Timber Frame Dovetail Joint

A 90 degree notch v shaped that resembles a bird s open beak.

Timber frame dovetail joint.

What is traditional timber frame joinery. Dovetail wood joint the dovetail joint or simply dovetail is a strong woodworking joint it is great for tensile strength resistance from pulling apart. Traditional joinery is the classic way to connect timbers in post beam and timber frame structures. Western timber frame patented design the dovetail difference creates an architecturally more responsible structure allowing the wood to perform as nature intended expanding and contracting while keeping a tight joint and the integral portion of the timber intact as illustrated below.

Dovetail flared only on one edge suitable for mortising as well as housing. Mortises and tenons are cut into the beams which are secured together with hardwood pegs. Square rule frames are marked and cut according to a system in which a smaller straight and square timber is envisioned within each real irregular timber. It is an elegant and beautiful style of construction.

Award winning post to beam connection system. What is a timber frame without the joints and joinery that allows them to stand up on their own. This may be accomplished by neatly sawing to the line and paring the end of the wood with a sharp chisel or by bringing the wood to a finish with a finely set plane such as an iron faced smoothing plane. Just for a refresher a principal purlin is the horizontal beam that spans the distance between the gable ends of a building and rafters are the series of timbers that attach to purlins and are used to support roofs.

All joints are cut to the surfaces of the imagined inner timber such that standardization is possible for similar pieces fig. For constructing a dovetail joint at the corner of a frame as fig. You use the dovetail joint to connect the sides of a drawer to the front. His method requires less chisel work and streamlines.

Bryan demonstrates how he saves time doing his own timber frame joinery for tenons using a diy template. Scribe rule frames a parallel housing in square rule frames. Girts are the timbers that support walls and joists are the timbers. Timber frame joints b.

A joint is the area where two separate timber pieces connect. The dovetail differemce western timber frame features an award winning post to beam dovetail connection system combining heritage architectural principles with state of the art technology in all of their timber frame diy pergolas pavilions gazebos arbors and. 300 it is necessary at the outset to trim up the ends of the timber square and true. Tenon flanked by only one shoulder.

The mortise and tenon joint interlock for a tighter fit with the dovetail joint.