bingewatching the series at the momen, loving it. I'm helping mate rebuild/renovate his Barn/farmhouse he bought last winter, so learning a lot ;-) Greeting from Kampenhout (Leuven), Belgium 😀
Yeah often times the hole on the tennon is slightly nearer to the shoulder then it is on the mortis so the pin pulls em together. What he did will work too but the joints might move more
This is why in older times, people that had done this helped the ones who had not. Now we make videos to help others and crash through where we need to.
The humility you demonstrate by showing your mistakes is so refreshingly honest. And it makes it so much more helpful for those of us who want to learn. And showing your mistakes makes (me at least) much more willing to give something like this as you show that beginners making mistakes is par for the course/to be expected!
Instead of saying "measure twice, cut once" you should have said "I've cut it twice and it's still too short!" I am really into timber frame construction and stone masonry. Love your project and your videos from Sherwood Michigan, USA. I've always wanted to do something like that. And you got to build an actual arch! I'm jealous! I am watching all of these for the first time today. I subscribed.
I'm also binge watching. I'm learning a lot. When I move to a wooded 9 acre lot in the near future, I'll be building a greenhouse and chicken coop. I was thinking it would be great to use a post and beam method. I'm 72 and don't have 3 years to waste on one building. Watching you struggle with those joints made me think a hand held bandsaw might have made things a little easier. But I couldn't find anything larger than 5 inches and those beams look like 8 inches or more. Anyway, a few more days I should be all caught up with your progress. Cheers!
Found your videos and I'm really enjoying your journey building your barn. Might sound a bit mean but I enjoy hearing about your mistakes. A lot of the diy I've seen doesn't show the mess up and the tool issues or even the on the fly problem solving. Keep up the hard work! Virginia from Tower Hill, Illinois, usa
The more you remove from around the tennon the weaker the final product becomes. Super precise with wet oak shrinks up and becomes way stronger as if it was a single solid bit.
When it comes to building something like this, the handiest tool you can have is the Mast and Boom. Sailors, Dock Workers, Blacksmiths.... for a thousand years folks have had to lift heavy weights and operate at height before there was such a thing as this modern jive. They used the good ol' rope and pulley to do the heavy lifting for them. It works just as well today as it did eons ago. With a Mast-n-Boom, you can lift and rotate all day long without risking life and limb. Plus, they're pretty fun to make.
Genuinly - I'm going to look into that. Follows on from my Roman-style dowel rollers! That said find it hard to believe I'm going to make something that can lift that 800Kg truss i built in E22-23. We shall see!
@@AlexBuildsUK Raising the mast might be a bit much for one man alone, but this Russian gentleman found a very unique solution to getting heavy timbers up to the top sill al by himself in an economical manner.. I don't see any reason why you couldn't do the same if you waited to assemble things until they were up top. th-cam.com/video/wlTwYgIk8NU/w-d-xo.html
@@AlexBuildsUK Here's a video from Alaskan Homestead Adventures where they show using their Mast-n-Boom to raise a huge log way up in the air to get it on top of their cabin. If it doesn't weigh 800lbs, I don't know what does! th-cam.com/video/DYK0jYSKqSg/w-d-xo.html Of course, building the Mast-n-Boom is a job in and of itself. The good news is that you can build the thing once, and then use it to raise everything, including bundles of shingles. As small as your building is, there'd be no problem getting a boom that'd reach over the wall to the center of things, or you could even build the mast right in the middle of the building like in the vid. In the comments, they added a link to their blog where they have more pics and a bit of a how-to so folks could make their own. One of the key things is choosing the right rope for the task since you want something with minimal stretch. The block-n-tackle can often be found in "antique" stores and are always a good thing to have around the shop. Quality modern ropes can be had for about a buck-a-foot from many online sources, but you can also talk with local arborists who change out their ropes every year just to be safe. That'd allow you to buy "cheap" but know you're getting quality line that won't snap on you. Arborists are actually one of the last refuges for the knowledge of knots and rope. They've kept the skills alive while it seems everyone else has turned their backs.😒 I'd also recommend a copy of the Ashley Book of Knots so you can see how our ancestors would have raised and lowered things. We forget that modern contrivances are very new to the world and prior to the 1950's, most everything was still being done with rope and pulleys. If you don't have a copy of the ABoK, I cannot suggest it highly enough. There is a free online copy that you can find with a quick search, allowing you to try before you buy. Canaletto, one of the greatest artists ever, has some charcoal sketches that show the block-n-tackle being used to lift repair materials way up the side of a building in Ancient Venice. It's pretty neat to know you're carrying on a tradition that old!
