Thanks for all the answers on scarf joints below. I'm going to experiment with a couple of pieces of scrap cedar in my shop making finger joints on the ends of the planks. I have a shaper head with 1/8" finger joint cutters, that makes joints like a lot of wood trim you buy anymore. I was wondering if anyone else ever tried that, and did it work out. I'm going to test several different methods before I go and "trash" all that lumber I purchased.

Hope I'm not boring people with all of my novice questions and ideas. (if nothing else, perhaps I'll give some of you a few laughs)

John