HINT HINT! ;)
I second that!!
How was the class and are you planning another one soon?
As one of the participants, I can say a great time was had by all. :) Joey, Anita, and family were terrific and understanding hosts. Jim Rogers was an excellent and patient instructor. We had a perfect blend of lecture and hand-on work.
Didn't get to raise anything b/c of scheduling problems with the concrete guys but we did everything up to that point. I gained a lot of confidence. Would go back to work more if it was closer. 8) 8)
To All:
It seems that Joey, may have mis-placed his camera and will find it soon among all his new tools as he cleans up his well stocked current shop.
But in the mean time I have some.
Here is one of the class:
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/Dscf1185-s.jpg)
Front row, left to right: Clyde Osborn (Joey's right hand man), Pops (Joey's father in-law, and his left hand man, at times), Jacob Price (the hardest working young man I've ever met), Jeff Price (TN_man on the FF, Jacob's proud father), and the ever growing THIN man Joey Lowe our host.
Back row, left to right: Philip Dahl (from Monroe, LA) and Jim Yon (JimY on the FF).
A great bunch of participants who gave it their best.
In the middle is Bent number one a 20' wide queens post bent bent of southern yellow pine standing on a set of temporary blocks.
A good time was had by all.
Jim Rogers
I want to thank everyone that made the class possible. Jacob and I had a great time. On the way home, Jacob said "thanks for taking me, Dad, I had a great time. I could stand to do that for a living!"
I appreciate Jim's willingness to share his knowledge and experience with us. It was nice to meet him as well as Jim Y and Phil, who both are members of the forum. Also want to thank Joey who opened his home to us and made us all feel welcomed. I don't have a digital camera, so I can't post any pictures. Sorry. Jeff
:D Hi all:
I located the camera right where I left it. (In the pocket of my raincoat.)
Overall, I think fun and learning was had by all. Weather was great all week except for Friday. (We got wet!) Everyone started arriving on Sunday & Monday and since it appeared that we would have room, all stayed on site.
Tuesday morning started off with a pow wow around the trailer. Here's the first of many photos to come.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/P9210103.JPG)
That's the sawmill and the kiln to the rear of Jim and the new shop is to the left of the photo. You can barely see one of the forms in place.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/P9210104.JPG)
Jim Rogers starts to work on a tenon as Philip Dahl looks on.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/P9220125.JPG)
Jeff Price takes a turn at using the skill saw from h****. This saw will humble you pretty quick.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/P9240138.JPG)
The whole group gets involved in setting up bent #1 for a fit-up. Using cribbing made it easy to set up this bent, but the wet weather and mosquitos took a toll.
:) More pics later along with details. I have to get back to the real world for a bit and crunch some numbers.
Every pic I have seen of Jim ....All that can be seen are that hat and bibs....is this guy in witness protection :D :D :D....probably just a hard worker.... 8) 8)
Buzz:
I've been sued so many times for braking cameras that I tend to lean into the position to reduce the lawyers fees :D :D
I did however bring my cast iron camera and Joey managed to get one shot of me:
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/DSCF1184-s.JPG)
I wore that red shirt that day so I won't blend in with the others. :D :D
You should have seen the looks I got walking threw Dallas/Fort Worth Airport with that hat on ;D ;D :D
Jim Rogers
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/P9250145.JPG)
Here I am using the shaving horse that I built to Jim's specs/plans. It works really good and I was even able to convince my wife that it was the latest trend in exercise as evidenced below:
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/P9250155.JPG)
Thanks for the pictures guys. At least my wife now knows, with at least some certainty, where I was last week. The class was great, as was the company. We all learned a lot and made some good friends. Wasn't someone going to e-mail me some pictures?
Thanks to all!
Here are some more photos of the workshop:
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/Dscf1169-s2.jpg)
Above is Joey and his woodmizer.
Below is Joey and his supervisor:
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/Dscf1174-s2.jpg)
Below, father and son team working a timber:
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/Dscf1171-s2.jpg)
Below: Philip studying the plan, looking for dimension:
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/Dscf1172-s2.jpg)
Here is the plan:
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/DSCF1180-s2.JPG)
Below is Clyde trimming a brace tenon:
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/Dscf1188-s3.jpg)
They all did a good job.
Jim Rogers
Looks like a whole lota fun !
Good job guys.
In my haste to make sure everyone was having a good time, I forgot to pay close attention during the square rule layout porion of the seminar. Thanks to Jim, his previous posts help answer my questions about sizing the housing.
Okay, I thought it was time for a little update here too. I will be adding some photos over the next few days as time permits. My harddrive crashed and I'm slowly recovering the data, so please bear with me if I make a mistake. ::)
This is a photo some of the beams that were cut a few days after the seminar. Nice tight grain on SYP.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/PA040001.JPG)
Here is another view:
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/PA040002.JPG)
Here is one of the concrete guys going over the final touches prior to laying the slab.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/PA090004.JPG)
Here special attention is given to the rebar in the footings. Code officers required 4 #5 rebar beams to be continuos around perimeter of slab and had to be at least 18" below grade.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/PA090008.JPG)
That's it for now. I will upload more later. The slab has been poured. The sill plates are in place. The joinery for the first 4 bents have been cut and weather permitting, I plan to start standing up bents in the morning.
