$%^$# Z- SPlices... How do I fix this?!

[Steve Kendrot]

Pulling another BBO glue up out of the "Corner of Shame" as Pat calls it. Glued this up last summer and had problems with the Z splice midway through the thickness of the slat. The slat split on both sides, lifting the bamboo backing off the slats and cracking it slightlty. Everything else looks nice about this except the handle area. Here are some pics from both sides and of the back in the handle area. The splice looks perfect fromt he belly side.
 

 

 

I've actually had this problem to some degree on almost all of my glue-ups, but this one penetrated deep enough that it can't be cut out when trimming to the outline. My questions are...

How do I keep this from happening?

Would a powerlam hold those outer edges of the splice down?

Where do I go from here? I considered grinding the backing down flat and gluing on an overlay on the back, cutting it and using the limbs for a take down... Anyone else deal with this problem before?

[John Scifres]

Never had that problem before myself.  If you are having this routinely, I'd guess you are being too aggressive with the deflex at the handle.  Just use a full length slat and you should be able to get away with whatever you want.  I know I have put a couple pretty extreme ones together that way.

I think this one should be fixable though.  Clean it all up and add your handle riser.  Make absolutely sure it does not bend in the handle and it shoudl survive.

[Steve Kendrot]

Thanks John. That's encouraging. I'd use a full length slat if I could find a clean board long enough! My R/D template is the same Torges recommends in his video, but maybe it is too much. I'll tone it down on my next glue up.

[No-sage]

I think you can repair it also.  Grind off the back corners of the grip area and get your handle handle necks ground out and see what it looks like.  Go from there.

It has happened to me before too.  I like to sand the slat on the sides to make sure there is a good transition with no part of the splice going past the other.

How thick is your slat?  I use 7/16" and it bends prety well.  I also add additional deflex to the handle sometimes when I build the handle up.  This way you don't have to have as much deflex in your form.

[SourOwl]

Steve - had somewhat of the same prob.  went to "W" type of splice using TB111, end of problem.  now i do only "W" splice instead of "Z"- - slightly more glueing surface, cleaner looking splice.

[Steve Kendrot]

Thanks for the ideas guys. I'd written this one off prematurely from the looks of it. Maybe between this one and the other BBO I need to belly patch I'll have a hunting bow this fall...

[horseapple]

Had that happen once when my core wood was to thick, I repaired it by adding finish nails at two locations.

JD