A belt sander will do this job just as well and is much more widely useful
than a power plane.
In either case, finish the scarph surfaces with a sharp handplane. Check
with a straightedge.


"Jonathan W." wrote in message
...
Brian Whatcott wrote:
On 15 Oct 2005 16:00:36 -0700, wrote:


OK, I went out and bought a power plane. It is WAAAAAAAY easier with
it and it makes better scarfs.


Now I am getting moody. I looked round town at the last mention of a
power planer - and drew a blank (population 20,000)

There is not meant to be any power tool that I don't own.
That's what my wife says, at least

Brian Whatcott Altus OK


If you can't find one locally, how about:

http://cgi.ebay.com/MAKITA-ELECTRIC-...54745518QQcate
goryZ42283QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

might have to cut and past that url

Jonathan


--
I am building my daughter an Argie 10 sailing dinghy, check it out:
http://home.comcast.net/~jonsailr

Jim Conlin wrote:
A belt sander will do this job just as well and is much more widely useful
than a power plane.
In either case, finish the scarph surfaces with a sharp handplane. Check
with a straightedge.

The problem with using an edged tool on any surface that's been sanded
is that the inevitable grit that's left behind does a number on the
cutting edge. That's one major advantage of using a power planer rather
than a belt sander. The others are reduced sawdust and greater ease in
maintaining a flat surface. Belt sanders are great for rounding things
over. ;-)

Subject

Tool chosen depends on the size of the scarf.

I've use both a router and a power plane, each with it's own jig to make
a lot of scarfs on pieces less than about 6" wide.

If sheet goods are involved, then the Gougeon Bros have a neat
attachment for a circular saw.

I would do most anything to avoid a belt sander, they are strictly a
PITA except as an abrasive stock removal tool, IMHO.

Lew

My reaction to belt sanders was the same as yours. I'd borrowed a
neighbor's contractor grade unit made it the 1960s and it was vicious.
Then, a few years ago, I bought a Ryobi BE-321 and it's one of my favorite
tools. Variable speed and a case that lets it be set down on the bench
upside down for use as a fixed sander.
http://www.ryobitools.com/index.php/.../tool/be321vs/

I prefer the electric block plane for making scarfs in plywood, primarily
because I think it leaves the pores open, but the belt sander is a must
have. Yes, by definition it is an abrasive stock removal tool, but the flat
sole and the variable speed allow quite small amounts to be removed.

Roger

http://home.earthlink.net/~derbyrm

"Lew Hodgett" wrote in message
ink.net...
Subject

Tool chosen depends on the size of the scarf.

I've use both a router and a power plane, each with it's own jig to make a
lot of scarfs on pieces less than about 6" wide.

If sheet goods are involved, then the Gougeon Bros have a neat attachment
for a circular saw.

I would do most anything to avoid a belt sander, they are strictly a PITA
except as an abrasive stock removal tool, IMHO.

Lew

Roger Derby wrote:
My reaction to belt sanders was the same as yours. I'd borrowed a
neighbor's contractor grade unit made it the 1960s and it was vicious.
Then, a few years ago, I bought a Ryobi BE-321 and it's one of my favorite
tools. Variable speed and a case that lets it be set down on the bench
upside down for use as a fixed sander.
http://www.ryobitools.com/index.php/.../tool/be321vs/

I prefer the electric block plane for making scarfs in plywood, primarily
because I think it leaves the pores open, but the belt sander is a must
have. Yes, by definition it is an abrasive stock removal tool, but the flat
sole and the variable speed allow quite small amounts to be removed.

I don't think anyone is disputing the utility of a belt sander and I
wouldn't be without one, but it's definitely not the best tool for
making scarfs.

I was suggesting that the belt sander will do a good job and if your tool
budget is limited it's more generally useful than a power plane.
I've not been aware of belt sanders leaving grit in the victim and if used
with a fresh belt, they don't close pores badly.
If you worry about nasty stuff a block plane iron might encounter, you can't
build boats. You'll be planing the edge of a glass-sheathed panel soon
enough. Keep the stone handy.

"Brian Nystrom" wrote in message
news:lcpaf.3490$5F3.808@trndny03...
Roger Derby wrote:
My reaction to belt sanders was the same as yours. I'd borrowed a
neighbor's contractor grade unit made it the 1960s and it was vicious.
Then, a few years ago, I bought a Ryobi BE-321 and it's one of my
favorite
tools. Variable speed and a case that lets it be set down on the bench
upside down for use as a fixed sander.
http://www.ryobitools.com/index.php/.../tool/be321vs/

I prefer the electric block plane for making scarfs in plywood,
primarily
because I think it leaves the pores open, but the belt sander is a must
have. Yes, by definition it is an abrasive stock removal tool, but the
flat
sole and the variable speed allow quite small amounts to be removed.

I don't think anyone is disputing the utility of a belt sander and I
wouldn't be without one, but it's definitely not the best tool for
making scarfs.

I've not been aware of belt sanders leaving grit in the victim and if used
with a fresh belt, they don't close pores badly.

I brush sanded wood. Seems to clean it up.
Also brush sand paper to clean it.

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
William R Watt National Capital FreeNet Ottawa's free community network
homepage: www.ncf.ca/~ag384/top.htm
warning: non-FreeNet email must have "notspam" in subject or it's returned

On Thu, 03 Nov 2005 14:32:49 GMT, Brian Nystrom
wrote:

I don't think anyone is disputing the utility of a belt sander and I
wouldn't be without one, but it's definitely not the best tool for
making scarfs.

Brian, you can't blow out the sanded area with a high pressure air
gun? I can't imagine ANY sand or grit being left in a sanded area
after a thorough blasting with an air gun using 100+ psi.

Corky Scott

wrote:
On Thu, 03 Nov 2005 14:32:49 GMT, Brian Nystrom
wrote:


I don't think anyone is disputing the utility of a belt sander and I
wouldn't be without one, but it's definitely not the best tool for
making scarfs.


Brian, you can't blow out the sanded area with a high pressure air
gun? I can't imagine ANY sand or grit being left in a sanded area
after a thorough blasting with an air gun using 100+ psi.

Actually, you're as likely to blow grit INTO the pores in the wood as
out of them.

People always say that having a belt sander is a good idea, but I have a
good Bosch one that's been sitting on the shelf for years and years, just
collecting dust. I find that with my Bosch power hand plane, low-angle
block plane, 5" random orbital sander, and 7" random orbital angle sander,
that I just don't need anything else. It's very difficult to do a nice job
of anything with a belt sander ...very easy to get non-level in one
direction or the other and you can't see it happening. Maybe I haven't
found the right wood working project to match up with the belt sander?

Brian D



"Brian Nystrom" wrote in message
news:lcpaf.3490$5F3.808@trndny03...
Roger Derby wrote:
My reaction to belt sanders was the same as yours. I'd borrowed a
neighbor's contractor grade unit made it the 1960s and it was vicious.
Then, a few years ago, I bought a Ryobi BE-321 and it's one of my
favorite tools. Variable speed and a case that lets it be set down on
the bench upside down for use as a fixed sander.
http://www.ryobitools.com/index.php/.../tool/be321vs/

I prefer the electric block plane for making scarfs in plywood, primarily
because I think it leaves the pores open, but the belt sander is a must
have. Yes, by definition it is an abrasive stock removal tool, but the
flat sole and the variable speed allow quite small amounts to be removed.

I don't think anyone is disputing the utility of a belt sander and I
wouldn't be without one, but it's definitely not the best tool for making
scarfs.