Hello,

I need to join two short sections of skirting board to make one long
section. How can I join them invisibly? I think I need to use a scarf
joint. Is that best? I read (online) that a scarf joint (why is it
called scarf BTW?) should be eight times longer than it is thick. By
my calculations, cutting something as thin as skirting board would
require cutting at a very shallow angle; about 7 degrees. Since my
humble Wickes mitre saw only goes as low as 45 degrees. What should I
do?

Thanks in advance,
Stephen.

In article ,
Stephen wrote:
I need to join two short sections of skirting board to make one long
section. How can I join them invisibly? I think I need to use a scarf
joint. Is that best? I read (online) that a scarf joint (why is it
called scarf BTW?) should be eight times longer than it is thick. By
my calculations, cutting something as thin as skirting board would
require cutting at a very shallow angle; about 7 degrees. Since my
humble Wickes mitre saw only goes as low as 45 degrees. What should I
do?

If they're to be painted I'd lay one on top of the other face to face and
cut through the ends so they match then glue together with a steel plate
screwed to the back for reinforcement. Fill with car body filler and sand
flat.

--
*The average person falls asleep in seven minutes *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Stephen wrote:

Hello,

I need to join two short sections of skirting board to make one long
section. How can I join them invisibly? I think I need to use a scarf
joint. Is that best? I read (online) that a scarf joint (why is it
called scarf BTW?) should be eight times longer than it is thick. By
my calculations, cutting something as thin as skirting board would
require cutting at a very shallow angle; about 7 degrees. Since my
humble Wickes mitre saw only goes as low as 45 degrees. What should I
do?

Thanks in advance,
Stephen.


45 degrees is fine.You'll get a vertical line down the front of the joint
whatever you do.
--
Cheers,
Roger
______
Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
PLEASE REPLY TO NEWSGROUP!

Stephen wrote:
Hello,

I need to join two short sections of skirting board to make one long
section. How can I join them invisibly?

Not really possible with the usual skirting board - it would be better if
you could get a board the length that is required rather than joining two
short pieces (it makes life easier).

I think I need to use a scarf
joint. Is that best? I read (online) that a scarf joint (why is it
called scarf BTW?) should be eight times longer than it is thick. By
my calculations, cutting something as thin as skirting board would
require cutting at a very shallow angle; about 7 degrees. Since my
humble Wickes mitre saw only goes as low as 45 degrees. What should I
do?

It is presumed that the skirting is of softwood and finished with gloss
paint.

Ignore the calculations and simply cut the boards to 45 degrees, and then
fix the skirting to the wall as needed - and knock a couple of nails into
the scarfed joints to hold them (using glue [or No Nails] if you wish).

When fixed, simply fill any gaps in the scarf with polyfilla (or your
preferred way) and prime, undercoat a gloss.

Remember though, that unless the skirting has been left in the room for a
while to dry, you are likely to experience some shrinkage between the two
boards, which would need some attention to the decoration at a later date.


Woodworm

Stephen wrote:
Hello,

I need to join two short sections of skirting board to make one long
section. How can I join them invisibly? I think I need to use a scarf
joint. Is that best? I read (online) that a scarf joint (why is it
called scarf BTW?) ...

Oxford English Dictionary is uncertain of the route of the workd in
English, but there are words in Swedish (Skarfva) and Norwegian (Skarva,
skjerva) with specific meanings of lengthening timbers or garments by
overlapping joints. Possibly the English word came via old French
(ecart, escarf) rather than directly from the Swedish.



Does anyone else's local Library Service give online access to the full
OED online via their library ticket?

On Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:05:16 +0100, OG had
this to say:

Stephen wrote:
Hello,

I need to join two short sections of skirting board to make one long
section. How can I join them invisibly? I think I need to use a scarf
joint. Is that best? I read (online) that a scarf joint (why is it
called scarf BTW?) ...

Oxford English Dictionary is uncertain of the route of the workd in
English, but there are words in Swedish (Skarfva) and Norwegian (Skarva,
skjerva) with specific meanings of lengthening timbers or garments by
overlapping joints. Possibly the English word came via old French
(ecart, escarf) rather than directly from the Swedish.



