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Post by charley1968 on Nov 5, 2015 12:49:22 GMT -5
Hello.Again. What are commonly used tree species used for Timber Framing? Are there differences between NA and Europe? Hardwood/softwood? Thanks in advance!
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Post by Red on Nov 5, 2015 23:08:54 GMT -5
In our part of the world, New England, Red Oak and Eastern White Pine are often employed as timber frame (TF) timbers. You also see Douglas Fir in use from time to time, but these timbers are usually shipped in from out west and the joinery is generally cut here.
In the western US, Douglas Fir is the preferred tree species that's milled into construction timbers.
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Post by charley1968 on Nov 6, 2015 2:00:07 GMT -5
I think here in Sweden and i.n the eastern part of Finland i've only ever seen pine being used on construction... Are there dimensional differences if you compare pine to oak for example? I mean, does one 8" pine beam translate into a 6 or 7" oak beam?
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Post by Red on Nov 6, 2015 2:52:21 GMT -5
If you're referring to frame design, Charley, different tree species have different loading characteristics. In other words, a given timber of one species will support a load better (or worse) than another. Generally speaking, however, a softwood tree species -- like the Eastern White Pine (EWP) I mentioned -- will not support a load that a Red Oak timber (of the same dimension) will support...and put another way, an 8 x 8 Red Oak timber will support more of a load than an 8 x 8 EWP timber...but to find out the exact loading capability of a given species, calculations have to be made.
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Post by wrightwoodwork on Nov 6, 2015 10:16:07 GMT -5
I'm no expert in this side of things but I believe that the type of timbers used would be traditionally what was local to the area. Likes of pines in in Scandinavian countries, Douglas fir in North America. On countries like Thailand and Burma teak would be used
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Post by Red on Nov 6, 2015 12:05:14 GMT -5
I'm no expert in this side of things but I believe that the type of timbers used would be traditionally what was local to the area. Likes of pines in in Scandinavian countries, Douglas fir in North America. On countries like Thailand and Burma teak would be used Traditionally speaking, the old joint cutters would use what they had available. Over the years, however, the old craftsmen would learn which species were conducive to milling into frame timbers and which weren't. In other words, not all tree species make good framing timbers, so please bear that in mind if you're thinking of doing some Sobon style pioneering...
...and the Sobon I'm referring to is Jack Sobon. This amazing guy can turn a felled EWP saw log into a frame-ready timber using only hand tools and the craft he's learned over the years -- by himself. When it comes to strict traditional timber framing, this fellow is the man.
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Post by charley1968 on Nov 7, 2015 5:17:41 GMT -5
Possibly OT: when producing timber of lumber, is the wood more commonly sawed or split with wedges/axe/atze? Or was the second method more employed during the good old days?
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Post by Red on Nov 7, 2015 12:15:42 GMT -5
Possibly OT: when producing timber of lumber, is the wood more commonly sawed or split with wedges/axe/atze? Or was the second method more employed during the good old days? I don't see this question as being off topic at all, Charley. The first timber framers I ever saw -- way back when -- would hand hew a fresh saw log (bark on) with a regular axe first. Once they got most of the waste off of one side, they would finish the job with a shorter broad axe. Once they got one side flattened to their satisfaction, they would work on the opposite side. Once both sides were completed, they would roll one flat side down and begin work on the "round" edges until, finally, they were left with a "square" timber.
I've seen Sobon hand-hewing in the modern era, but, if you really think about it, there's little wonder as to why the elder craftsmen tended toward Scribe Rule layout. Regardless, these old fellows were very tough indeed.
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