Ash Beams

[redoak]

In timber framing the size of the member is set to accomodate the joinery, not its load bearing capacity. Because the joinery requires a lot of space timberframe structures appear "overbuilt." 8x8 is pretty much the smallest post or beam dimension you'll find with traditional joinery.

-redoak

 

[slabmaster]

In timber framing the size of the member is set to accomodate the joinery, not its load bearing capacity. Because the joinery requires a lot of space timberframe structures appear "overbuilt." 8x8 is pretty much the smallest post or beam dimension you'll find with traditional joinery.

-redoak

The old rule for proportioning the width of a mortice and tenon joint in equal size timbers is to make them between a third and a half of the width of the timbers involved.Any wider and the cheeks of the mortice would be too weak; narrower and the tenon would be too weak.In the 4inch timbers that became standard in the lateryears of timber-framing this proportion comes to 1 1/2 " which is plenty good for a building.Mine are going to be larger than that.I've seen modern timber-framed buildings with 6x6 corner posts,4x4 studs, layed on 4x8 sill beams.This size still allows for 3 7/8" to 4 1/8" long mortices.This is useing hardwood of course. Mark