5x10 Plywood Source In The South NEEDED!

[madjack]

TK, while I certainly admire a well done scarf joint(like Shaney's are), a properly done scarf joint is twice the angle that a skil or table saw can cut, which can mean quite a bit of hand work, to get a properly prepared joint...which is why I opt for the easier slot and spline method...it is easier and gives a mechanical aspect to the join and with epoxy is pretty darn effective...like any good adhesive, the wood will fail before the glue joint does...just another option to consider...........
madjack

[planovet]

I couldn't find any 5x10 material either. And since my tear is 11' long at it's longest point, a single sheet would not have done anyway. So I used 5x5 material and used biscuits and glue to join them. I had never used biscuits before but it was easy and it turned out great. Yes, you will have seams but that's life!

[schaney]

Yes Madjack, doing scarf joints by hand is a bit of work. The fixture West Systems has available holds your saw at a 7-8 degree angle to the plywood, making scarf joints a breeze.

I also agree, in a good joint, the surrounding wood will fail before the joint. As they say, "there is more than one way to skin a cat"

[TinKicker]

Okay...looks like I'll go with the slot and spline. I think that prepped properly the joint won't be visible anyway. My relunctance was more because of potential weakness in the joint than because of looks, but I guess the epoxy will more than take care of that.
Thanks guys for all the good input.

[cuyeda]

Two questions.

Ok so the slot and spline method seems like a viable alternative to join sheets together. What minimum thickness can this method be applied? If you are using 3/4" it wouldn't be a problem, but what about 1/2", or 1/4" thickness.

When using the epoxy method to glue the joints together, is it just straight epoxy, with out the fiber cloth? Or, is the cloth used to wet out as a backing for strength?

[mikeschn]

Yes, scarfing isn't just for the dinner table anymore

The fancy way to make scarf joints is with something like a West Systems saw attachment

That's an interesting looking attachment... unfortunately the thickest material it can scarf is 3/8".

This is a unique tool for cutting accurate scarf joints in plywood up to 3/8" thick. Attaches easily to most circular saws and is simple to remove. The West System 875 Scarffer was designed by Gougeon Brothers, so you know it's not only a quality and useful tool, but also tailor made for use in marine construction.

Mike...

[madjack]

Two questions.

Ok so the slot and spline method seems like a viable alternative to join sheets together. What minimum thickness can this method be applied? If you are using 3/4" it wouldn't be a problem, but what about 1/2", or 1/4" thickness.

When using the epoxy method to glue the joints together, is it just straight epoxy, with out the fiber cloth? Or, is the cloth used to wet out as a backing for strength?

Cliff, you can use it for 3/4 or 1/2, I would be a bit leery of 1/4 which would be hard to join, what ever method you use except for a backing piece...I would do a 1/4" spline for 3/4" and no more than 3/16" for !/2"...depending upon application, cloth may or may not be needed...if a lot of structural strength is needed, a cloth backing would be the wya to go...if not, then no cloth would be needed...epoxy with the addition of a good filler would work for most application sby itself...on my last build, I made 9' panels in using this method and you could pick up the piece and shake the devil outta it an not get any flex...as in any such method of joining YMMV............
madjack

p.s. for a spline, I prefer a hardwood cut on the crossgrain, with a 3/4" minimal width.........MJ

p.p.s. I have also cut a 45* angle with a skil saw and guide and slotted it for a spline...this makes a very stable joint but is PITA and since I am lazy, a butt joint with spline is MY preferred method........MJ

[cuyeda]

MJ,
Thanks for the reply. Next on the list of tools to acquire, spline cutters.

[Lou Park]

Why don't you just lap joint it? Cut a 2" strip, 3/8" deep on each
piece of 3/4" ply and glue together. That way if it tries to separate
in the future it won't leak.
lou

[madjack]

Why don't you just lap joint it? Cut a 2" strip, 3/8" deep on each
piece of 3/4" ply and glue together. That way if it tries to separate
in the future it won't leak.
lou

Lou, that will work as well...keep in mind, 3/4" ply(or 1/2", or???) is not exactly that width but a 32nd(orso) smaller...there is also the fact of more material to remove, making more work to get a tight joint...as I stated, I'm lazy and look for the easiest way to do any job, that produces the wanted/acceptable result
madjack

[TinKicker]

Madjack said:

I'm lazy and look for the easiest way to do any job, that produces the wanted/acceptable result

You know, when my boss catches us doing something like that, he always blurts out, "Least line of resistance!" in disgust. He's about two hundred and eighty years old and mean-spirited. Funny thing is, when he does something like that, he calls it working smart.
I've always worked this way, and I really don't think it's being lazy. I think it's kind of dumb to do something the hard way and waste your time and energy when equally effective ways exist that make it easier/faster.
That's the limit of my thread-jacking. (Imagine that! Hijacking my own thread!) But these things just kind of pop into my wee little brain from time to time.
But it's another reason I'll use the slot and spline...working smart.

[madjack]

Kelsey, I refer to it as "being efficient" ..............................................

[aggie79]

MJ,
Thanks for the reply. Next on the list of tools to acquire, spline cutters.

I have a P-C biscuit joiner but not sure I would purchase one again due to its cost and limited versatility. A router with a slot cutter bit can do both splines and biscuits.

[TinKicker]

A router with a slot cutter bit can do both splines and biscuits.

I started to ask how the router could make the nice tapered oval biscuit holes, but then I realized...that doesn't really matter, does it? A slot's a slot.
I had a nice Craftsman router many moons ago and sold it for some reason. Gotta' buy another one now.

[mikeschn]

I have a biscuit cutter. If you are going to do any woodworking, besides building your trailer, it's a good tool to have.



Mike...