Timber Framing

[Dave Shepard]

I finished the bench Monday. It's really been a game changer over the sawhorses. I pretty much don't need to clamp most timbers, unless they are small/light. Saving time and aggravation. You can see two pegs sticking up on the righthand top. These are stops to keep the timber from sliding very far when chiseling. They are on both ends. Most tools are easily kept on the bench.

 

[stikine]

Dave, what's the tool to the right of the saw handle?

 

[Dave Shepard]

I'm looking for ideas for a small spec timber frame. I need to order a couple more 27' logs from my logger, and I want to fill out the load with some smaller timbers. I have a couple ideas, but not sure what might be appealing. What would you want in your backyard?

1-12'x14' Picnic Pavillion. Four posts with a hipped roof. Enough room for a picnic table and a grill. A hipped roof would be new for me. Curved/forked/natural bracing.

2-10'x12' Two bent shed.

3-12'x16' Three bent garden shed.

4-Three-sided Woodshed, size variable.

 

[Dave Shepard]

It's a plumb bob for scribing timbers. I'll have to take photos at some point to show how it's used.

 

[lxskllr]

I'm unfamiliar with the term "bent". Normally I wouldn't have much use for a pavilion, but I was just contemplating what I'd like if you were to give me one of those constructions. I think I might like a pavilion with a hole in the center of the roof to remove smoke from the central open fire. A shed would be more practical, but I don't have a ton of use for a shed either.

Something like this could be interesting to get rid of smaller pieces of wood...

Torii - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Dave Shepard]

A bent is a cross section of the building. In a simple shed, it would be two posts and a tie beam. In this photo, the bent is from the ladder to the taller front post. There are two braces, and a horizontal girt to support siding.

 

[stikine]

It's a plumb bob for scribing timbers. I'll have to take photos at some point to show how it's used.

I figured it was a plumb bob but could not figured it's application.

 

[Burnham]

I'd go with the pavilion, for my home. The larger garden shed would be a close second.

Your work is too handsome to just fill up with firewood, I think .

 

[lxskllr]

A bent is a cross section of the building. In a simple shed, it would be two posts and a tie beam.

I meant to get back to this. Your post was timely. I got a call Friday for a request to stake piles on my new trail job, and the super referred to the pile sections as "bents". Since you told me, I knew what he was talking about. What are the odds? I hear something for the first time in my life, and it gets referenced a day later :^)

 

[Burnham]

The T'House rules, yup.

 

[Dave Shepard]

I just ordered logs for this frame. It's the 12'x16' Sobon Shed. I just snapped the photo from his book. Pretty versatile, and under the 200 sq. ft. required for a non-permitted structure.

 

[Dave Shepard]

Scarfing plates this week.

Chopping scarf joints is messy with a side of shrapnel.

I like to chop within an eighth inch of the line.

Finish with the slick. Tenon tomorrow.

 

[Dave Shepard]

There are a couple of red oak timbers in this frame. Not my favorite, but I do like the figure.

 

[lxskllr]

What's your favorite? Oak's pretty much my favorite wood, from the living tree to firewood to functional and decorative finished objects. Some things like survey stakes, I prefer something different for technical reasons, but oak's king.

In the case of stakes, I like tulip poplar due to the light weight, smooth finish, and being good enough for the job. Most times, it only has to last days/weeks, and poplar can economically do that, but if you want a stake to last, it's oak all the way.

 

[SeanKroll]

What is that last pic?

 

[Dave Shepard]

It's the block that gets popped out of a joist pocket after drilling. I thought it was interesting. You drill three holes in the back of the pocket.

 

[Dave Shepard]

White pine is my favorite.

 

[Nutball]

Why? Looks, smell, workability?

 

[Kaveman]

Ponderosa is my favorite. Underrated, strong sound knots, takes a nail really well and is locally abundant. Smells nice too.

 

[Burnham]

Douglas fir.

 

[Dave Shepard]

I finished the framing part of my involvement with this project. I went to the shop Friday to pick up my bench and Craig offered me some braces, as he's going on vacation, and didn't want to worry about them getting done. Sure, I'll take an extra 36 joints. I got them finished today, but it got dark a little earlier than I wanted.

 

[SeanKroll]

Very cool, Dave!

 

[Dave Shepard]

I've got 260 13/16", and 16 1" pegs to make, I think. I just did a mental walk through of the frame, and that's what I got. I'll measure extras, in case Craig double pegged anything I don't know about. You would think it wouldn't be too hard to get a couple of nice straight red oak rounds, but this is all I've found, so far.

 

[lxskllr]

I guess there's no shortage of quality kindling at your place :^D

I guess those get processed further to get them roundish? That's a lot of work, but looks pleasant enough when the weather's good.

 

[CurSedVoyce]

Beauty grain in that.
Sometimes it's hard to make it into firewood. But then I do prefer to be warm come winter. Bet those pegs will drive nice etc.