Timber Frame Dovetail Joint

A series of pins cut to extend from the end of one board interlock with a series of tails cut into the end of another board.

Timber frame dovetail joint.

This is probably due to the speed at which timber ends dry. The dovetailed mortise and tenon joint system utilized in timber framing is rich in architectural heritage with proven durability and a remarkable history in its ability to stand against the violence of storms hurricanes and earthquakes. The dovetail joint or simply dovetail is a strong woodworking joint it is great for tensile strength resistance from pulling apart. Dovetail joints in timber framing are used to connect roof purlins to rafters and floor joists to girts.

Don t let the simplicity fool you though. The primary joinery method of the timber frame is the basic mortise and tenon joint. 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. Although arunda jigs come in several sizes one size usually fits your most common applications.

See more ideas about timber frame joints timber frame timber framing. Aug 26 2020 essential to timber framing is the traditional joinery. Though pins are used to bring the joint tight the wedge and dovetail configuration does the work. If worked in green timber shrinkage will allow some withdrawal.

Western timber frame the dovetail difference connection system gives the timbers more strength against positive and negative wind load actions with added power to perform its inherit quality of expanding and contracting dampening out resonate frequencies. The rafters are again 4 6 at 12 12 pitch with a 1 1 2 tenon and mortise with a 3 4 peg. The arunda design has been carefully studied from an engineering standpoint to maximize workloads. This method is used in everyday practice for joining the corners of frames bracket trusses and a hundred and one other articles.

Roof joinery timber frame joints leave a comment this is an exploded view of a tongue and blind mortise at the ridge. One of the simplest forms of the dovetail joint is shown in fig. In fact the arunda dovetail system is a faster way to make strong timber frame systems. 267 where two pieces of timber are joined by the method known as through dovetailing.

This joint involves a stub tenon fitting into a hole mortise. We show you 3d images and detail drawings of many of the essential joints. However in many old frames with this joint the connection is still snug.