@@AlexBuildsUK Just found this video and thought of you.... th-cam.com/video/rKEcc0Uhnak/w-d-xo.html As you can see, it's a lot simpler a build than a proper Mast-n-Boom derrick crane, and would fit will with your site. The gent was able to get long, awkward timbers up high all by himself with a lot of walking back and forth. The way he built the masts reminded me of your work, actually. Very heavy-duty and those iron brackets give it a sense of elegance that'd fit right in with what you're doing! It'd almost make raising those trusses of yours too easy.
Nice work, Alex. I love your videos and I love how you film it all, cock-ups included. One thing bothers me though. I would love to see you reach episode 100 and finish this barn, so please promise me you’ll get yourself some proper work shoes. Those oak beams are heavy, Alex! Greetings from Nijmegen in the Netherlands
Always such a pleasure when your videos come up. Congratulations on your amazing progress, working with those giant pieces of oak can't be easy. Cheers, Noah from New York City
When you drill the holes in the beam, the hole in the beam that goes into the other beam must be drilled slightly away from the center of the other beam, then the pin will pull them even closer together. Berthouville, Normandie, France put it on de map.
Good video Alex, I am a builder of forty years and one of the most important things to have on any job is a good attitude. That and you're perseverance I think is your saving skill. You know the destination might as well enjoy the journey after all my worrying and cockups still to this day I haven't had to set a flame to anything I have built.
Really Fantastic. Normally watch TH-cam channels where the person makes it look very easy and it all happens very quickly. This is so much more helpful seeing the problems and how they can be fixed. You have shown us we can succeed. Many thanks for the video - assume this a male desire to building stone barns with traditional timber frame roof supports . . . because we can 🙂 Would like to build a workshop with a timber frame . . . have not started yet . . . completing other projects before tackling something much BIGGER.
Greetings from Berkeley California. Have been watching your progress and good to see the truss go together. Chalk powder is also a good witness mark for tight spots. Keep your chisels sharp, and look forward to the next installment.
Hi from Japan, Alex. Really enjoy your storytelling and content. I was in your situation, timber frame-wise, just 3 years ago: learning, trying, cocking-up. Keep going, the fun parts keep getting fun-ner.😊
JUST found your channel as I begin to prepare to build my own stone shed (just in the planning stages). Very impressed with all of the work that you're doing on your own. All of what you're doing is WELL within my tolerances as well. Looking forward to the next episode! - Adam from Toronto Canada. Pin it!
Alex, things are looking really good. Another idea to figure out where things aren't at the right depth is carbon paper. Place a piece in the bottom of your mortice and insert the tenon. You'll get a carbon mark (yeah, just one haha) where there is contact. Greetings from Yorktown, Virginia and I hope to make it back to England and the rest of the UK in a year or two. Best wishes, cheers!
Great advice, Steve! Carbon paper is great for prototyping. I'm from North East Ohio, don't have plans to visit England, as I've never left the USA, but hope you have a fantastic trip!
Great content as always Alex, this whole project reminds me of a barn build I did with my old man 10 years ago, although we only made the roof as where I live is best to leave the walls to contractors (a lot of building codes becuase of earthquakes). Greetings from Chile!
