Gabel were you suggesting that the wedged half dove tail requires extra time and there for not worth a client or your families valuable time, when you typed this...personal project house or are you trying to feed your family by cutting these?. I have seen two examples in production shops where they don't use this joint, due to the fact it " takes to much time". This bothers me in some way. The wedged half dove tail is a very strong joint and there for is the joint of choice over one with out a wedge and half dove tail,when used on a tension member. I believe it was the joint which broke Ben Brungrabers hydraulic press.
Other details I am interested in is the direction the wedge goes Inside/outside and why? Number of pegs, size and placement? Where else is this joint used King post and Tie beams?
I have read that the wedge goes in from the outside. The shrinkage issue is solved for the most part by having the small end section of the timber (the tenon) naturally/pre dried in comparision to the rest of the timber so on assembly there isn't much drying left and very little shrinkage after that. There for the wedge is inserted from the outside not the inside where it can be tightened later by taking up the flooring and driving the wedge even more. I also don't use anchor seal on any of my joints, this would prolong the drying process.
I have gone to one 5/4" peg in addition. I was looking at a old barn and noticed the tying joint had had pulled away by about 2" on closer inspection there was no peg as back up, but the building had great amounts of stress added to it as it was in a state of collapse.
Futher comments would be great. Tim