Does anyone else's local Library Service give online access to the full
OED online via their library ticket?

Yes.

--
Frank Erskine
Sunderland

Stephen wrote:
Hello,

I need to join two short sections of skirting board to make one long
section. How can I join them invisibly? I think I need to use a scarf
joint. Is that best? I read (online) that a scarf joint (why is it
called scarf BTW?) should be eight times longer than it is thick. By
my calculations, cutting something as thin as skirting board would
require cutting at a very shallow angle; about 7 degrees. Since my
humble Wickes mitre saw only goes as low as 45 degrees. What should I
do?

The standard chippies way is to stand the boards vertically with the
join overlapped, and then cut down through both with a hand saw at
something approximating 45 deg. The actual angle (or for that matter
even the straightness of the cut) does not really matter since they will
match perfectly. All you need do is ensure that a black line will not
open up as the board shrinks, and a board thickness of overlap when
finished is fine.

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

In article ,
John Rumm wrote:
The standard chippies way is to stand the boards vertically with the
join overlapped, and then cut down through both with a hand saw at
something approximating 45 deg.

There are loads of joints in the skirting in this Victorian house -
especially in the hall, to the stairs etc. And all are 90 degrees. They
are overlapped types where each part is reduced to half thickness.

There are (were) lots of scarf joints in the architraves. Every one of
which shows. I've replaced most of them.

Personally, I'd not have a scarf (or any) joint in the middle of a
skirting board run - unless it's impossible to do it in one. It *will*
show, and you'll notice it each time you pass...

--
*If at first you don't succeed, redefine success.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

Personally, I'd not have a scarf (or any) joint in the middle of a
skirting board run - unless it's impossible to do it in one. It *will*
show, and you'll notice it each time you pass...

Ideally yes, but you can't always get the timber in long enough lengths.

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On Jul 27, 11:05*pm, OG wrote:
Stephen wrote:
Hello,

I need to join two short sections of skirting board to make one long
section. How can I join them invisibly? I think I need to use a scarf
joint. Is that best? I read (online) that a scarf joint (why is it
called scarf BTW?) ...

Oxford English Dictionary is uncertain of the route of the workd in
English, but there are words in Swedish (Skarfva) and Norwegian (Skarva,
skjerva) with specific meanings of lengthening timbers or garments by
overlapping joints. *Possibly the English word came via old French
(ecart, escarf) rather than directly from the Swedish.

Does anyone else's local Library Service give online access to the full
OED online via their library ticket?

Yes, and various other things too.

MBQ

On Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:29:38 +0100, John Rumm
wrote:


The standard chippies way is to stand the boards vertically with the
join overlapped, and then cut down through both with a hand saw at
something approximating 45 deg. The actual angle (or for that matter
even the straightness of the cut) does not really matter since they will
match perfectly. All you need do is ensure that a black line will not
open up as the board shrinks, and a board thickness of overlap when
finished is fine.

Thanks everyone, all the other posts seem to echo the above method, so
I'll give that a go. I can only buy up to 5.1m lengths locally and the
run is 5.3m ;(

There are loads of joints in the skirting in this Victorian house -
especially in the hall, to the stairs etc. And all are 90 degrees. They
are overlapped types where each part is reduced to half thickness.


Known as an "R flap" (or half lap if you speak proper).

In article ,
Stuart Noble wrote:
There are loads of joints in the skirting in this Victorian house -
especially in the hall, to the stairs etc. And all are 90 degrees. They
are overlapped types where each part is reduced to half thickness.


Known as an "R flap" (or half lap if you speak proper).

Right - never heard the first one before.

--
*Remember not to forget that which you do not need to know.*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Stuart Noble wrote:
There are loads of joints in the skirting in this Victorian house -
especially in the hall, to the stairs etc. And all are 90 degrees. They
are overlapped types where each part is reduced to half thickness.


Known as an "R flap" (or half lap if you speak proper).

Right - never heard the first one before.


R flap is just the cockney version