Am I doing it right ??

[beetle]

I am currently cutting the joints on the 24' Tie Beams for my Barn project and I DO NOT want to make a mistake on these puppys.

I would like verification that I am placing the brace mortises in the correct location. The 8"X8" center posts that tenon into the tie beams are cut down to 7 1/2" in the direction of my frame convention, the braces are housed in the tie and post 1/2". When I layout/locate the brace pockets on the tie beam, am I correct to hook my tape in the mortise ( which is 7 1/2" ) and measure 35 1/2"" on the front side and 36" on the back side?? When I refer to the back side that is the side where the post and mortise is cut down to 7.5".

In addition...the Tie beam is housed 1" into the exterior posts and again the braces are housed 1/2". When I am locating the exterior brace mortise on the tie beam the measurement should be 36 1/2" off the shoulder of the tie...correct ?

Thanks for comments.

[Jim_Rogers]

Beetle:
There are several ways to do this.
When you design a frame you have to select some "General Frame Rules".
Such as 1) All joints are housed down to the next 1/2" in size. 2) All bents are laid out from the West except the East most bent. 3) Joints are 2" off the layout face and 2" thick, to name a few.
And there can be exceptions to every rule. Sometimes you may want a tenon centered for example. Or with smaller timbers you may want to lay them out 1 1/2" by 1 1/2"

Besides the rule that all bents are laid out from the West you may have to make a rule that 2a) All interior posts are laid out from the center aisle. Which was a standard traditional timber framing rule.

If you have a reduction at the top of a post, from a 8" to 7 1/2" then this reduction should follow one or more of these rules. That is it could be reduced on two adjacent faces or just one face opposite the reference side/face, it's really up to you.

In your design you have a four bent, 3 bay barn, but you also have a 3 aisle barn. The center of the center aisle can also be a reference base line.

Like this:



Now to answer you questions, directly.

If you're braces are housed 1/2" then the "working point" or "starting point" which is the corner of the 90° right triangle has to be in line with these 1/2" housings. So yes, on the front side you'd measure over 35 1/2" and 36" on the back.

And yes, the brace mortise is 36 1/2" off the tie shoulder, in order that the brace housing down the post is housed 1/2".

Hope this helps.

Jim Rogers

[beetle]

Thanks Jim, that helped, I just wanted assurance that I am doing it right.

My frame rules are:

All measurements are taken from east to west and north to south, it just happens to be the way the barn foot print is layed out on my land and were it is postioned in relation to were I am working the timbers.

All housings are 1/2" except the Tie to Post which is 1".

All mortise and tenons are 2" off / 2" thick.

All timbers are cut down to the next 1/2" size opposite the reference face.

A update on my progress:

Foundation is in.
Three Ties yet to cut, however, one took off on me while stored so I have to procure another.
The two wall plates and two Perlin plate's to cut which includes the scarf's.
Then she is ready to RAISE  8)

I still have not run a electric cord, I walk out to the cutting area with one tool box and my boring machine and thats it.