Our timber frame cabin part IX: Half lap dovetail live edge braces
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
- For our cabin we chose to use half lap dovetail type diagonal braces with live edges for both their esthetic quality and double functionality. We placed these braces flushed to the inside edge of the frame, providing both a view of the dovetails from inside the finished cabin, but also to facilitate easy tightening as the tails dry and shrink over time. If properly maintained and kept tight, this type of brace can provide resistance to both compression and tension forces on the frame, where the more common mortise and tenon type of brace can only be relied on the work in compression.
Half lap braces are an old style of diagonal bracing used frequently in medieval framing as the dovetail and its housing could be chopped out with only an axe.
The brace material is book matched tulip poplar, with each side sawn from the same log, providing a mirror image in the frame.
Hats off to you mate, I'm amazed by your skill and dedication with each video. For someone starting a career in woodworking its good for the soul to see stuff like this being done by hand...doesnt stop me lusting after the latest Festool machines though ;)
Thank you, you can keep your festools, just give me a sharp chisel and a stout mallet! ;)
very nice work I really admire your saws can't wait to get a few old ones of my own
They are really special, I doubt we will ever see them made in the style and quality they were by the old companies...
Underrated video.
The quality of your joinery never ceases to impress me.
Thank you!
This whole series you're doing is great, and while I'm nowhere near doing what you're doing, it's still incredibly informative and I wish good things on you and your family.
Thank you, glad you are finding it helpful!
this man is crazy !!!! he never use a chainsaw and plane his carpentry pieces AHAH!!! love you Mr C!
Yep, most will think me crazy as hell Im sure! But I love this way of working!
i share that opinion^^
My comment is the same as it's been - this is some wonderful work, in it's design and in the execution. Well done... well done.
Thank you!
You have a real gift for timbering framing. I large is your cabing going to be? I love to watch real craftsman at work and you take pride in your work.
Thank you, 16X21 feet are the dimensions..
What an elegance of craftsmanship and record of joinery that will continue to educate!And thanks for Not having any dub beat tracks in the background, the sound the tools in the woods adds in giving others the desire to follow a similar path! Loved the capstan videos especially! Thank you
It strikes me that you are not just building a house but also sculpting a house.
When I watch your films it’s not only a rare pleasure but also entering in another time another space. Thank you so much to share this incredible experience.
Wife, claiming Hallmark channel is therapy... Me: Mr. Chickadee videos.. and actually learning something while I watch. Bonus!
I hope you will keep this video coming for years to come. there is something very special about what you are doing. no explanation, no adverts, no loud tools. your panning and camera placement is very well done and obviously your understanding of your tools and materials is excellent. Refreshing, entertaining, educational and relaxing. not that you need it from me, but keep it up friend :-)
Thank you, yes we have many years of filming to do, hope you continue to enjoy!
Are you tempted to use electric tools off camera? Very nice work!
My passion for hand tools is almost spiritual for me, I get the greatest joy, satisfaction, and have the most fun using them, not so with power tools, they are a last resort, only used it I have to, and not enjoyed.
In the description you stated tightening the dovetails as they shrink over time. How is that done? Do you mean driving the pegs deeper if there are pegs, or shims in gaps that open?
Enjoying this series very much, thank you.
Good question…so one issue with dovetails in green wood is as the wood drys over time the dovetail will tend to shrink and squeeze together, and as the housing is mostly end grain, this does not shrink accordingly, so you get gaps around the tail, the brace will still work in compression in that case, but not tension any more. So with the tails facing the interior of the house, as they shrink with time, I will be obliged to knock in some custom shims on one or both sides of the dovetail to keep it tight.
Thank you for the response, much clearer now. Your videos have been excellent in information and production, looking forward to the next one. Thanks again.
Would it be possible to do a video on how you plan out your joinery and can we see your design plans?
We will try to one day!
How long do you dry your timbers before actually cutting the joints or is the wood green? Do you have a book you can recommend on Japanese timber framing?
Ah that kind of join is called Weißschwanzblatt in my language xD
I don't understand why all braces aren't constructed this way it seems an easier, more intuitive and accurate way than mortise and tenon. Positioning timbers in the layout position and scribing is as foolproof as it gets and the dovetail is a thing of beauty
I guarantee this guy has never had insomnia. Probably sleeps like a corpse.
Nice job man! I can't even get that kind of precision with the few power tools I have. Maybe I should just invest into hand tools.