When draw pegging a joint I have seen the hole in the tenon offset by 3mm toward the shoulder from the mortise hole so the peg when driven through pulls the joint together tight
Big progress Alex! I tried my hand at making a scarf joint to extend a 6x6 (North American unit of measure). It was not easy. Looking forward to the next one. Cheers! Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Hurrah! Been looking forward to seeing more progress and congratulations on getting that stubborn oak to comply. As always, looking forward to the next instalment. Roy.
Cheers Max & good to hear from you - BTW if you have a minute could you reach out to me at alexbuildsthings@gmail.com? I had a couple of ideas which might help us both if you're up for it...
I sincerely enjoy watching your videos I have even less knowledge/experience in woodworking than you, so I probably just don't understand your reasoning but some methods you use seem pretty unorthodox compared to what I've seen on other channels like "Kris Harbour Natural Building" to be fair he has a woodworking background though anywho, to stop my rambling: best of luck going forward with this amazing project greetings from dom in dresden (germany)
Might be too late for this comment, but have you considered using a dado head saw blade to make some of the wide cuts? I really enjoy your videos, came in when you built the arch and I'm hooked. I watched them all. Keep up the good work. Bayville NJ
Hey Alex, greetings from Maryland, USA. I’m honestly baffled that you’ve chosen to subject yourself to such incredibly difficult woodworking with such large beams. They obviously way overshoot the engineering minimum strength to support the roof, but I’m sure they’ll look great when completed. Although I must admit I am curious, why did you choose to use such incredibly thick beams?
IHi Alex if you use dowels, it is better to drill the hole in the Tannend 2 to 4 mm further towards the shoulder of the connection, so that you can pull the parts together better. Maybe this video will help to clarify what I mean https ://th-cam.com/video/WjNrHTXu6F4/w-d-xo.html just what Vanosphere said. did not see that comment
@AlexBuildsUK if you're willing to share your progress weekly, even if not as progressive, but as informative, I would watch weekly... and I feel others would too! 😅 Still, I'm impressed on progress...!
Perfect timing for the new episode - i'm on holiday from Philippines and now visiting Scotland. Nice episode for me to relax to, while watching you winning the battle. Your droll style of humour is a perfect match to the way you tackle the project. Thanks!!
Looking good so far! Just think of it in times of doubt, in days of despair. The day it all is stood up on its own legs and the first morning brew is enjoyed in front of the barn. You will probably ask yourself if its not in need of a bigger brother, built in an entirely different way, because you have this great idea to build something special, beautifu and unique but without the pain the last build caused you... Yeah I know. Got that bug. Cant seem to get rid of it. But the more I build, the easier it gets, the faster it goes. But the pain, still there, everything just has to be so damn special and unique and beautiful. But it slowly diminishes too, so slowly but shurely, mabye one day I too can have a pain free build of some sort. Anyhow, may your batteries keep its charge. Great thanks
bingewatching the series at the momen, loving it.
I'm helping mate rebuild/renovate his Barn/farmhouse he bought last winter, so learning a lot ;-)
Greeting from Kampenhout (Leuven), Belgium 😀
The technique for the dowelling is to offset the holes on both pieces so it pulls the joints together
Yeah often times the hole on the tennon is slightly nearer to the shoulder then it is on the mortis so the pin pulls em together. What he did will work too but the joints might move more
How much of an offset should be used?
This is why in older times, people that had done this helped the ones who had not. Now we make videos to help others and crash through where we need to.
The humility you demonstrate by showing your mistakes is so refreshingly honest. And it makes it so much more helpful for those of us who want to learn. And showing your mistakes makes (me at least) much more willing to give something like this as you show that beginners making mistakes is par for the course/to be expected!
Instead of saying "measure twice, cut once" you should have said "I've cut it twice and it's still too short!" I am really into timber frame construction and stone masonry. Love your project and your videos from Sherwood Michigan, USA. I've always wanted to do something like that. And you got to build an actual arch! I'm jealous! I am watching all of these for the first time today. I subscribed.