That SYP looks beautiful, I'll bet that makes one sharp looking frame! Most of the pine we get to work with up here is white and we rarely get any with a grain that looks as pronounced as yours.
Hi all. Another update along with some minor problems. I was preparing to raise the first of three bents that I have ready to raise and I got bent one assembled. (just the three posts, tie beam and braces.) All have been planed and oiled and man are they pretty. I lined up bent one with the mortices in my sill plate and put my strong backs in place and I put kickers along the sill plates to keep the posts from sliding off the foundation. I'm using a fork tilt the bents up and so I got it into position and got the bent strapped and secured. I slowly start to raise bent one and it comes up beautifully. I get it tilted to about 80 degrees and I'll be darned if the whole thing didn't slide sideways towards the west about a foot. So I had to lay it back down and will probably have to disassemble the bent and move everything back into position tomorrow. (I ran out of daylight.) I guess tomorrow that I will also put kickers in place along the sides of the posts to keep everything on the straight and narrow and give it a go again. A friend stopped by and suggested that I just raise the posts, plumbe and brace them and then lower the tie beam into place. Any thoughts on this approach? By the way, a 20 foot long 8 x 8 beam suspended 11 feet in the air is a mighty humbing sight. Oh did I mention that I'm having the time of my life too. 8) Thanks again Jim!
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/1st%20Bent.jpg)
::) Hi all! Here is the first bent all stood up. That's me in the foreground for those that don't know. This was a tedious task, but well worth it. The rest should flow a lot smoother. Philip Dahl stopped by and snapped some pics and offered his advice on some things too. He said that the Cowee school was a good time and that he learned quite a bit. More pics to follow in the coming days weather permitting.
Happy Holidays ;D
Joey:
Looks good!
I'm glad you resolved the side slip problem. It could have been because of an unbalanced load.
Jim Rogers
Workin in shirt sleeves looks good to me too ;D
Ha! We've had our forty days and nights of rain and now we have a couple of clear warrm days (70 degrees), followed by wind storms and blue northerers in the coming days. Next week, I'll break out the carhartts. :o
QuoteNext week, I'll break out the carhartts.
::) ::) ::)
I really can't complain much about this years weather 30's for highs and 20's for lows, we just don't have enough snow yet. :(
I keep forgetting to post more pics and with my schedule, I sometimes forget where I'm at too. Anyway, for those of you who are interested, here are a couple more shots.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/P1140001.JPG)
This is a pic of the first girt between bents one and two.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/P1140006.JPG)
Here is the second girt going into place.
Now you're cooking.....
Looks good......
Jim Rogers
PS. Joey: I'd show you pictures of my yard but all the snow, would scare you.......
Current outside temperature 16°
Good Lord! I could handle a little bit of snow, but 15 degrees is too cold. We dipped down to 29 this morning, and I'm wearing three shirts, two pair of socks, carhartts, and a head stocking. (I get a little cold). We should start our warm up tomorrow and they are calling for seventies by the weekend. I've been to Maine in August and nearly froze my rear end off. ;D
I'll get more photos on here in the coming days, too!
;D Here I am putting the finishing touches on the next two posts.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/P1180014.JPG)
Here's glimpse of my work area that I had set up to make better use of my time. The beams on the tall horses are all designated as frame posts.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/P1180006.JPG)
Here's a close up of a tenon.
(https://forestryforum.com/images/03_21_04/P1180007.JPG)
More pics later. I'm too tired now.
Hello Joey. Well it looks like you've made a LITTLE progress since I stopped by last month! It really does take a while doesn't it? In all my dealings I have found that pretty much everything costs more, takes longer and is more trouble than you first think.
I haven't started any major project, but have a couple I'm working on--it won't be too long now. I do have a small job to do in my metal storage building. I need to build a 500 SF 'mezzanine' floor for more storage and will use mortise and tenon joinery in the main support beams and posts.
Good luck Joey. You should have a couple of nice days ahead of you this week to work on your shop if your business schedule permits.
Philip
Hey Philip:
Actually made quite a bit of progress. We are working on bent 5 right now. That leaves just one more. The chain morticer made all the difference in the world. The longest part of the day is spent on layout and double checking and then triple checking the layout. Once I'm sure of my pencil marks, it doesn't take long to make the actual cuts. I finish my day with cutting at least two braces and making 20 pegs. That way, I stay ahead of the game for the next day. Good luck on the floor.
Hey guys! We just about have the whole group here now.
Thanks for the pics Joey, Jacob and I are watching with interest. We check this thread out from time to time in order to see how things are progressing. Keep up the good work. 8)
Hey Jeff & Jacob:
How are things going up in Tn? Are you guys staying warm? The weather here is supposed to be super nice for the next week or so. I hope to have the remaining bents up in the next couple of days and then I will start on the king post trusses, and principal rafters.