DO IT! you'll find them cheaper, longer lasting, more precise, more FUN, and BEAUTIFUL!!! ;)
Gives a real sense of accomplishment. We had a deck 24X24' on this house when we bought it in 07. Recently due to medical problems with my son, we tore the deck off to add a 24X24' room/apartment for him. I still had a 15X6' porch and added a 15'X18' to make it even with the room. We had saved the old deck for this. It took me almost 2 years to get all the deck built and hand rails installed due to my health, I've not worked in 20 years. I got the steps built and had a small sidewalk poured. I now have a little Yorkie that likes to go outside but he must be on a lease because of roads. I needed a gate for the step area. I took some old railing the pieces that go vertical, 1"X1" and built a 36" gate for this area. Now that was 7-8 weeks ago but every time I go out I have this good feeling about building the little gate. Now my little dog can go out on the deck and play without a leash. This is the feeling you get for doing things with your hands. With or without electric power tools. Good luck and enjoy your next project.
These just keep getting better and better! Really looking forward to seeing it completed!
Thank you! So are we!
I'm recently subscribed and I have been watching all of your videos. I'm a contractor a historical restoration expert . And I must say you do incredible work . I wanted to ask what part of the world are you from?
Thank you for the kind words. We are in eastern KY USA...
Hey mr chickadee, can you make a how to tutorial on making an outdoor work bench , carving bench out of logs ? That would be great!
We document everything we do, so I'm sure that will come sooner or later!
Very good job. Magnificent!
Thank you!
Great Job! Now I can see all your different joints you made coming together, and the attention to detail you put into your work to make every joint fit snugly. Your cabin is coming together nicely.
Thank you, glad you are enjoying!
Thanks for sharing this. Great as usual. I was just reflecting on your choice of using milled timbers rather than hewn ones, and wonder whether you may have thought of (and possibly rejected) the idea of chainsaw milling as a cheaper alternative? I am happiest using the hand tools, like yourself, but find the sawmill supplied timbers prohibitively expensive compared to chainsaw milling our own trees. This may go against the grain (pardon the pun there), but I'd be interested in your view on this..? Best regards, Nigel 😀
Nigel!
Yes, a valid point, perhaps I was not clear, our timbers are saw milled, but by us on a portable band type sawmill. They are not cheap, but I figure after the house is done, it will have paid for itself, then all after that is "money in the bank" so to speak. Im not sure you have these type mills in you area, but Id highly recommend one.
Hello Mr.&MIssus Chickadee! I've been enjoying your vids. Thank you very much for taking the time to share with us .
Question: It looks like you apply something to the interior of the joints you make with some sort of mold/rot inhibitor or perhaps its a lubricant to help join the two pieces. Judging from the work I've seen you do , I'd guess it's a naturally occurring remedy. Would you mind sharing with me/us.- Thanks again for the inspirational vids.
on hardwood I rub something like wax or crisco to the end grain to help prevent bad cracking before everything goes together, not normally needed for softwood….
I really enjoy your videos. Esp with just the sound of nature and you working. No narration or music is refreshing. I was a fan of another high-subscriber homesteader on UA-cam and got turned off from their constant ranting and opinions so I unsubscribed. I enjoy your video's quite a bit more. Keep up the good work. And.... my wife and I have 4 cats.
Thank you for the kind words of affirmation on our video style choice, we hope you continue to enjoy our channel. We have two cats and one dog that is similar to a cat…for now haha.
where was the live edge lumber milled? did you do it yourself? by the way awesome talent. I'm a experience modern carpenter, and the blows my mind. I love your channel.
Yes we milled it at the same time as our frame. Thank you!
I have been wondering, where did you learn the joinery? I know a few of the basic ones and learned some from my region by looking at the buildings. But a lot of them are unusual for me, and I thought you had said it was Japanese joinery. So where did you find that? Good video btw
I learned some from books, some from youtube, and some from google searches...
Forgive me if you've answered this already but I noticed the joints appeared wet. Is there a substance applied to the joints and if so, what is it and what is its purpose? Thanks in advance and congratulations on the nice work.
Most joints in hardwood such as tulip poplar or oak get wax or just good old crisco applied to their end grain, this slows down the drying and helps large cracks from opening, most times conifers such as pine or hemlock don't need this help.
Man, I just can`t stop watching your videos!!! I love to see those tight joints! Thumbs up and greetings from Argentina!
Thank you so much!
Josh, how many hours do you think you spent on this one bent? I loved the ending when you were planning the dovetail brace. Was a wonderful fit!!!!
Hmm good question, subtracting rain, sleep, meals and other delays, Id say about 24 hours of actually work went into this bent. I don't know if that is encouraging or discouraging, guess it depends on your frame of mind and reference?
Nice, thanks for sharing. I am enjoying following along.
Thank you!
Awesome, simply awesome. You must feel an amazing sense of accomplishment when you stand back at end of day. Also, kudos to your camera person. Excellent video coverage. What a great team the two of you make. Thank you.
Thank you, yes, accomplishment and good old sweaty fatigue, one thing about hand tools, you really KNOW when you put a full day in!
Looks like you are using a few milled timbers instead of all hand hewn. Bet that makes things go a little faster than the shop. Nice job. Is the house going to be wattle and daub?