I'm also binge watching. I'm learning a lot. When I move to a wooded 9 acre lot in the near future, I'll be building a greenhouse and chicken coop. I was thinking it would be great to use a post and beam method. I'm 72 and don't have 3 years to waste on one building. Watching you struggle with those joints made me think a hand held bandsaw might have made things a little easier. But I couldn't find anything larger than 5 inches and those beams look like 8 inches or more.
Anyway, a few more days I should be all caught up with your progress. Cheers!
Paul Sellers is an excellent source of information.
Found your videos and I'm really enjoying your journey building your barn. Might sound a bit mean but I enjoy hearing about your mistakes. A lot of the diy I've seen doesn't show the mess up and the tool issues or even the on the fly problem solving. Keep up the hard work! Virginia from Tower Hill, Illinois, usa
So many mistakes to choose from! Cheers mate 😊
The more you remove from around the tennon the weaker the final product becomes. Super precise with wet oak shrinks up and becomes way stronger as if it was a single solid bit.
When it comes to building something like this, the handiest tool you can have is the Mast and Boom. Sailors, Dock Workers, Blacksmiths.... for a thousand years folks have had to lift heavy weights and operate at height before there was such a thing as this modern jive. They used the good ol' rope and pulley to do the heavy lifting for them. It works just as well today as it did eons ago. With a Mast-n-Boom, you can lift and rotate all day long without risking life and limb. Plus, they're pretty fun to make.
Genuinly - I'm going to look into that. Follows on from my Roman-style dowel rollers! That said find it hard to believe I'm going to make something that can lift that 800Kg truss i built in E22-23. We shall see!
@@AlexBuildsUK Raising the mast might be a bit much for one man alone, but this Russian gentleman found a very unique solution to getting heavy timbers up to the top sill al by himself in an economical manner.. I don't see any reason why you couldn't do the same if you waited to assemble things until they were up top. th-cam.com/video/wlTwYgIk8NU/w-d-xo.html
@@AlexBuildsUK Here's a video from Alaskan Homestead Adventures where they show using their Mast-n-Boom to raise a huge log way up in the air to get it on top of their cabin. If it doesn't weigh 800lbs, I don't know what does! th-cam.com/video/DYK0jYSKqSg/w-d-xo.html
Of course, building the Mast-n-Boom is a job in and of itself. The good news is that you can build the thing once, and then use it to raise everything, including bundles of shingles. As small as your building is, there'd be no problem getting a boom that'd reach over the wall to the center of things, or you could even build the mast right in the middle of the building like in the vid.
In the comments, they added a link to their blog where they have more pics and a bit of a how-to so folks could make their own. One of the key things is choosing the right rope for the task since you want something with minimal stretch.
The block-n-tackle can often be found in "antique" stores and are always a good thing to have around the shop. Quality modern ropes can be had for about a buck-a-foot from many online sources, but you can also talk with local arborists who change out their ropes every year just to be safe. That'd allow you to buy "cheap" but know you're getting quality line that won't snap on you.
Arborists are actually one of the last refuges for the knowledge of knots and rope. They've kept the skills alive while it seems everyone else has turned their backs.😒
I'd also recommend a copy of the Ashley Book of Knots so you can see how our ancestors would have raised and lowered things. We forget that modern contrivances are very new to the world and prior to the 1950's, most everything was still being done with rope and pulleys. If you don't have a copy of the ABoK, I cannot suggest it highly enough. There is a free online copy that you can find with a quick search, allowing you to try before you buy.
Canaletto, one of the greatest artists ever, has some charcoal sketches that show the block-n-tackle being used to lift repair materials way up the side of a building in Ancient Venice. It's pretty neat to know you're carrying on a tradition that old!
@@AlexBuildsUK Just found this video and thought of you.... th-cam.com/video/rKEcc0Uhnak/w-d-xo.html
As you can see, it's a lot simpler a build than a proper Mast-n-Boom derrick crane, and would fit will with your site. The gent was able to get long, awkward timbers up high all by himself with a lot of walking back and forth. The way he built the masts reminded me of your work, actually. Very heavy-duty and those iron brackets give it a sense of elegance that'd fit right in with what you're doing!
