scarfe joints

i'm gonna be making a ridge beam out of two pieces of 4 x 2

- i was told on this site a couple of weeks ago to use a scarfe joint to join the two.

I've looked it up on t'internet and it seems to be a very shallow diagonal cut.

Question number one - Any information on how to join the two together - nails, screws, glue ?


Because of the funny shape of the shed i am building all my rafters sit on a wall plate except the end one. Due to 45 degree angle in the wall this one will come to rest on the wall about a foot higher up.

It seems i can sit this end rafter on its own little wall plate about two foot long or i could sit it directly on the block work

Question number two - any thoughts on which would be best ?

Mucho Gracias

CB

1) Why not just get a longer 4x2? Must be a long shed! Failing that:
http://www.nhbcbuilder.co.uk/NHBCpublications/LiteratureLibrary/Technical/filedownload,21418,en.pdf page 25
http://www.timberbestpractice.org.uk/tbpp/ATR/joints/f_ilock4.htm
or even
//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=109432
2) Wall plate would be best