They don't have to be Straight

[ARKANSAWYER]

  Not all timbers in a frame have to be straight.  The Japaneese do crooked logs real well.  I just get a flat referance line and use scribe rule for the rest of the log.



  Once you get it cut then just fit it into a frame.



  It adds to the frame and uses what would have other wise been tossed over the hill.  The bottom chords on that bent were bowed post so I installed them with the bow up for my chords.   Waste not want not.

[TN_man]

It takes some skill and practice to get to where you can get the most out of one of those logs though. Say for example, you were wanting to get a 6x6 out of that log and it is 10" diameter, you will have to plan it just right so that you are not taking too much out of one side and not leaving enough on the other. I have found myself messing this up too many times and then having to make it a 4x6 for some other piece to the frame. I have not completely mastered it yet. Since logs like that are cheap and plentiful, I try not to waste them either. 

[hillbilly]

              ARKY ,
          how big are those and how far did you span them ?
       I need to make a new mill building.
           HILLBILLY

[Bro. Noble]

Hillbilly,

I've got some pine logs down that need a home if you need some.

[Rockn H]

What's that going to be when it's finished?  Lookin good so far. ;D

[Peter A Smith II]

Check out the pictures here: http://putnamhill.net/house/08-05-01.html These people built a timberframe that used four huge pine trees in the center! The trees were mostly straight, but had kooky branches used for braces.

[Furby]

Thanks Peter!
That's what I want to do, but on a bit larger scale. ;) ;D

[ARKANSAWYER]

  Sorry it took me so long to get back.   The post are 6x6 SYP and in metal connectors that I make.  I am free spaning 31 ft 5 inches.  The end walls will have 2x6 studding so do not have king post like the middle two bents.  The house is 36 ft long with 12 ft side walls.  The middle bents have double post as this is a frame for a cordwood home.  The sides of the house will be cordwood up 8 ft and 16 inchs thick.



Here is what cordwood looks like.



  I like the large knotty logs in the frame of that house.  It took some fitting to get the timbers in there.  If you ever go to Bass Pro Store in Springfield MO you will see something like that on a grander scale.  But the logs are split and hollowed out and put back together around steel pipe that hold up the building.

[hayton1960]

Hi Arkansayer
I have never seen anything like this before! 8)
Is the infill just small logs running at 90 degrees to the line of the plate?
How are they held in place?
What is on the inside of the building?
do you see the logs inside?
Does it give good insulation values?
Is it complicated or expensive to do?
Ps is your cordwood frame near completion, I would be very keen to see a photo
Cheers Jonathan

[Furby]

I can't recall the specific site, but if you Google cordwood construction there is a lot to read.

[mark davidson]

hey jonathan, try
http://www.cordwoodmasonry.com/Cordwood.html

[Furby]

That's one of them!
There should be a link there someplace to go to another site with many, many more pics.

[GAV64]

ARKY,

Could you please give me some detail on the steel connectors you make, I have seen them elsewhere commercially but they are pricey per bent. thanks glenn.

[ARKANSAWYER]

  This is a connector made form 3/16 6x6 steel square tubing cut 8 inches long at 30 degrees.  Three of these will make a bent and the roof will be 7/12 pitch.   My local steel guy cuts them for me and the price of steel and cutting makes it $19.70 per connector.  I am a good welder and it takes me about 5 min to weld one and about as long to drill the holes.




  Some of them get pretty fancy, like this one for a double post in a king bent.  I have done them with just about every size tubing down to 4x4 and up to 12x12.  Some times in the king bents I use 4x10's for bottom cords so I mix up the steel.


 

    This is just a 6x6 cut at 6 inches long and one side cut off so I can mount it to concrete.

  You can make just about every joint with just about every angle that you can cut.  Now as for cost if you figure the cost of steel, time to weld, drill, paint and assembly you can most often cut the joints.  But with the steel you can use smaller timbers because you do not have so much wood removed for the joints.  It is a very nice look and you can change the steel size and lengths as needed.   Good welding is important.

[GAV64]

THANKS ARKY.