It'd almost make raising those trusses of yours too easy.
Nice work, Alex. I love your videos and I love how you film it all, cock-ups included. One thing bothers me though. I would love to see you reach episode 100 and finish this barn, so please promise me you’ll get yourself some proper work shoes. Those oak beams are heavy, Alex!
Greetings from Nijmegen in the Netherlands
Thank you for the video, and thank you for the good laughs. I commend you on your dedication and great sense of humor!
This is such a beautiful building from Sean in
Athens Vermont USA thank you
How the beep did I miss the notification 2 weeks ago!
Missed you Alex!
Good to see you keep buggering on! I That's the spirit.
You are a skilled carpenter.
Love your problem solving! Great build. I am looking forward to the next vid. Watching from Haarlem, the Netherlands
I am from Burgas Bulgaria, I currently live in Louisville KY USA. Love seeing the masonry and the wood working with timbers.
Always such a pleasure when your videos come up. Congratulations on your amazing progress, working with those giant pieces of oak can't be easy.
Cheers,
Noah from New York City
When you drill the holes in the beam, the hole in the beam that goes into the other beam must be drilled slightly away from the center of the other beam, then the pin will pull them even closer together. Berthouville, Normandie, France put it on de map.
Good video Alex, I am a builder of forty years and one of the most important things to have on any job is a good attitude. That and you're perseverance I think is your saving skill. You know the destination might as well enjoy the journey after all my worrying and cockups still to this day I haven't had to set a flame to anything I have built.
Really Fantastic. Normally watch TH-cam channels where the person makes it look very easy and it all happens very quickly.
This is so much more helpful seeing the problems and how they can be fixed. You have shown us we can succeed.
Many thanks for the video - assume this a male desire to building stone barns with traditional timber frame roof supports . . . because we can 🙂 Would like to build a workshop with a timber frame . . . have not started yet . . . completing other projects before tackling something much BIGGER.
Been waiting for this from Nashville TN! Glad you're still at it, looks phenomenal sir!
Greetings from Berkeley California. Have been watching your progress and good to see the truss go together. Chalk powder is also a good witness mark for tight spots. Keep your chisels sharp, and look forward to the next installment.
Hi from Japan, Alex. Really enjoy your storytelling and content. I was in your situation, timber frame-wise, just 3 years ago: learning, trying, cocking-up. Keep going, the fun parts keep getting fun-ner.😊
JUST found your channel as I begin to prepare to build my own stone shed (just in the planning stages). Very impressed with all of the work that you're doing on your own. All of what you're doing is WELL within my tolerances as well.
Looking forward to the next episode! - Adam from Toronto Canada. Pin it!
Good to watch 👍
Alex, things are looking really good. Another idea to figure out where things aren't at the right depth is carbon paper. Place a piece in the bottom of your mortice and insert the tenon. You'll get a carbon mark (yeah, just one haha) where there is contact. Greetings from Yorktown, Virginia and I hope to make it back to England and the rest of the UK in a year or two. Best wishes, cheers!
Great advice, Steve! Carbon paper is great for prototyping. I'm from North East Ohio, don't have plans to visit England, as I've never left the USA, but hope you have a fantastic trip!
Great content as always Alex, this whole project reminds me of a barn build I did with my old man 10 years ago, although we only made the roof as where I live is best to leave the walls to contractors (a lot of building codes becuase of earthquakes).
Greetings from Chile!
When draw pegging a joint I have seen the hole in the tenon offset by 3mm toward the shoulder from the mortise hole so the peg when driven through pulls the joint together tight
Big progress Alex! I tried my hand at making a scarf joint to extend a 6x6 (North American unit of measure). It was not easy. Looking forward to the next one. Cheers! Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Nice problem solving 👍
Thanks 👍😊
Hurrah! Been looking forward to seeing more progress and congratulations on getting that stubborn oak to comply. As always, looking forward to the next instalment. Roy.
