Timber Framers Guild Forums General General Forum Questions Seeking Advice on potential of 4"x6" Western Cedar Beams

I am a hobby woodworker, blessed(or cursed) with decent skills, and
a new found interest in learning timber framing skills.
Towards this end I have the oppourtunity to buy some good quality
salvaged 4" x 6" western red cedar beams, random
lengths, up to 16'.
I thought I might get enough to frame a small
project such as a garden shed or other small
structure.
With limited time to learn, before I must buy the
beams, I am turning to this forum for opinions
on timbers of this dimension, and their sutability
for my proposed idea. Many thanks.

Ken

PS I thought the cedar would be excellent, as I love working with
cedar, and this is a fairly rare oppourtunity
in my area to get cedar at a reasonable price

@ Chance,

though I know little about Western red cedar the 4x6 dimension you have mentioned will be suitable for a small shed. Of course if you want to build a "traditional American frame" then this would not be the right dimension.

Depending on what it is that you will be building you might want to keep post/rafter spacing within a 42" range.

If the price is okay and the timbers are good I would purchase them and decide later what to do with them. Maybe a nice pergola. The possibilities are endless and only limited to by your imagination.