Hello experienced timber framers...
I am trying to figure out the geometry of doing an octagonal hammer beam with 8 rafters running into the top of it and 8 collar ties farther down. I know for the collar ties I can do a wedged half dovetail, but I'm struggling with the rafters. Everything I can find on hammer beams, king posts or about anything else says to use a mortise and tenon joint. However, on this particular piece there isn't a place to put pegs because every face has a member coming into it. Where do the pegs go? Are there pegs? Is there a way to design the interior of the post so that the tenons lock themselves? How does this work?
