When I needed to make several scarf joints for a cover board in a boatbuilding project, I used a router and template to cut the joint’s profile. The challenge was to shape the template so that the inside curve would be identical to the outside curve. Finally, I hit on the idea of using a router bit with the same radius as the joint’s curve and a template bushing with twice the radius. With my router set up this way, all I needed for a template was a simple glued-up block with three straight line edges.

Robert L. Thompson, New Hampton, N.H.

Fine Woodworking Magazine, August 1992 No. 95

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Leigh D4R Pro

The D4R Pro is Leigh’s flagship jig. Like the other Leigh jigs in our test, it represents a different world of quality, from its clear, comprehensive instructions to its ingenious engineering, impeccable manufacturing, and unmatched capabilities.

Buy at Amazon Buy at Woodcraft

Leigh Super 18 Jig

This jig is a value-oriented alternative to the Leigh D4R, but its template system is just as excellent.

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Marking knife: Hock Double-Bevel Violin Knife, 3/4 in.

This heavy, double-beveled knife stays on track in all directions, and works just fine without adding a handle.

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