Hello,

This is my first post on the forum but I have been lurking for a while. Thanks to the contributors for sharing.

I have a question about post sizing in a timber frame barn project. On a 20' post with one major intersection of framing members, how much wood should be left at any one location? With an 8x8 in this theoretical post, after making way for the other members, at one point there is only 20 square inches of wood.

Will the other members in that joint provide sufficient stability to the post or should this post be a 10x10?

Thanks,
Kevin