Oh yes, most of our timbers are milled, only a few are hewed this time, the one chestnut oak was actually a replacement for a white oak we sawed that was full of termites….
wow that's just excellent! what wood are the braces made of? will this be part of a wall?
Thanks, its tulip poplar, this is one bent, the house has three, they stand up, much as in our timber frame workshop video, "the raising" these bents are just a bit larger.
Love the video. Where did you come up with plans for your timber framed structures? Did you make them on your own or are they copies from old books?
I studies historic frames, then made up my own plan
Always a pleasure to watch ; you are a craftsman in every sense of the word.Looking forward to the next instalment :)
Thank you so much!
Mesmerising work. Thank you!
You almost make it look easy, but my arms feel sore just watching you saw and chisel those timbers.
Looks much faster and easier in video for sure.
iIs there anything holding the braces in other then the snugness of the joint or is the dovetailing sufficient ? Great series I'm really enjoying it.
Not for now, this is just the fit up stage, I put the bent together and squared it to layout and cut the braces, it was then taken back apart and on to the next bent in the frame, on raising day these braces will get pegged into place just before each bent is raised.
I liked Brazil \0/
Always having a blast watching you woodworking. Your skill a dedication always mazes me
Thank you, glad you enjoy!
as always, very nice indeed! looking forward to next video, and the whole house for that matter. :-)
Thank you!
These are some really nice braces. I did these for my medival house (dated 1399) in almost the same shape - but yours are way more precise (it takes some time to do it in your way; time that I didn't have).
wow, how neat to have a real medieval house!
I first saw these on Mathias Burger channel and his home restoration vids. The tails were quiet a bit larger but the same basic joint and they are great looking. Curious, you mentioned you can tighten them if needed but how? Remake, wedge, or?
oh you would need to add shims to the sides of the dovetail when they invariably shrink
How often do you sharpen your tools?
nice timber, what kind of wood is it? and nice fitting joint. good job as always Mr Chickadee
The tie beam and one post are shortleaf pine, the girts are hard maple, and one post and the two live edge braces are tulip poplar.
Very nice work as always. Is there any tool in particular that you enjoy using more than the rest?
mmm, if I had to pick one tool to use day in and out for long periods, it would be a well tuned and waxed wooden hand plane, maybe a try or smoother...
I'm sure you have been asked before. But what species of wood are you using? And is hardwood preferred or soft? Thanks
A diverse mix in this frame, at least 6 species, both hard and soft woods. Everything can be used if treated correctly and understood. That being said, in a perfect world I would have all slowly grown clear pine, that would be heaven...
I hope you don't get tired of hearing..... Awesome video!!
Thank you !
Great work. Can I ask how you have the time or money to do this? Is this what you do full time or do you have a job on the side to support you and yours? I'm really curious cause this project seems like a major commitmemt.
It is a major commitment, this house build is my full time job for the majority of this year. We are full time homesteaders, we live frugally without most modern conveniences to facilitate our lifestyle.
how do you deal with warp and twist... I mean today you cut beautiful mortise and tenons come back tomorrow they have shrunken or the beams have twisted etc etc,,
most movement happens when the tree is squared, after that, less so, tricks can be used, such as oiling the timber, sealing the end grain with wax, and cutting a saw kerf to the heart all down one side of the timber (best method)
Boy, these videos demand close attention! I had forgotten what a girt is; fortunately I found my copy of Jack Sobon's book and am back on track. A dovetail will stand both compression and tension; as you said. It looks pretty, but that is not why it is used in timber framing. If you used M&T, compression whould be OK but tension would put all the load on the peg. As usual a masterly video. I ration myself these videos. Tomorrow a new one!
I'd be thinking of ways to rest my right arm and saw with the left. Nice work!
Yes, I do "switch hit" a lot throughout the day, I used mostly my right arm for this side of the brace and my left for the other...
Hard but satisfying work. You're living my dream.
Too true! our dream as well
Hey could you make a vid with all your timber framing tools?
Most of my tools appear in each video, do you need a list or have a specific question?
With all the cross bracing in this timber frame house. It should survive the ravages of weather for a long time, save for an earthquake. I have no doubt that it would remain erect after a seismic event, just not on its foundation. The New Madrid earthquakes in the early 1800's was a MAJOR seismic event that moved chairs in the White House and rang church bells in Philadelphia. This fault is still active and over due for another major event.
There is much in our design expecting earthquakes, as you say we are due another. Our choice of dovetail braces is one, as is through wedged tenons, both can be retightened after some event or "buffeting". Our timbers will be locked to the stones, don't worry, it will all be documented.
Being very close to bedrock will help a lot, unlike west Tennessee and the Mississippi delta where the soils will liquefy. Those that were in the Reelfoot area at the time in the early 1800's described the ground moving in 20' waves. The areas that survived somewhat better was the hill country, but it will still shake. I have experienced a tremor that happened near Marked Tree Arkansas and that was 90 miles away and I live on a hill!
