Timber Framers Guild Forums General General Forum Questions T-REX CONNECTORS

hi guys. Has anyone used these connectors and if so how did it turn out. Pros/cons?

http://ctpostandbeam.com/gallery/t-rex-connectors/

I haven't used them, but I've seen them up close. The 12'x16' frame at Tallon Lumber in Canaan, CT is about 20 minutes from me. The finished product looks ok, but it is very obvious that it is not mortises.

I personally feel that you can mortise and tenon a frame faster and cheaper than you can do it with fasteners. Let's compare a post to tie beam joint. A tenon on an 8"x10" tie beam with square rule reduction and a through tenon on an 8"x8" post, with peg holes, might take an hour. How long will it take, and what special tools are required, to use the T Rex connectors? You still have to accurately cut, slot, and drill the timbers, then you have to pay for the hardware on top of your time investment. I would very closely investigate the time and expense of using a metal fastening system.

Thanks for the reply. Your probably right about the overall time involved plus the $40 bucks it cost for the T-plate. There's also no room for any movement due to shrinkage. Could possible pull the GRKs out of the post. Another thought is that you would save timber using the T-REX. Eg. Only need for example a 12ft timber instead of a 14ft needed for a beam with tenons. Either way that still leaves a shrinkage problem. There probably good connectors for dry wood or special applications. Maybe someone should invent a timber stretcher. Lol

So $40 per joint? If you were closer, you could probably hire me to cut the frame for the same cost as the fasteners.

Ok Dave it's a deal. When can you start. Guess that includes the wood. Lol

Drilling the timber accurately for those pins is easier said than done. Notice they don't show how that is done. Any little variation, especially on bigger timber, would be a problem.

There is also very little relish behind the pins.

Lastly, I wouldn't use these on any outdoor structure or anywhere condensation could form on the metal and lead to rot in the timber. This is the argument against using metal gussets for repairs in old barns.

Hi Will. I talked to the owner of the T-REX design and he said that they insert the T into the end of the timber. No holes are in the wood or connector yet. Takes a long pilot steel bit and drills through the wood until it hits the metal. This marks the metal. Pulls the metal from the timber and drills a 1/2" hole through it. Then drills 1/2" holes into the wood but not all the way through to the other side. THEN ONCE BACK TOGETHER HE INSERTS A 1/2" aluminium pin. Either way there is a potential big problem if the post that are attached to it are green lumber. Won't allow for any shrinkage with out breaking something or pull out GRKS.