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Making the Most of Your Router Bits: The Butterfly Spline Bit
Issue: October 2009
Posted Date: 8/17/2009
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Roll over an image to enlarge
 At first glance, the Butterfly Spline Bit (sometimes called a Butterfly Key Bit) seems like a very simple and
limited use tool. But look closer and you can find a lot of useful
applications for these splines. The bit cuts a butterfly profile, essentially two dovetail keys joined
at the smaller width. The angles are 14 degrees, so they exactly match
a 14 degree dovetail bit.
(Photo 1) This creates a spline that not only
aligns the parts being joined, but actually locks them together like a
dovetail joint.
This Japanese style tea tray uses butterfly keys in two ways. (Photo 2) To begin with, I am using the keys to join together the parts of
the tray itself. The keys lock the glue joints together and add a nice
decorative touch. In addition, the tray legs are made from smaller key
stock mounted across the width of the tray. (Photo 3) This is not
only decorative, but helps keep the delicate tray from cupping. The leg
splines are secured only with a dowel pin in the center, not only
allowing the top and legs to move without splitting, but the dovetail
shape of the joint keeps the leg keys firmly attached to the tray.
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| Photo 4 |
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| Photo 5 |
The key stock is made to the size of the dovetail slot you cut. This
bit produces keys as small as your smallest dovetail bit, up to about 1-3/4 inches tall. In order to determine the proper spline size, I cut the
dovetail grooves first and match my stock to that.
As with any undercut bit, you should plow out a clearance slot before
milling the dovetail. (Photo 4) Make sure that the matching
cuts line up well; the spline allows for little error. (Photo 5)
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Photo 6
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Photo 7
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Photo 8
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| Photo 9 |
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| Photo 10 |
With the dovetail slots cut, carefully measure the opening and prepare
your stock to the proper dimension. Make up some extra stock: getting
the fit perfect may take a few tries. The thickness of your stock
determines the major width of the spline. The height of the bit then
controls how tall the spline is end to end. For safety, I use wider
stock than needed, and cut the spline away after milling.
Set the bit up in the router table. (Photo 6) The center point should
be set to the midpoint of the desired spline. Set the fence so that the
bit cuts the entire height of the spline, but do not let it cut into
the width of the piece. The part has to match the dovetail cut: sharp
angles, no flats at the tips. Once the first side is cut, the part is
reversed and the other face is cut, making the butterfly shape. (Photo 7) Check the fit. If the key is too wide, the stock can be thinned
slightly and run again across the bit. (Photo 8)
When the fit is correct, carefully set the saw fence and rip the spline
off the stock. (Photo 9) With a good, snug fit achieved, the spline
stock can be cross cut to the proper length. Here, the tea tray is dry
fit with the keys in place. (Photo 10)
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| Photo 11 |
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| Photo 12 |
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Photo 13
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There are many uses for these butterfly splines. They are effective in
breadboard ends. Secured only in the center, they allow the panel and
ends to move independently, but the dovetail shape keeps the end tight
to the panel. (Photo 11) They can be used to reinforce and
decorate frame and box miter joints, or even to repair a split in a
table. I made some spline stock from purpleheart and crosscut it to
form elegant chopstick holders, (Photo 12) and experimented with
cutting thin slices for a unique veneer look. (Photo 13)
So add this simple-looking bit to your collection. It will help you
find new and beautiful ways to improve and strengthen your joinery. |
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 Ralph Bagnall is a professional woodworker
and consultant who has frequently contributed to Woodworker's Journal.
More information can be found at: www.consultingwoodworker.com
©2009 Woodworker's Journal
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