Timber Framers Guild Forums Tools Timberframe Design scarfing question

Thanks everyone! I appreciate your help.

Cheers,
Brock

*jumping in a little late, but what the heck*

I have always considered that the capacity of the Brace to care a load should not be considered when calculating spans, loads, etc, since the purpose of the braces is not to carry loads, but rather, to prevent the racking of the frame and stabilizng it against lateral loads.
On topic, I would splice the plate over the brace as directed in the above diagram if I have the choice, or over the post, as a second choice, if neccesary.

In the old text books also written by very experienced people, they advocate a balluster to help support a scarf joint if in fact one has to be used, you often see this in mill framing.

NH

I agree, but I do not think that we should continue to ignore the shear forces that the braces are capabale of exerting when they are loaded in compression. For this reason, I do not believe that placing the scarf joint over the brace is any better than placing it over the post. Tom.

Hey NH,

Can you please explain baluster? I only know it in stair terminology.

Thanks,
Brock

NH , do you mean Bolster instead of Baluster ?
Tom

Tom, in the drawing of the "scarf joint over the post" that you posted on 1/5, you have two pegs in the the post tenon, both into the lower timber. Why not have two pegs, with one into the lower timber and one into the upper?

DKR, Good eye for detail.
If the plate material is green it will shrink. Being pegged to the tenon in both places may seperate the two halves of the scarf as the plate drys.
Drawboring the pegs will keep the lower half tight to the post but may not be enough for the top half. The pegs in the scarf and the through tenon should be enough to keep it together.
I have also seen in old frames the through tenon cut just shy of flush with the top of the plate. Presumably so that it would not stick up as the plate shrinks. Tom

I have also seen wedges dropped in from the top on the end of the mortice to tighten up the fit of the through tenon. Tom

Just curious, but what about just using a stronger scarf joint that alleviates where you have to put it?