I know others must have had a similar situation. I need to scarf 1/4" x 3/16" red wood strips together and I can not get a good stable scarf.

This is what I have tried so far.

 A fresh cut then with MAS slow cure epoxy

 A fresh cut with 5-min epoxy

I have not tried use wood glue yet (tonight?).

With MAS epoxy the next day the joint was completely unattached (I think MAS is just to thin and penetrated into the wood and there was not enough epoxy left for the joint.

With 5 min epoxy, the epoxy was nice and thick and stayed with the joint. But when I removed the clamps this morning one of the joints broke. I think 5-min epoxy is just to stiff and will not give. I did not have the time this morning to check the strength of the other scarf joints.

I need a good strong joint because the scarf will be on a tight curve (I am planning on construction with no staples). Does anyone have any suggestions about to create such a strong scarf joint for such an application.

I am thinking that I need to create more surface area for the glue to adhere to. However I fear making the scarf joints any longer, for when I bend the strips in my bending/glue up mold the section by the scarf will not bend like the rest of the wood.

Jason