The most reliable way to make a timber frame tenon

How to make a timber frame tenon.
There are many ways to make a timber frame tenon, but I find this to be the most reliable.
I used two sizes of circular saw, but you could use a crosscut saw or long pull saw, instead. You will also need a chisel, a wood or rawhide mallet, a carpenter's square, and a pencil.
Suggested saws: (affiliate links, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases)
10 1/4" circular: amzn.to/4a4z0rA
7 1/4" circular: amzn.to/46DVOLQ
Japanese hand saw: amzn.to/3T5PAkI
#timberframe #timberframing

[@abdulfatah8283]

clean

[@nathanbowersox1234]

In the shop we get the bottom as square as we can and drop cut the tenons and kerf cut what the saw couldn’t reach. I think the only real advantage is having a flat surface to set the slick on to clean tenon. You mill your own material?

[@appalachianwoodhomestead]

I've done that, too. I think the kerfing method is more reliable, less terrifying, and more beginner-friendly, which is why I shoed it in this video.
I did not mill these timbers. I am not particularly happy with the quality of the wood or the sticks. I would have rejected them if they were mine to reject, but it's a client project and they want to use these timbers.
I did mill the timbers for my own porch this summer. I thought my milling was nothing special until I saw these timbers done by an alleged professional.

[@nathanbowersox1234]

@@appalachianwoodhomestead definitely a good idea for quality control, I really struggled with the drop cuts when I started. I learned the hard way to only drop cut the left side because I am completely blind on the right. Some of the older guys got me in the habit of making every single possible cut on that face of the timber without rolling it and now I usually do 4 timbers at a time so when I set the saw down I roll all 4 timbers at the same time. More of a production thing but holding a saw all day makes you want to get better however possible.
I actually had some extremely cheap not square timbers and used them for my second floor porch. It was excruciating learning how spoiled I was with good material. I did a good enough job hiding it that you would have to pull out a square to figure it out. Mine were also done by some guys who say milling timbers is all they do. I got them so cheap that I just shook my head and made it work.
I have a feeling we would look at that the milling ourselves the same. I bought one the cheaper woodland mills. I’m definitely a fan, just hard to find time to mill. And not having my own solar kiln to do the first dry and time to come back and mill it again to spec. I’m in Idaho and we have mostly fir, easy to work with just frustrating how back it checks.

[@appalachianwoodhomestead]

I have a Woodland Mills. These timbers were done by folks with a fancy Woodmizer with a debarker (that he didn't engage). Dropped the logs on and didn't ever level the bed, hardly ever changed the blade, etc. I know another guy with a Woodmizer who's a fantastic sawyer. These other folks could learn a few dozen things from him!
I'm in the East so we don't have big firs like out west. Can't get much of anything free of heart center. I did a bit with poplar this summer. It checks like crazy, too.
I'm sure your making all those cuts before turning the log saves a lot of time. It's a good idea.@@nathanbowersox1234

[@bcdyer]

Just stumbled across your channel tonight. Really good stuff. Thank you.
I’m hoping to timberframe a building this year (small shed). I have Beemer’s book, but I’m a pretty audio/visual learner. Any good explanations of square rule here that you’ve done or would recommend to me?
Thanks in advance!

[@appalachianwoodhomestead]

That's a great book. I was fortunate enough to attend his school before he passed. I'm currently building a shed based on his plans for a client.
I don't have a specific video about square rule yet, but that's a great video idea. I have some sunny days coming up so I'll see if I can get something filmed. @@bcdyer