Scarfing or Joining Timber.
When timber is wanted in lengths exceeding those that can be procured from the tree in one piece, it must be joined by what is called scarfing; that is, the ends of the two lengths that are to be united into one, are cut so that a portion of the one may lap over and fit into a portion of the other, which is cut so as to receive it. The timber, when united, is thus of the same uniform size. The joined ends are secured together by bolts or spikes. The following figures show the more usual modes of scarfing timber for different purposes.
The last is a mode of scarfing invented by Mr. Roberts, of the Royal Dock Yards.