Another great video Alex, thanks from Roskilde, Denmark
Well done Alex - it's getting there. I hope you remembered to draw bore the dowels though...
Excellent episode and thanks for the shout out
As we say down on the farm, near enough is perfect! 😂👍🇦🇺
Great progress and very satisfying watching that whole assembly come together.
Also, Chris Harbour natural building out of whales, has great tutorials on post/beam building here on TH-cam... if you haven't already checked him out
Yes, but it's Kris Harbour
@@Vanosphere autocorrect for the win 🤦♂️
and he’s in Wales
I love your ambition! Looking forward to seeing how the build progresses.
Now it's better 👍🏼👌🤙
Wow, giant timber! Very nice!
Cheers Max & good to hear from you - BTW if you have a minute could you reach out to me at alexbuildsthings@gmail.com? I had a couple of ideas which might help us both if you're up for it...
MaxandAlexMake - please make this happen 🤗
If you bevel your tenon ends the will go in better. Also, if you cut your mortise 2 mil in depth that will help.
I sincerely enjoy watching your videos
I have even less knowledge/experience in woodworking than you, so I probably just don't understand your reasoning
but some methods you use seem pretty unorthodox compared to what I've seen on other channels like "Kris Harbour Natural Building"
to be fair he has a woodworking background though
anywho, to stop my rambling: best of luck going forward with this amazing project
greetings from dom in dresden (germany)
Finally.
Might be too late for this comment, but have you considered using a dado head saw blade to make some of the wide cuts? I really enjoy your videos, came in when you built the arch and I'm hooked. I watched them all. Keep up the good work. Bayville NJ
Hey Alex, greetings from Maryland, USA. I’m honestly baffled that you’ve chosen to subject yourself to such incredibly difficult woodworking with such large beams. They obviously way overshoot the engineering minimum strength to support the roof, but I’m sure they’ll look great when completed. Although I must admit I am curious, why did you choose to use such incredibly thick beams?
Where is the sound ?
Hello man! Please tell me why you are doing something with wood if you haven’t done the stone part?
It's going to be a 50/50 - stick with it - will cover in episodes 25+ 😊
Happy Wife, happy Life.
Happy Husband, Wife suspicious
- or he is allowed to build something cool. 🤗
IHi Alex if you use dowels, it is better to drill the hole in the Tannend 2 to 4 mm further towards the shoulder of the connection, so that you can pull the parts together better. Maybe this video will help to clarify what I mean https ://th-cam.com/video/WjNrHTXu6F4/w-d-xo.html just what Vanosphere said. did not see that comment
Comment
1st
Hey you havent tagged Oldenburg, germany - commented that like half a year ago :-D
Keep commenting maybe you'll get on the map! 😊
@AlexBuildsUK if you're willing to share your progress weekly, even if not as progressive, but as informative, I would watch weekly... and I feel others would too! 😅 Still, I'm impressed on progress...!
Been searching you for a while for the update...
Perfect timing for the new episode - i'm on holiday from Philippines and now visiting Scotland. Nice episode for me to relax to, while watching you winning the battle. Your droll style of humour is a perfect match to the way you tackle the project. Thanks!!
Looking good so far!
Just think of it in times of doubt, in days of despair.
The day it all is stood up on its own legs and the first morning brew is enjoyed in front of the barn.
You will probably ask yourself if its not in need of a bigger brother, built in an entirely different way, because you have this great idea to build something special, beautifu and unique but without the pain the last build caused you...
Yeah I know. Got that bug. Cant seem to get rid of it.
But the more I build, the easier it gets, the faster it goes.
But the pain, still there, everything just has to be so damn special and unique and beautiful. But it slowly diminishes too, so slowly but shurely, mabye one day I too can have a pain free build of some sort.
Anyhow, may your batteries keep its charge.
Great thanks