Author Topic: cutting splices with hand tools  (Read 5439 times)

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Offline Jodocus

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cutting splices with hand tools
« on: March 26, 2015, 02:15:19 pm »
I'm still having a hard time, takes a lot of fiddling to get it to fit. how do you go about it? Any tricks or procedures would be welcome.
Don't shoot!

Offline bubby

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Re: cutting splices with hand tools
« Reply #1 on: March 26, 2015, 02:46:49 pm »
I think PatM does all his with hand tools maybe he will chime in
failure is an option, everyone fails, it's how you handle it that matters.
The few the proud the 27🏹

Offline WillS

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Re: cutting splices with hand tools
« Reply #2 on: March 26, 2015, 03:24:10 pm »
Patience, patience, patience.... And a sharp Japanese pull saw.

I kept getting frustrated doing it by hand until I got a pull saw, and now while it's not easy, it's certainly achievable.  I'm a big fan of the method of boiling the splice ends in water for an hour before dry fitting (really wedge them home hard for a tight fit) and letting it cool for a day or two before gluing.

Offline Jodocus

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Re: cutting splices with hand tools
« Reply #3 on: March 26, 2015, 03:41:25 pm »
Patience, patience, patience....

yeah, that's what I meant with a lot of fiddling... I tried the boiling method, It's really helpful. I additionally clamped the splice area from the sides with good effect. And I do use a pull saw, although it's a cheap one.

You cut the male or the female first and then fit the other one to it?

Also, I tend to get slightly round faces from the cut no matter what (both sides, the cut flares out towards the edges) and have trouble getting them straight with a rasp.
Don't shoot!

Offline Pat B

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Re: cutting splices with hand tools
« Reply #4 on: March 26, 2015, 04:04:02 pm »
Ty a "Z" splice. You can cut both pieces at the same time and then fit them together.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline PatM

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Re: cutting splices with hand tools
« Reply #5 on: March 26, 2015, 04:41:54 pm »
 A pull saw  that cuts a thin kerf and practice. Get some scraps and work on them before trying to get it right with perfect billets.
 Only a v splice has a male /female configuration. All others are hermaphrodite. ;)

Offline WillS

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Re: cutting splices with hand tools
« Reply #6 on: March 26, 2015, 06:41:42 pm »
I do Z splices every time.  I can't cut them together as it would take forever with a hand saw, so I cut both separately and then sand and file them gradually to fit.  They're never perfect, but I use offcuts of wood to plug gaps, tapping them in coated in glue, and it seems to work! 

mikekeswick

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Re: cutting splices with hand tools
« Reply #7 on: March 27, 2015, 03:49:10 am »
No it won't take forever and the fit will automatically be much better. Most importantly it keeps the cuts on the same plane.
Or just use a simple v splice to make live easier in the fitting process.

Offline Chief RID

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Re: cutting splices with hand tools
« Reply #8 on: March 27, 2015, 04:37:37 am »
Jay made it look so easy in the Bowyers Craft! He did use a band saw. It took me about 3 hours to fit a store bought door threshold yesterday afternoon so I can't imagine a bow splice.

Offline Jodocus

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Re: cutting splices with hand tools
« Reply #9 on: March 27, 2015, 07:54:42 am »
...it keeps the cuts on the same plane.
Or just use a simple v splice to make live easier in the fitting process.

It might indeed reduce the round faces since the cut is longer... I'll definetly give it a try. And yes, I was doing a v splice to make my life easier. Just seemed less finickly.
Don't shoot!

Offline PatM

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Re: cutting splices with hand tools
« Reply #10 on: March 27, 2015, 09:19:22 am »
If you can't make a v- splice fit you REALLY need to practice.  ;)

Offline bubby

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Re: cutting splices with hand tools
« Reply #11 on: March 27, 2015, 10:47:03 am »
Yeah they don't get much easier than a V
failure is an option, everyone fails, it's how you handle it that matters.
The few the proud the 27🏹

Offline bradsmith2010

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Re: cutting splices with hand tools
« Reply #12 on: March 27, 2015, 01:38:52 pm »
everything about bow making is difficult at first,, thats why we do it ,, right??? :)

Offline joachimM

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Re: cutting splices with hand tools
« Reply #13 on: March 27, 2015, 05:37:20 pm »
I concur that Z-splices with hand tools are pretty tough for the unexperienced...
Simple V-splice does the trick for me, at least on my last bow (which is around 40#). After the glue has cured I drill two holes and add round plugs to secure the splice.

Offline bubby

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Re: cutting splices with hand tools
« Reply #14 on: March 27, 2015, 07:18:01 pm »

everything about bow making is difficult at first,, thats why we do it ,, right??? :)


My dad had a saying, if it was easy anyone could do it  :laugh::laugh:
failure is an option, everyone fails, it's how you handle it that matters.
The few the proud the 27🏹