Y'all don't have to worry, I made it back.
I admit, I don't drink PBR very often. But it has it's place, and that place turns out to be Roy's. It seems like a waste to bring better beer when PBR is already a step up for him. Plus, it's not as bad now as it was when I was in college. Someone said they went back to the old recipe?
The concept of the z-splice isn't very difficult obviously. But I did get to learn how the experienced old codgers out there get a tight fit, and that was the secret I was looking for:
As for the sander, I brought a scrap of walnut with me that was otherwise destined for the wood stove. I ended up with 2 pair of good tapers and a pair of 0.020ish veneers. We'll see if they make a bow. It took a couple of passes before I could get Roy to stop messing me up.
He kept wanting to run one or two pieces through again without doing the whole set. After awhile he just stood back and held my beer. Didn't know grinding my own lams could be so rewarding, but PBR and someone else's sander sure helps!
Now, the highlight of the stop didn't get a picture. But that damned little puppy of Roy's is just the darnedest thing. She's a keeper.