Sawmill Shed Pole Building

[TimW]

The only one cupped was the oak.    Jacket board, as I remember.

[TimW]

Was out cleaning up before starting the trusses and snapped this photo.

[jpassardi]

I found the same - cupping not the issue.
Despite trying to put the stress so it bows rather than crooks some of the oak logs had stress in both directions or not as indicated by the split in the end of the log. Sometimes you're forced to leave a bit of sapwood on smaller logs which can obviously cause sapwood pull when drying.

[TimW]

Once I get one truss built, I wanna make a jig on the concrete out of wood.  What is the best way to secure wood to concrete with removal in mind?

[Old Greenhorn]

TapCons.

[Resonator]

Just a suggestion Tim, I didn't attach my truss jig to the concrete when I built my garage.
I made a free standing 2x framework, covered it with plywood (OSB), and then laid out the full size truss pattern on it. That way I could draw everything out, and add jig blocks on the plywood to align the chord and web pieces. It worked good, and every truss was built identical.

[TimW]

OG....TapCons it is!
Resonator......That is a lot of extra work.  Plywood ain't cheap now.  Cool idea thou.

[jpassardi]

I would build on saw horses so you don't have to bend over. Get the pattern done then build the remaining trusses on top of it. I built mine for my barn that way. I also sided the gable end ones and built the overhangs on them while on the horses. The framing is all oak, rear wall facing the woods is board & batten, front is cedar shingles sawn with a jig on the mill.
I'm now pre-fabbing the 2nd floor walls and siding them so I can get it closed in and roofed (dry) as quickly as possible once the wood deck is on.

[TimW]

Jpassardi,
      What kept the truss in position on the sawhorses?  Did you put jigs on the sawhorses to hold the truss in position?

Another question while here...did Y'all use screws or 2 inch nails.  My framing air gun shoots 2 inch nails and are cheaper than screws.  Thoughts?

[doc henderson]

I have made my own trusses a few times.  with a nice concrete slab, you can snap line or draw with a sharpy if not too big.  If you make a jig with osb, use screws on that so the wafer board can be used for something else.  When I construct a truss, I use glue and staples.  nails can pull out and screws can shear.  staples are in-between and I use glue on the joints so the truss will denigrate rather than pull apart.  Tornado alley.  If you use the meatal press stuff, that is also good, if you have the equipment.  I use osb or plywood at the joints.

[Resonator]

I suppose it's like cookin', everybody's got a different way of fixin' biscuits and sayin' who's is best.

Here's my recipe:
I used 4 sheets of OSB to layout my 24' truss, so I spent approx. $60 to guarantee a flat work surface that I could easily nail/screw into. Also I reused the full sheets to panel the inside of my garage when I was done with making trusses, so I got my monies worth.
I've used both screws and nails over the years, these last ones I nailed the gussets on. I use 4 or 5 ply 1/2" plywood (not OSB) for my gussets, just my preference.

I also will say no matter how you build them, I'm a strong believer in bracing between the trusses. Whether K, X, or diagonal, and straight 2x4's from truss to truss on the chords. When I worked on a crew building houses in the 90's, every roof had required bracing in the plan.

[jpassardi]

Jpassardi,
      What kept the truss in position on the sawhorses?  Did you put jigs on the sawhorses to hold the truss in position?

Another question while here...did Y'all use screws or 2 inch nails.  My framing air gun shoots 2 inch nails and are cheaper than screws.  Thoughts?

Tim,
No need to fasten the pattern truss to the sawhorse but you could if you prefer. You could screw stops on the pattern so it's easier to keep them uniform but I don't find it necessary. I would use the same truss as the pattern though so you don't incur error along the way. I prefer the horses as opposed to bending over the whole time to fabricate.
If you're using plywood scabs for mending plates I would use some construction adhesive as well as whatever fasteners you use.

[TimW]

I thought using about Simpson Strong Tie plates and screws.  Price comparing to plywood and glue with nails won me over.  I still need to buy the plywood.

[TimW]

I will think about sawhorses.  Anyone have plans for wide top sawhorses?

[doc henderson]

@Resonator just posted a design, and you can always put a top board in a T. 

I think I have pics of the ones I made in Albany, NY to work the keel on my 22-foot O'Day Sailor 2.  It is an I beam design, and the two of them 7 feet long allowed me to support and rotate my boat top side down.  still in use.

[doc henderson]

these are 30 inches tall and 7 feet long.  they have been abused for 35 years.  Yes, I made my kids paint them with left over paint, good lessons.  the legs are on the end and the angle brace is on the outside so these can stack perfectly one on top of the other.  In my younger years, I could carry them both on my R shoulder with one hand stabilizing.  It makes them easier to store as well.  they have been supporting the wood you see since I got the sheet rock to do the shop.  about 2006.

you may even want to make dedicated supports for the purpose of truss building.  i.e. the outer tips of the truss may just need a bity one.

[doc henderson]

Do you have a truss design in mind or on paper you can share?  I have built shed and design and do my own, but not for a large building.

[TimW]

@Resonator just posted a design, and you can always put a top board in a T. 

Where did he post it?

[Resonator]

Details on my sawhorses are in the General Woodworking section - "Watcha Makin'?" page 87, reply #2172.

[jpassardi]

You might consider "I beam horses" built from 2x4's - simple and very rugged but a bit heavy. Search the site for them.

[Old Greenhorn]

These go together quick and easy. You can make them whatever length or height you want.


Edit to add: this design has no special joints and is quick and dirty BUT, if all you lumber is milled to consistent sizes and your cut length are accurate on the legs they will come out very consistent in height. If you are really loading them, add the obvious cross pieces o the lower legs. I have made these in heights of 1', 2', and 3'. I can say, if you hit the legs with forks when loaded they do tend to fold, so don't do that, or brace them.
 The pair in the photo I built in a few spare minutes one morning and stuck them out on my lawn for sale. They were sold in less than an hour.

[TimW]

Do you have a truss design in mind or on paper you can share?  I have built shed and design and do my own, but not for a large building.

I took 3 different bids to get their idea of trusses.  They all came back with the regular W design

So you used regular fence staples?

[TimW]

Just a suggestion Tim, I didn't attach my truss jig to the concrete when I built my garage.
I made a free standing 2x framework, covered it with plywood (OSB), and then laid out the full size truss pattern on it. That way I could draw everything out, and add jig blocks on the plywood to align the chord and web pieces. It worked good, and every truss was built identical.

I am second guessing your plywood jig surface.  I have to buy plywood anyway, so I will go that route...........with my knee pads on.  Elevated, it would seem hard for myself to flip it over to nail and glue the back side.

[doc henderson]

no.  glue then 2-inch x 1/2-inch-wide staples.  I have a pneumatic Bostitch stapler.  they do not shear and are very hard to pull out.  more of a construction stapler.  good to put on OSB.

[Resonator]

Knew a builder years ago that used staples to put OSB on a roof as Doc suggests, he said they were as strong as nails.
------------------
The truss flip to put gussets on the opposite side is always a tense moment. You want to minimize flexing, to keep all the joints secure. The bigger they are the more of a handful to wrestle with, 24' wide was about as much as I could do lifting by myself. If you can get additional help, or lift them up with a machine, either way to make it easier.