pegs

hi new too framing, doing some repairs, how do i make the tapered holes for the pegs wot tool and where can i get one? can i make one? all i can find is a spoon reamer for chairs!!! holes are 1 inch..

I think you should go about it the other way. Bore stright non-tapered holes, and taper the pegs. What are the repairs you are doing? I rive and shave all my pegs on a shaving horse with a draw knife. Tim

There is also one company on line that supplies pegs (I gotta find that website again). Sizing is important. Bore straight holes with ships auger bits and a Milwaukee hole hawg. New bits are not properly sharp. They need to be sharpened or "tuned". All this means is cleaning off any burr, or flash, and sanding/sharpening the cutting edges with progressively finer sandpaper wrapped on a pieces of dowl rod. There is the cutting edge and the spur that need to be tuned. Then bore some holes and measure the diameter and have your pegs made accordingly or get a different bit. If you only have a few to do and want to go on the cheap, use an old fashioned hand auger "T" handle or brace and bit. I've not yet tried those myself though. I'm a newbie myself, but this is what I have learned so far.

The website is www.Pegs.us

I just bought some firewood today, that has fairly straight-looking grain. I don't have a riving tool, or what I mean is, a froe. Do you think I can get some straight pieces out of them with an axe? Or is that basically hopeless. I suppose I should try it. I was just wondering if a froe is really the only way to get peg-able pieces.

An axe will work for a few pieces. If you have a large diameter log to split line up a few splitting wedges on the line and try to drive them equally. The idea of using a fro is to split across the whole log, in half every time and not have to bend over to pick your tools off the ground.
Sounds like your having fun keep at it.

If you live close enough The Hancock Shaker Village (in Pittsfield, MA) is having their annual fair this weekend. Jack Sobon and Dave Carlon are instructing a Timber Framing class that will end on Sunday with the Raising of a tool shed that the students are making.

The Hancock Shaker Village is one of my favorite places to visit.

kfhines

we octagonalize 5/4 white oak stock. works like a champ.