Benchmarks on the slow path.

[beenthere]

Raph
Not completely understanding your intention, but assume you are concerned about the grub hole in the center by the pith.  If that were the only defect, it wouldn't concern me for strength of this joist. However, I suspect it leads to more galleries chewed out by the grubs and possible rot associated with the same holes. I'd not use it in a critical strength member, but go ahead and practice the falling technique.  :

[Don P]

As long as we're piling on, I think it has shake showing too. A pig should be getting nervous about now  ;D

[Raphael]

No shake just some staining, at least nothing has opened up.
  Counting rings I came up with the theory that damage occurred to the tree when the property was logged in the late 60's allowing egress to whatever beastie carved the hole.  No evidence that there is any rot in the timber but who can say.  :




Looks like he followed the drunkards path at the very least...

[Max sawdust]

I would rough in the joinery and see what you see ;)  Make the call then.
Max

[Don P]

 I think Beenthere had it right. It has no grade till you get out of the wormhole, the damage is unknown.  There was a section in grading class similar, I can't quote it but that was the intent. Nibble till you run out of length.

[Raphael]

I think Beenthere had it right. It has no grade till you get out of the wormhole, the damage is unknown. 

That's my understanding as well.
At best I've got a rough idea of the outer limits of damage based on the staining in the rings and the history of the property.  What I really have at best is a box beam with 2x material on top and bottom, 1x on the sides and a bunch of extra mass inside working against it.  I'm not up on torsion box calculations but that'll be a moot point once it checks. ;)

I might cut the joint just for curiosity's sake but I'm out of wiggle room on the timber so it'll get shortened and saved for future use.  I'll need some 8' joists for the front entry and possibly a ridge beam.

[Raphael]

Here's my little homage to boring insects everywhere.  :D


The tunnelling stopped about 3" beyond where I cut off the tennon so I've got an extra 10' 5x7 set aside for future use.

Deb and I hoisted and installed the last two permanent joists on Wednesday.


The most recent Hickory joist is already up top (waiting) and the White Oak is prepped to ascend.


White Oak joist in position before loosening the cable.

But the real excitement happened today while I was driving my father 100 miles round trip to the eye doctor.  I returned home to find the driveway blocked by the power company bucket truck that was installing our transformer.  No more buying electricity at $2.50 a gallon and listening to the generator roaring. 
 8) 8) 8)

[Stumpkin]

I have always disliked generators, they're hard on electric motors (low start-up voltage) and it's hard to hear the radio over all that noise. Tom  8) 8) 8)

[Don P]

Woohoo, silent power. That's a return to sanity, generators chant in my ear all day"turnmeoffturnmeoff"  :D.