working on an all wood laminate, my first of the kind, and was wondering what the best way to splice billets/lams together was. ive read about the  "Z" splice, as well as the fishtail splice. I have used the fishtail splice with success in other working projects( medieval crossbow prod) but from what i read the z splice has greater gluing surface. also any tricks to get matching splice cuts?

http://bowyersworkshop.com/splicing1.htm

very good example, thanks for posting it.

How do you cut out the fishtail splice

a single fishtail is just a triangle from the sides of the piece to the center, and the opposite on the other side.

i use my bandsawto cut them, although im sure its possible with hand saws

I cut a double fish tail spice this morning before I came to work.  Tomorrow I'll sand the cuts for a better fit.  Didn't take long on a bandsaw.  The website Osagetree posted helped out tremendously.
Stan

If you get a sloppy cut and a poor fit, heat your splices up with a heat gun and clamp together without glue. The wood will form together for a much better fit.

I cut them real close with a bandsaw, then finish it up with a rasp. I slide them together and see where it is too tight, then rasp a little bit off and fit them together again. Takes a while but they come out real sweet.

 

 

 

Nice job, Roy.  Mine didn't look quite that nice.

yea mine definitly arent that nice. my new bandsaw definitly needs tuned.

Roy, that is a real slick way to lay the splice out,Thanks

I love that you wrote "Stay"... I always forget if I'm cutting or keeping the X

LOL, been there done that myself:) My first few Z splices looked a litte ragged. But the way I do them now works real sweet. When you cut them out with the bandsaw, just barely leave the lines on. Then it's just a matter of fitting them together, marking the tight spots and rasping. When you have them "snug" together, hold the Z-splice and gently tap the end of the billet on the floor. Do not tap too hard as that could split the wood. Been there done that too:)