Flatten Planks for Cutting
If you need to create a straight and uniformed bevel for a scarf joint, a cupped board can be problematic.
It’s not uncommon to encounter cupped wood-siding planks. For butt joints, cupping typically is not an issue. However, if you need to create a straight and uniformed bevel for a scarf joint, cupping can be problematic. I use the hold-down clamp on my miter saw to flatten cupped siding planks before I cut them. After the plank is in place, I simply clamp down the end of a scrap piece of wood over the top and then use that scrap as a lever to push the plank down flat and make the cut.
— Aron Jones; Grand Manan, N.B., Canada. Edited by Charles Miller.
From Fine Homebuilding #315
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