Making the post and beam timber frame

 Test pieces for half lap joints

First I made many test pieces to try out the best way to make the half lap joint where the horizontal wall beams meet. There is 9 of these joints to make and I wanted to get it right. In the end the simplest one was used.

 Framing bed with beam clamped in place

On the level floor of the house a framing bed made of 3 strong planks is fixed as a template. The 2 long planks correspond to the vertical post positions and another matches the horizontal beam height. All the marking is done on the framing bed and then the cuts are made, first on the posts then the beam. Then the logs are placed back on the bed and checked and readjusted if necessary.

 Post scribed to fit curve of beam

On about half of the joints the top of the post is scribed to make a neat looking junction between the post and beam, it takes over an hour for each scribe, so they are only on the ones seen from the tupa (kitchen/living room)

 Tennons on bottom of wall posts

On the bottom of the posts a 4"x2"x6" long tennon is made, this fits into the mortice joint at the floor beam junctions, which were made last Summer.

 Posts and beam on the framing bed to mark for wind brace positions

The whole lot is then placed on the framing bed for the last time to be marked for the wind brace positions. A flat surface is created on the post and beam to receive the wind brace, these will hopefully work out to be exactly 45 degrees from the side of the post to the underneath of the beam, we will find out when the frame is standing.

"Jenkki saha" cutting the wind brace surfaces.

 

 

Karel the apprentice natural builder

So then after 6 weeks including going to Ireland for my brother Aidan's wedding all the posts and beams are ready and waiting to be put up.