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Spruce and Fir Questions #7831 02/11/02 06:57 PM
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Hi all - Im looking for comments pertaining to using either Engelmann Spruce or Coast Douglas Fir for home timber construction. Im located in western Colorado and I can purchase large dimention timbers in these species. Im from back east and really dont know much about the structural qualities of these species. I am also looking for design values for these same species. Any comments will be most helpful -- Thanks !!

Re: Spruce and Fir Questions #7832 02/13/02 06:21 PM
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Roger Brown Offline
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Personally, I have found the TFG Design and Joinery Handbook invaluable - the handbook includes a set of tables showing design values (modulus of elasticity, etc) for various species. Great resoure for comparison and for use in calculation of beam sizes required for various species. Always good to have an engineer/architect do a "reality check" on your selections. See the TFG book store for ordering- cost $25 and well worth it.

Ok TFG.....where is my commission check?

Re: Spruce and Fir Questions #7833 02/15/02 11:09 PM
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BAKE Offline
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Both are great framing materials. Spruce is less stiff than Douglas Fir , but available "locally" for you. You will have to use larger members and more of them but that is the fun of timberframing.
DF #2 Fb 875 Fv 85 E 1,300,000
S #2 Fb 600 Fv 65 E 1,000,000
Values from NDS '97
Bake

Re: Spruce and Fir Questions #7834 02/18/02 04:10 PM
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Roger Brown Offline
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I have to apologize for my post reply to the original question. After looking through the TFG Design handbook this weekend, I realize this was NOT the source I have used in the past for structural comparison of various species. I actually had a photocopy from another source attached in my book. If/when I find where I got the photocopy from, I will post that info.
Again, hope I did not mislead and I will send back the commission check from TFG.

Re: Spruce and Fir Questions #7835 02/19/02 02:14 PM
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Rudy R Christian Offline
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Roger,

Maybe you used the tables so much they fell out and you had to clip them back in! I just checked my Guild Joinery and Design Workbook (V3.0 1998) and the tables begin on page 29 and continue to page 33. Same values as Bake gave us from NDS are shown.

Remember values are not identical for timbers used as "beams and stringers" as they are for ones used as "posts and timbers".

Rudy

Re: Spruce and Fir Questions #7836 02/20/02 07:15 AM
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Ken Hume Offline
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Rudi,

I think that I understand the meaning of the words "post" and "beam" and I might even just stretch to "stringer" but what is a "timber".

I have learned the hard way that the same words mean different things to different people.

Ken Hume http://www.clik.to/WorldofWood


Looking back to see the way ahead !
Re: Spruce and Fir Questions #7837 02/20/02 12:39 PM
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"Timber" is what the lumber jack yells as the tree is falling from the stump. :-)

Re: Spruce and Fir Questions #7838 02/20/02 06:46 PM
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Roger Brown Offline
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Rudi, thanks greatly for the catch! You are absolutely correct - I guess I should have double-checked as the only times I am usually wrong is when I thought I was wrong!
Actually, this has been happening quite a bit since I turned 40......now, where did I lay those dentures....hmmmmmm.

Re: Spruce and Fir Questions #7839 02/22/02 05:05 PM
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"Beam and stringer" and "post and timber" are designations for the cross sectional dimensions of heavy timber memebers. A "beam and stringer" cross section has a depth that is more than 2 inches greater than its width. The piece is expected to be used mainly in bending. A "post and timber" cross section has its depth within 2 inches of its width. It is primarily intended for use in compression. The grading standards vary for the two designations, hence the design values also differ.

Re: Spruce and Fir Questions #7840 02/22/02 07:15 PM
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Ken Hume Offline
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Dick,

I am now really glad that I asked that question. This is all news to me.

If I have a deep brace which is 4" wide x 8" deep and it is primarily intended to work in compression and / or tension but not bending, how is it classified ?

Post and timber ?

Regards

Ken Hume


Looking back to see the way ahead !
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