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Easy Scarf Joint on Miter saw.

Hi all, I just recently joined the Cigar Box Nation! I happened upon this site while building my first cigar box guitar. I have learned a lot from all of you in regards to building these awesome guitars. Although, I had some trouble figuring out how to make a scarf joint without a table saw, so I came up with this idea. I noticed there is a lot of discussion about how to make the joint and I wanted to share this easy trick with all of you.

1. take a 3/4" pine board about 12" long and cut one end at 15 degrees with miter saw.

2. attach a strip of wood to the back side of cut piece of wood to clamp to the saw.

3. attach another small strip along the angle you just cut to help "rest" your neck material against.

4. cut a headstock peice about 6 inches or so.

5. set saw to 0 degrees with jig attached to miter saw.

6. cut the 15 degree angle on the headstock piece using the jig.

7. cut the 15 degree angle on the neck and glue and clamp the two together.

See attached photos!

7 members like this

Attachments:

IMG_5073.JPG, 2.6 MB
IMG_5075.JPG, 2.5 MB
IMG_5076.JPG, 1.2 MB

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dave Onastik on March 26, 2012 at 4:34pm

Very cool. I just got a miter saw as a gift and was wondering how to do that. I've been using my table saw for scarf joint cuts, but this looks much easier.

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Permalink Reply by Rick on March 27, 2012 at 4:18pm

thanks! its very easy, just make sure to clamp the piece you are cutting to the jig as well or it may become a projectile.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on March 27, 2012 at 1:58am

Nice!! Good job!

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Permalink Reply by Rick on March 27, 2012 at 4:23pm

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on March 27, 2012 at 6:39am

And I've just found it fun to free-hand it on the chop saw. :) I should take the time to make the simple guide.

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Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on March 27, 2012 at 8:49am

Yep, nice . I had a similar jig when I had a mitre saw. Saves a lot of time.

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Permalink Reply by Rick on March 27, 2012 at 4:22pm

Thanks! unfortunately, I didn't have it for my first build and I had to hack up the end of the neck for the headstock.

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on March 27, 2012 at 2:50pm

Nice and greasy goes down easy. Did my first one with a jig. I just used one piece of 2x4.

Attachments:

IMAG0188.jpg, 1.4 MB

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Permalink Reply by Rick on March 27, 2012 at 4:23pm

not bad, ED!

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Permalink Reply by Kristen Musgrave on August 26, 2014 at 3:50am

I know this is an old thread but just wanted to thank you for this post. After somehow miraculously making 3 cb instruments with scarf joints no problem, yesterday I couldn't saw a straight line to save my life, power tools or no. I ran across your guide and photos and built my own jig and it woooorrrks!! And it's safe! :) CBN to the rescue yet again!! Thank you!

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Permalink Reply by Rick on August 26, 2014 at 4:17pm

Your welcome! I don't know why the photos came out so big in my post, but I'm glad they helped. Just make sure your "C" clamps holding down the jig to the saw are on tight!