Can i start timber framing without all timbers delivered?

[pizza]

Hi. I recently had a partial delivery of all my timbers for  a small timber frame project. They are green very wet white oak. I would like to get started since I have time due to the virus situation and I've temporarily (hopefully) lost my regular day job. 

Is it safe to do so? I was thinking about cutting all of my sills and braces now. 4 sill pieces and 8 36" braces (it's a small shed). I'm not sure when I'll be getting the remaining half of my timber order since my state (PA) has shut everyone non-essential down. 

I'm afraid if I cut these pieces and then let them sit they will have "moved" by the time I get the remaining timbers and then nothing will fit.

What are your suggestions? Thanks.

[Don P]

There is nothing wrong with waiting. The closer wood is to the in-service moisture content the less grief there will be.

Now is the best time to borate the timbers, it will penetrate deeper into green wood.

You can rough out the timbers and then finish them later. The angles on braces become more acute as the timber dries, a 45 becomes a 47 degree angle or so as the timber shrinks in depth so if you do rough them out leave the shoulder area 1/2" longer or so and do the final angle and length just before fit-up. Go ahead and wax the ends whenever you cut to help reduce end checking.