That Joinery is spot on, and I mean spot on. That's impressive work there my friend. Really is man this house or cabin whatever it is, is going to look amazing! to say the least. I've been binge watching your video's all day can't seem to get enough of them. Its a joy to watch you exercise your skills to perfection.
Can't wait to see the wall frames go up. It appears that it is not too far off. Keep up the videos.
Yep, light at the end of the tunnel!
As always, there's a pleasure watching a craftsman with a passion for what he's doing. You're not building a house, but home for your bride and children. Two thumbs up and God's blessings on you and your home.
Yes I agree with the below comment. This is not simply a house, but is a work of art. Excellent!!
Where have you acquired your tools? The internet does not seem to have all the answers when it comes to "outdated" tools lol. I have found axes, adzes and the like but I haven't been able to find the planes you use or boring machine. Thanks for the great videos!
I've been watching Your videos back to back and it looks like you're in two different locations. Is this your timber building and test build site?.
Looks great, hand planes are easily one of my favorite tools.
Thanks, I love a well tuned plane….
Beautiful job Mr. Chickadee. I like that all the details are shown and there is still room for a beautiful cat. Greetings from Poland.
As I watch the perfect fitting of the joints, I wonder if you're at all concerned that people seeing your work might not assume that it is achieved through the use of machinery rather than the skilled hand-work that you display?
Craftsmanship, perfection, Bravo my friend, what a blessing your hands have been given.
Amazing work. These videos convey the tranquility associated with working in unison with nature.
👍
a first-rate craftsman; I've learnt a lot from these videos. Always a pleasure to see you work. Thanks for sharing. Best wishes
У меня бы рубаха была мокрая. Красава! Лайк!
Fantastic, I love watching your videos! I wish I had gotten into woodworking 30 years ago!
So do you cut all of your pieces in the woods and then take them to the sight where the stone foundation it is to erect all of the pieces?
Kind of, we have a place set up in the shade to work on cutting all the joints, when they are done we will move everything and erect the frame on the stone foundation.
Is this happening as we speak? Maestro man extra-kudos for your craftsmanship!
Yes, just days ago, thank you!
Old school Joinery takes great skills! wow thanks for sharing with us
You are a true craftsman in a lost art.Where do you get all you cool vintage tools such as saws and hand drills?what type of chisels do you use?
How long do you season your lumber before working with it.
Ideally not at all, just cut and use!
Thank you for sharing. It's amazing.
You're welcome!
Awesome man. Just plain awesome.
thank you!
I love your craftsmanship and how you let the work do the talking.
soooo.. you gonna build another A frame crane to pull all that up?
Oh yes, we are planning a set of videos detailing the construction of rope stropped block and tackles, a capstan and the "lifting shear" used to move heavy things.
i applaud your devotion to the older ways of doing stuff . you have amazing skill!
Thank you! My skill is improving, but the true masters of the hand tool era would have been something to see!
it would be amazing to see that. your very welcome
And not an Ampère in sight nor sound...
YES! apple powered is always best!
I thought I knew something about joints but your on another level! I have a lot to learn! Thanks.
I can't even build a Lego house this well. Very nice!
A great job as usual. Outside wall ml?
Thank you, are you asking the outside dimensions? If so 16X21 feet. ..
Now I finally understand the half lap rafter collar ties from part 2. For the life of me I couldn't figure out where you were going with those. Especially since the joinery seems to get more and more intricate. Carry on sir.
Yes, the collar ties go between the rafters just as this brace is let into the post and tie beam, sorry for the confusion!
+Mr. Chickadee No confusion, just anticipation. I knew it would all be made clear in the end. Give the dog and Chuck a pat on the head.
I've watched several of your videos, you do really nice work.
Mr means states it best, wow. Best wishes and God bless you.
Thank you!
Awesome work! What do you do for a living?
thanks, Im a full time homesteader ;)
+Mr. Chickadee lucky! Ha thanks for the great entertainment.
I always enjoy your videos .
Thank you!
i don't comment all the video i watch but i'm think is the greatest job i have see
thought ol boy had his desert marpat boonie cover on for a sec
great work as usual! i really admire your craftmanship! When is the raising?
Thank you, we don't have a date set, "when its ready" is the real answer, don't want you to think me sarcastic, a lot depends on weather and how the work progresses. Not too long now!
oooh don`t think it sounds sarcastic! actually think its a good way to aproach such a big project. probally keeps the stresslevel down as well ;)
beautiful work!
I bow to the timber frame God!
Im def no god, just a student going through my own personal apprenticeship
5:00 I thought you were going to do some live edge there for a minute.
These videos keep getting better.
thank you!
ótimo trabalho...........................