Thanks Dan. It sounds like good advice about using my long continuous members for plates instead and all heart white oak for the sills and just scarf them.At the same time it seems that it would not be a disaster to use pine or hemlock for sills providing they be ample distance from grade, be all heartwood, have superior protection from the outdoor elements, and also good amount of roof overhang, which are all already going to be included in my design regardless of sill species. I am still nervous about scarfing as I have yet to cut one of these joints, but I am sure it is like everything else that takes a little experience to get over the anxiety of it. Derek, I am with you. There are plenty of people like yourself that are well qualified to make the stamp but just dont have the ink. tb