I need to get a close up picture of the queen post on bent one and post it here. I took the liberty of carving everyone's names & states that attended the first class into those posts. When I had the local building trades class from the high school come by for a field trip, they thought it was pretty cool that all of you guys participated in cutting that portion of the frame.
Jim's design on paper doesn't really do this frame justice. You really have to stand beside one the bents to fully appreciate the beauty of this frame. I was more than a little concerned about all of the braces that had to be placed at each post/girt/tie beam, but once done, it is simply beautiful. I will keep posting pictures to keep everyone informed. 8)
;D Here is my lil' helper cutting out a brace pocket. He swings a mighty big hammer!
Joey,
That last picture made my very jealous. I have three daughters with the youngest being 22. But the good news is my oldest is going to give me a grand son about the first week of June. Give him a little time and he will be swinging away. Can't wait to get him started. I have a 24' x 36' timber frame barn on the drawing table.
Hey Submarinesailor:
They make it all worthwhile. One thing the picture doesn't show is what he said. Something to the effect "Like this Daddy?"
My wife usually picks him up from daycare around 3:00 p.m. and as soon as they pull in the drive, he beelines for where I'm at, ready to work. My two older boys try and slip past me when they get home, but I'm usually quick to nab them every once and awhile. By the way, he had to have a set of carhartts too, so the wife found him a set at the local feed store. He now has a little tool belt too. Ain't life grand! :D
I'm trying to figure out how to upload new photos of the shop, but I'm so confused now that the process has changed. Do I create an ablum first and then link or how do I do it?
Yes create an album, and call it something like "My shop"
Then at the top of the album page select Up load files.
Then select up to five photos using the browse button and upload.
Once up loaded click continue and place them in that album, title them and describe them if you want to.
Once you've titled all of them, select the picture you want to insert into a post and at the bottom of the photos is some words "click here to copy photo address and img tags" and this will copy the location of the photo for posting in your thread.
Then create the thread and use control V to insert code.
You'll have to do that for each picture.
Good Luck,
Jim Rogers
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10112/Joeys%20Bldg.jpg)
Don't know if this worked or not. I really need to learn how to post pictures. I guess practice would improve my skills some. Anyway, for anyone who is interested, here is another photo of my frame. This was from a couple of weeks ago. We have since raised all of the purlins and placed six dormers. We are waiting on the T & G pine for the ceiling and the 3" sheets of rigid insulation. Once those arrive, we hope to start drying this building in next week. I will try and post more photos later, especially close up ones.
I used the Timberlinx system to build my king post trusses. I was really pleased with how easy this process was.
Thought I would try and place a couple more pics before sitting down to dinner. Here are a couple of the guys guiding the first king post truss into place. We used a flat deck crane to raise these trusses. Made quick work of the affair. Raised all six trusses in less than 4 hours with just three workers and the crane operator.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10112/The%20guys.jpg)
Here is the basic Timberlinx system. I have been working closely with Mike Preston and Neil Mclean of Timberlinx and I must say that these guys really have their act together. Now I know it is not traditional timberframing, however, their product greatly improves the strength of trusses and can be hidden from view so that the appearance is the same as a traditional timberframing. I'm sure that I will get some flack here from the purists, but my goal from the onset was to establish a timber frame building business. I used my personal timber frame project as a learning/training experience. And, I quickly learned that some joinery requires skills that I have yet to possess. Nonetheless, Timberlinx solved my problems and gave me the peace of mind that my trusses were secure and strong.
On the left is the actual drilling jig. I can think of some improvements, but I will save that for another thread. The jig works as advertised and is well made. The pins in the middle are the positioning pins. They are used to coax the actual pin and wedges into place once the holes are drilled. Of course, on the right are the pins and the wedges. Pretty simple assembly and even easier to use. What you save in time and frustration quickly compensates the initial outlay for the jig and tooling. If anyone is interested, I will gladly post more photos of how to use this system and I will share my experiences with anyone who requests.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10112/Timberlinx.jpg)
Looking good Joey! First time I have seen this system...looks pretty straight forward. Thanks for sharing pics and keep us updated!
Sandmar
Great job Joey 8) I have some of the Timberlinx, but have not used them yet . Are you using them for every joint or just some? They certainly seem like they might be an answer to my Building inspectors concerns. Clif
Hi Sandmar:
It's been a slow process, but a great learning experience. Since the building is for personal use, I tend to put it on the back burner occassionally in order to concentrate on other things.
Hi Clif:
I only used the Timberlinx for the trusses. I used traditional mortice and tenon joinery elsewhere, however, in hindsight, I would have used them to connect the connecting plates to the posts too. They are definitely stronger than any traditional joinery and they are foolproof. One lesson I learned the hardway is that no matter how screwy the layout appears, just stick to the measurements given in the manual and all will work out. Mike Preston has blessed my request to post a basic tutorial here and I plan to do just that in the next couple of days. I understand that they are working on a video tutorial that will be available in the near future.
That is one fine job you have done Joey . More power to ya !
Very nice indeed! 8)