: I visited a local woodworker today who has a new CNC router in his shop and
: is looking for ways to use it. We talked about the obvious, cutting forms.
: We also talked about cutting scarf joints. He showed me a bowl he had made
: with a series of stepped cuts, which were clearly smooth enough to make a
: good scarf joint. We talked about making a stepped scarf joint that would
: reduce the number of individual passes with the router and leave steps
: that would lock together and self-align the joint. Then he said, "Why
: not just make a shiplap joint the length of the scarf." That got me
: thinking. Why not make a stepped joint with just one step? It doesn't make
: sense if you're cutting the joints with a plane, but it does if you're
: using a router. And, how many steps does it take to effectively mimic a
: bevel cut scarf joint?

: Mike Scarborough
: Friendship Kayak

Well...a stepped joint at each ply, assuming the same gluing surface is achieved, is an acceptable substitute for a scarf. Easier to glue up too since they self align. Downside is the outer portions of the steps (single ply) are awfully thin and prone to breakage with handling and while cutting.

Bill H.