How to Splice Billets.... A Pictorial

[Linc]

Good question Bill.I was wondering the same thing.  :confused:

[Timo]

BIll, it doesn't matter if you stay in the same ring.

Why you can even chase two different rings on a selfbow ifin ya want to! Just make the conversion in the handle,just like it was spliced.

[the Ferret]

Timo knows his stuff. We generally like to advise to make your back a single growth ring and that is still the best advice, however if you scrape thru a ring on one limb, you can always chase that ring out to the middle of a non bending handle and it will be fine even if the other limb is in a different ring.  

_____________|------------- the solid line is one limb in one ring, the verticle line is the center of a non bending handle and the dotted line is another ring in the other limb. A bow laid out this way, or a pair of spliced billets, will be fine.

[AZStickman]

What Timo and Mickey said....As long as the transition is in the non bending portion of the handle like it is in these spliced bows no problem, the working portion of the limb is still one ring with no ring to ring overlaps.....I wouldn't try it on a bendy handle bow though......Also I chased this piece down to the ring above the one I want for my back prior to splitting it into Billets.... when I get my layout done it will only take one pass with the scraper to hit my target ring ....

Calvin.....For the record I think what you did with that mini bow for Dina was pretty amazing....It took a ton of patience and perserverance.....         Terry

[John Scifres]

Love it!  Nice job Terry.  I've got a garage full of prime billets that I never get around to working.  I always have full length staves to work so these just age.  Several should be about ready now though.

[Walkingstick]

thanks for the "Hedge-a-cation" Guys.  :D  ..no pun intended.........Mac~

[AZStickman]

Thanks John.... I like Billets..... it's usually a lot cheaper to get a set of good billets than it is to get a good stave and splicing isn't all that hard if ya watch what you are doing....Man "A garage full of prime billets"....I'll be dreamin bout that tonight....    

You're welcome Bill...Terry

[Tom Leemans]

If you watch "Billets To Bow", that is the splice Glenn and Joe use. Glenn goes on to mention how you have a little room to line your tips up before final clamping and even reflex the bow through the handle a little if you wish.

[Rangeball]

and even reflex the bow through the handle a little if you wish.

How is this accomplished?  I've been trying to imagine it, but can't get my head around it at all...

[AZStickman]

Ya just pivot the limbs at the handle into as much reflex as you want when you are doing the glue up but before you clamp.... Terry

[Rangeball]

Thanks, that's what I was guessing.  So do you want the spice that'll need rasped off sticking up off the back or belly?  Is it necessary to fill in the dips in the splice area on the other side?

[AZStickman]

Rangeball.... The tails will be sticking out on the belly side... Rasp them off....you can fill the back with the glue sawdust mix.... I won't usually reflex more than an 1 1/2" or so and a lot of times the squeeze out fills the back in and requires only a little sanding..... When you get it tillered it will have a nice gull wing profile..... Terry

[Rangeball]

Thanks a bunch, another mystery solved  

[WoodChips]

Thank you Terry. I have always shyed away from the thought of using billets because I wasn't sure how to splice them. The explanations in a couple books I've read just didn't sink in I guess. Your pictures and explanations filled in all the info I wondered about billets. I will have to give that a try sometime.

[AZStickman]

I'm glad it helped Brandon.....It's definitely easier and cheaper to get premium billets than it is to get premium staves for most of us.....And all things considered splicing isn't really all that hard....Take your time and get your cuts straight and square and you've got it made.....Whatever tools ya have to cut the splice out will work....I've done good splices using a handsaw, Jigsaws and my bandsaw.... Heck if I can do it anyone can........ I was the guy in school who had all his woodworking projects come out looking like ashtrays......    Terry

[trashwood]

good on ya Terry.  It is sooooo much easier to find really good sood 36" long than it is to find a really good stave.  Sister billets make some of the best bows I've ever made.

rusty

[Rangeball]

1st stupid question of the day-

What makes a piece of wood a billet?  Is it simply a short stave?

[AZStickman]

Yep.... Terry