Scarffing help ?

Bill T

Bill T

Active member
I have done this only a couple times but on this next build i would like to do it another way . I have looked at the west system 875 scarfing attachment does it work and work well our is there another way and with what tools do you suggest ?
 
Bill,
A belt sander works very well and so does a 6 or 8 in sander with coarse grit. The saw jigs work too, but are a bit to handle if you don't use a saw that often. A link was posted a while back for a home made version of the saw jig.
Scarfs seem to be the most intimidating thing about working with plywood, but once you make a few they are not hard or time consuming. Just be sure to wet out both sides with epoxy unthickened first, then add a coat of some "ketchup thickness" thickened resin and set them together. A couple of 1 inch brads keep the panels aligned as the weight or clamps are applied over the wax paper or plastic to keep the glue from sticking to stuff other than the wood.
 
I want to build the Broadbill but i looked at the material list it calls for 4 sheets of 1/2 to 3/8 thick plywood.To make 2 4x16 peices .Now if i scarf the 2 4ft peices they will be short of 16 ft is that ok . I dont have the plans yet but i thinking to far ahead . If you do 3 inch scarf on each peice they will be 6 inches short of 16 ft
 
Bill, you will have PLENTY of length with 4x16. When yo get the plans look and see..you could cut one sheet to 4'x4' and scarf them to 4x8 sheets to make two 4x12..much easier to keep square and straight and flop around the shop.
 
You only loose three inches in total length. As far as I know the devlin plans use the scarff method and account for the sheet being joined. Even if not, just scarff a short piece on the end. It is only a few inches wide at that point of the side panel
 
bill i did my scarf joints using a power planer. i stakced my plywood on top of each other and staggered the pieces 3 inches ( a side profile looked like steps). i took a power planer and begain removing material. i finished the joints using a belt sander. the came out good and would use the same method on the next build.

colin wheeler
 
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