Joining Planks
Planing the Scarph Joints | |
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The planks about 14ft long, longer than a sheet of ply so the planks need joining with a scarph joint. Scarph joints are surprisingly easy to plane and the the results pleasing. The planks are cut 40mm too long, 40mm being the width of the scarph joint for 6mm ply. |
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To plane a scarph joint:
Draw a line across each plank 20mm from the end. Place one plank on the workbench with it's end in line with the end of the bench. Place the next plank on top of the other so it's end is in line with the pencil line on the lower plank. Clamp the planks to the bench. Plane over then ends of the planks, the plywood laminates will show as straight lines to guide you. |
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Gluing the scarph joints | |
| The planks need to be lined up carefully for gluing. Jordan Boats cut the planks with reference holes and provide and a diagram showing how the different planks line up. The planks were lined up and glued with slightly thickened epoxy. I hadn't appreciated the extent to which the planks could tend to slide out of alignment when the joint is clamped and had to discard a couple of planks. Subsequently I clamped the planks firmly to the bench well away from the joint before clamping the joint. | 
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