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The Better Seam

sanbarr | Posted in Construction Techniques on May 11, 2006 06:20am

Present project:

Joining a rabbetted oak stool sill to the pine seat board of a bay window.  Next, covering the remainder of the seat board with 1/4″ oak plywood.

Question:

Because of the continuous flat surface of the seat board, what would produce a tighter and longer holding seam: a butt joint or a scarf joint between the oak stool sill and the 1/4″ oak plywood?

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Replies

  1. Snowmon | May 11, 2006 07:28pm | #1

    If you mean edge to edge, consider tongue and groove or groove and groove with spline, or bisquits or dowels (old school).  If the underside is not seen, consider scabbing on some blocks to keep things aligned.

    The primary advantage of a scarf joint is the increased surface area for gluing.

    -The poster formerly known as csnow
    1. K1500 | May 11, 2006 07:53pm | #2

      I may be wrong, but I thought the scarf joint was primarily used so that the joint would be less evident with any shrinkage/movement of the wood.  A plain butt joint will open, a scarf joint will open but not reveal a 'gap'.  In any event, the glue surface of a scarf joint is a bit longer than a but joint, but it is still end grain to end grain (much like the glue surface of a miter).

      1. Snowmon | May 11, 2006 08:14pm | #4

        "...but it is still end grain to end grain (much like the glue surface of a miter)."

        I think this case is edge to edge, but tough to tell.-The poster formerly known as csnow

  2. User avater
    Sphere | May 11, 2006 08:04pm | #3

    Transition or astragal moulding. Joining 1/4" ply is neigh on pointless, the core stock is meranti and pourous the face veneeer is at best 1/64th most likely 128/th.

    Old by law says, if ya can't make it invisable, make it proud to stand out..anything else is a waste of time.

    Biscuts? nope. Dowels? Nope. butt with glue? questionable at best..Transition pc.? looks like ya meant it to be separated..so bounce on that trampoline. Scarfing solid to ply is a recipe for sanded thru veneers.

    Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

    Damm, I miss that stuff

    1. User avater
      JeffBuck | May 11, 2006 11:51pm | #6

      butt joint

      contact cement.

       

      skin it like a cabinet side.

       

      or ... use a workable ply thickness.

      Jeff    Buck Construction

       Artistry In Carpentry

           Pittsburgh Pa

  3. User avater
    hammer1 | May 11, 2006 11:10pm | #5

    A seam is something that a seamstress makes, sewing. I think a stool sill keeps drunks from falling off. Pine seat boards are what I used to sit on when I played basketball. If it's a seat board, a butt joint would be correct. On the stool sill, I'd go for the scarf joint. If you want a tight butt seam, stay off the bar stool!

    Sorry, couldn't help myself.

    Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

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