Need Help With Cutting A Beam

[DeepWoods]

Solid plate cut into a tee is what I would like as well.  Don't have a plasma cutter or a torch, but I do have a welder.  Figured after welding, grinding, and sandblasting to even out the finish, I would paint them dark bronze.  Hopefully they will look like a solid tee when finished.  Do like the idea of square head bolts.  Something else comes to mind, will a green timber take stain? 

[mesquite buckeye]

I would think so in a couple of weeks after they are up.

[Alaskabob]

If it is a soft wood beat it with different sizes of chain randomly

[DeepWoods]

So I have another question  that I need advise on.  If I use a 6x6 cross beam as shown in my last Sketchup drawing, I need at least an 8 1/2 inch diameter log at the small end per, the tool box calculator, to get my 6 inch beam.  Is it better to choose a tree that is just large enough to get one beam per log by just taking the slabs off. Or do I select a larger tree that I can get some side lumber out of the log to get to my beam size?  Which option gives me the better, stronger, beam?  I have plenty of either size available to get nice straight Red Pine to choose from. 

[mesquite buckeye]

My experience is mostly with hardwoods, so take it for what it is worth. Most of the logs I get if I try to use a minimum log to get a piece, usually I don't get the piece. Better to have a bit bigger log to allow for curvature, bends, crooks pocket rot and so on. It doesn't hurt to have extra length either, especially if you don't have extra logs to spare or to convert to other lumber.

[rimshot]

I have an old pick axe, that I could get a sharp edge on, but I don't have a way to make it curved.  I will start asking around, maybe I can come across one, as the hand hewn finish would look good.

Now for another question,  If I use 6x6 posts, how does the 6x12 beam get connected together?  Doesn't seem right to just toenail them  together.   Redbeard, I'm not sure I follow your comments, but I do want a ceiling fan on the beam, can you elaborate, or provide a sketch so I can understand what it is your telling me?

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You will be show casing your post and beam construction.  Why not have some plate steel gussets made up.  Paint them wrought iron black ad use them to lag outside the joining places.  Alternatively. drill and angle lag screw or connect drill and pin with rebar.

Did you say what type of wood you would be using for these beams?  You may need an architect or engineer to approve of this method.  Check with your building inspector first.

bs5

[barbender]

The county Deepwoods and I both reside in is not subject to building codes, there is no building inspector. The only inspections my home required was for the septic system and the electrical. Les unless you want some live edge I would go with a bigger log, around 10 inches.

[DeepWoods]

I'm hoping to get started on the construction as soon as the temperatures allow.  When I do, I plan on posting the build on the General Topics forum for all to follow. 

Since this will be an open screened structure, and rain and snow will be blown in, is there a need to use pressure treated lumber?  I will finish the interior with pine, but that may be a while.  The exterior will match the existing half log siding that is on the current cabin.  Just wondering if the added expense would be justified. 

[Brucer]

I hate sawing 6x6's. The best size for a heart-centered post is 9" (which gives you a bit of allowance for irregularities). Problem is, with Douglas-Fir the small diameter tops have plenty of knots that make for a weaker, lower grade post. If I go for FOHC (Free of Heart Centre) than I'm looking at a 16" to 18" top with plenty of side lumber >:(.

What I usually do is use a 12" log and saw a 6x6 out of the center, with 4 6x6's around the sides. That's assuming I have orders for full dimension 6x6's.

[mesquite buckeye]

I need one of your log stretchers. ;D 8) 8)

[DeepWoods]

Finally time to update this post.  I stick framed the walls of the screen porch a couple weeks ago and made time yesterday and today cutting the posts and beams for the roof.  I took the easy way out as there were two nice red pine within a 100 feet of the mill that were straight and large enough to get the 6x12 main beam, and another smaller red pine for the posts and cross ties.  Time for some pictures.

Here is the butt log ready to winch onto the mill, 18 feet long, 21 inches at the swell, 17 inches on the small end.  Checked the toolbox calculator, and it's estimated weight is 1924 pounds.  I was surprised it rolled up the ramps with no problems. 


 

Here it is already to start cutting it down to size.


 

I decided to pin a piece of cardboard to the end so I wouldn't lose track of the finished beam size.  I did it to both end to make sure I kept the pith centered.



 

Here is my neighbor, Dean taking the bark off.  Even though the trees were close to the mill, we had to drag them through sand to get them to the mill. 



 

I took both of us with cant hooks to turn after slabbing and taking off a couple of nice 1 inch boards.



 

By now we have removed several hundred pounds of slabs and 1 inch side lumber.  Still takes both of us to turn this beast.



 



 

Here we are cut to final dimensions, and cutting the 6/12 pitch on the top of the beam.  I was worried about how I was going to cut the angle, but figured I would start out trying it the simplest way possible with just tipping it with wedges.  It worked well, after figuring out how to clamp it.  I did have to pick it up with my skid steer and turn it end for end to make the cut on the second angle. 

It is now down to 378 pounds, and all I have to do now is figure out how I'm going to get it to the top of the posts.


 

[barbender]

Nice work Les! Man, you must have some patience to get that all lined up to cut your roof pitch on the mill I built a "stiff leg derrick" out of 2x6's, and a chain hoist, to lift my beams into place. It worked pretty well.

[thecfarm]

Looking forward to seeing that where it belongs!

[drobertson]

very nice beam!

[DeepWoods]

Most of the time I tend to over think things, so cutting the roof pitch on top of the beam normally would have been an hour or two trying to decide what would be the right way to do it.  But because I really didn't have a clue, and it didn't seem like it should be all that hard, the wedge idea came to me first.  So I tried it and it worked great.  K.I.S.S. works!

This is the framing that we did a couple weeks ago. 



 

[beenthere]

Looks to be a nice addition to an already beautiful home. Plan to go with the same style siding?

[drobertson]

KISS is a very good concept, and the addition looks great!

[DeepWoods]

Yes, to the same style and color siding.  We will run short from the original order, but will most likely need to order enough for the gable end peak. 

[DeepWoods]

So last Saturday a friend on the lake came over to let me know that he had volunteered himself and four other guys that had come up for a few days of fishing, to help raise the beam.  So yesterday after lunch, his guys, and two other resident friends of mine, and myself got together to put the beam in place.  It turned out to be one of the easiest ten minute jobs I have done in some time.  It really was just a matter of picking it up and raising it up onto the posts.  Eight men and eight minutes later and it was done without breaking a sweat.  Let's just say I was one happy guy! 8) 8) 8)

I posted the video on YouTube to watch, for those interested. 

http://youtu.be/x-Qcqmt5uKA

[beenthere]

Good job, well done. Can't beat a bunch of guys on a fishing trip to make a work project very "short" so's to get back to fishing. 

Hope there was enough room below the beam to remove the scaffolding. ;)

[drobertson]

Thanks for sharing, looks like you all had a good time with great results, nice planning if I say so myself.

[Bill Gaiche]

Great. I can see what has caused all that grey hair now. bg

[thecfarm]

Of course we are interested. Many hands make light work.
One of my friends and me put up green hemlock rafters on the women cave. 2"X8"X12', He ain't been over much since that workout.  :D

[richhiway]

Looks like a great project. Thanks for posting. Nice to see a bunch of good guys come give you a hand. Not enough good guys around anymore!

[DeepWoods]

Today the cross ties and pillars were put up.  Still need to bolt the tee plates on the joints, but that can wait for a rainy day.  Hopefully the roof deck will be put on tomorrow.