handle splice

[Jack Skinner]

So how do you guys clean up the ends of billets if they are on the small side for squaring up the whole billet for the splice. Is there a good way to clean up just the splice ends?

[Pat B]

You need to get the handle ends close to your final handle size before glue up. It you glue up first you will remove a lot of the spliced area when you shape your handle.

[Jack Skinner]

Thanks Pat I was messing with a couple of billets I am going to make short bows from for my granddaughters. I did some practice using my band saw on them and think I can how square up the ends I need on the other billets. Thanks for the advice.

[ALW]

I've only spliced a few but if the billet ends are small, make your splice a little smaller.  I made my first splice a little big the first time and rasped away some of the splice. Also, if your splice is a sloppy (like mine usually are) you can steam the splice for a bit then dry clamp it and it will make for a better fit.

Aaron