Hi,

I’m building a woodworking (hobby) shop using post and beam construction. It seemed more fun than a stick frame construction. Also, I’m hoping the experience will help when I start building our retirement home in the California coastal mountains.

I’m looking for help designing the joinery where the king post meets five rafters (three at 0, 90, and 180 deg and two hip rafters at 45 and 135 deg.) There also is a ridge purlin meeting the king post at 270 deg. The post and rafters are all 6x6. I think I can handle the angle calculations but don't know the best joinery technique to use.

Does anyone have an example, or can point me to someone who could help?

None of the books I have have an example like this. It's a small building and simple joinery would do, but then it wouldn't be any fun!

Thanks for any help.

Jim

With the kingpost at 6x6, you almost have to pick one of the pieces coming into the junction to cut a join for, then screw in the rest. I would tend to pick the ridge for joinery and then make flush or very lightly shouldered(but not tennoned) connections for the rest of the pieces.