splicing elm

[youngbowyer33]

you guys do it?i thought i had a stave but i figured i wouldn't bother doing it because it had a big knot where mid limb would be, so i cut it below that and split it.Now i have two sister billets. i was hopping to do a z splice because you cut both parts at once. But is it hard to make a splice joint without a bandsaw?Will a jigsaw work or even a normal woodcutting saw?hoping to make a nice 60-64" bow with some reflex and set back in the handle(if set back is the proper term), like the bow in tbb volum 1 page 159.happy scraping

[M-P]

Hi,  I've spliced a number of staves.  There is no reason why it shouldn't work for you.  Band saws make it easier to cut the splice, but I have done it by hand.  Just take your time and cut as close to the lines as you can.  A little work with a rasp and sand paper will help you get a closer fit.  If all else fails, steam the splice ends until pliable, fit together and clamp.  Clamping the heated wood will mash the splice into a near perfect fit.   Ron