Roger, The four timbers that I am cutting are wall and purlin plates. The bottoms will be morticed for the wall and queen posts and braces and the tops will receive step rafter seats for comon rafters. In Jack Sobons Book ,(Build A Classic Timber-Framed House)on page 77&78 he talks about First level and plum the two layout faces. He then holds the 1 1/2 tongue of a square against the end of the timber and sights down the top raising the square up or down then draws a line under the tongue. He then draws the perfect timber on the end and repeats this on the other end. He then snaps chalk lines down the faces to connect the perfect timber layout on the ends. So if I understand this method all layout for the joints are layed out from the chalk lines..?? Any Help or comments would be appreciated, Thanks, John.
