Neat scarf jig for plywood

[brian.cunningham]

This came accross on the multihull mailing list:



At 10:47 PM 7/10/2002 -0800, you wrote:
I have been looking at your web site because I have gotten very interested in the Hughes 30. I like the idea of scarfing plywood vice butt joints or fiberglass butt joints. I can't figure out how your router scarfing jig/tool works from the picture. Can you put up a couple of more pictures that make it clearer?

HJ

From: "Michial Thompson"
To: multihull_boatbuilder@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thu Jul 11 06:23:28 PDT 2002
Subject: [multihull_boatbuilder] scarfing jig

After seeing Jim's jig I had pretty much the same question, you but the ply on the edge of a table, then run the lip of the jig along the edge of the table, and then use a sanding block to finish off.

After having Jim explain it to me, I thought that it was a pretty cool idea (I'm a programmer, not a shipbuilder), so I shared it with a airplane building list I am on, and one of the members of that list sent me this link:

http://www.min-sajt.com/mattias_jonsson/vp/constr/000614.jpg

It's his solution to the scarfing jig as well.

[Tom Lathrop]

There is probably no end to the number of solutions to this "problem" which does not exist.

[Bruce Hooke]

Originally posted by Tom Lathrop:
There is probably no end to the number of solutions to this "problem" which does not exist.This reminds me of the old saw that I think Kasanof pulled up a few years ago, which is that if a lot of solutions exist to a given problem then none of them probably work very well! :D

Seriously thought, this does look like a reasonable approach and it uses tools that almost anyone could get their hands on & put to use without a lot of experience. It would be a bit dusty...

[NormMessinger]

"...if a lot of solutions exist to a given problem then none of them probably work very well!"

I like that one.

I wonder how many hours it would take to sand a scarf in a set of 1/4" panels with a 2" sanding drum and a puny little drill motor?

Don't knock it til ya've tried it Norm!

--Skep

[Pelican]

The jig made by "John Henry" you see advertised in WB is really nice.

[brian.cunningham]

If it sells than I guess the problem does exist!

Seriously a lot of people have trouble getting the scarfs not just cut right, but glued right.

[Cedarhill Boatworks]

block plane

[Sailman58]

If you replace the drill with a router, you have the setup that Chesapeake Light Craft uses for it's production scarfing. They also have a couple of air cylinders to clamp the work and a neat track for the router to run on, but it is a production shop.

[kpenokie]

Interesting "jig" but you need to replace that clamp around the drill with a couple of runs of duct tape!