete.    I had to touch up some of the cuts with a file, then glued together by press fitting, without a pin or boiling using EA 40.

[superdav95]

Wow that’s a lot of yew staves you got there.  I like that jig.  That saves a lot of time.  If I were to do that many z splices I think I’d make a jig too!   Nice work.  Question.  Is this jig working with different widths of billets?  Be nice to see it in action

[Jim Davis]

JMO, but the angles of those splices look pretty wide to me. Seems most of the glue lines will be removed in shaping the handle...