I learned that same method at Heartwood too. Didn't really see why it made sense then on square and straight material.
Assuming a 36" leg my brace is 4' 2 15/16" long on its length of reference. This is from tip of where the brace enters the theoretical face to theoretical face. The shoulders hit the face with 1/2" housing accounted for.
Everything beyond that is developed on the timber with a square. Just like I do with rafters, struts, posts, etc.
It's sort of a philosophical argument. After the first heating season the tolerances will be off if we built with green material.
Do you draw offset reference lines on other pieces (posts, ties, rafters) - or work from the reference face? (assuming no need to untwist or deal with out of square)
Last edited by bmike; 06/29/12 11:23 PM.
