Cutting Rafters for a Shed the Easy Way | Building a Shed Doesn't Have to be Hard
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- Cutting rafters for a shed the easy way is the focus on today's episode in which I show you that building a shed doesn't have to be hard. With a bit of lumber, some fasteners and some know-how, a shed like this simple lean-to design can go up without any troubles. On today's episode you'll see me demonstrating how you can cut perfect birdsmouth rafters without having to wrangle up a framing square which can be daunting at times if you haven't used one before. In the method I show you today, you just have to have a speed square available to make a few marks on your boards and you'll be all set. You'll see me using this method today to frame a basic lean-to shed roof with two birdsmouth cuts on each rafter. Although this type of rafter may appear challenging at first, the method I show you in today's video is simple and effective and can work in this case too. Don't be discouraged if this is your first time cutting rafters, the whole idea of how to mount a rafter on top of a beam or wall can be confusing but in this video I hope to make that more clear. Glad you're all here and hope everyone gets a chance to make some sawdust. Here we go!
Best video on this ever!
Thanks for that!
Really?
@@bradjenkins932whats your point?
@@kanehbosm8222 That's sad
This is by far the best simplest explanation of how to do a birdsmouth cut I have seen!! I have watched many videos and wow wish I would've watched this one first! Thanks 😉👍🏼👍🏼
Thanks Wendy!
Dude, you're actually THE man! Thank you so much for showing me this. I'm getting ready to plan my shelter for HM130MAX and this'll surely help. Awesome videos!
Good explanation on the birds mouth layout.
Thanks Chris
You saved my life man!! I’ve been looking for the easiest way to do this thanks man
Great to hear that this video helped ya out! Thanks for watching!
Hi Sandy, love the vids. I am a fellow Ontario sawer and builder. I have just started putting up my sawmill shed, and I'm planning some other out buildings as well. I have a subtle question, how do you deal with permits? I expect you are doing the same thing as I am, which is " don't ask, don't tell" i have 113 acres, and most will be tucked away off trails, but I do worry about getting caught.
If Keith Prentice is your real name, they just caught you. Sorry, dude.
You did a really good job of explaining this. You nearly lost me when you started talking about plumb and square and level - concepts barely understood and rarely attempted here on the farm. But I went out and tried it on my wonky, eyeballed woodshed and it worked really well.
Nice demonstration, thanks! I needed to learn this. One comment, though, your GoPro lens distorts all the lines, making your beam look curved. This is a little disorienting for a beginner to watch.
Hmm...not too sure what that would be. Thanks for watching Bill.
Wide angle camera lens, in order to have the camera close but also capture a lot side to side, made a fish eye distortion, so the rafter looked like it had a big arch.
Great way to explain that as so many folks have no idea what or how to do this. It's a fundamental in building and roofing that can easily get miscombobulated, (New Word,,,lol), and really screw everything else up from there on out. Bravo Sandy. I'm really enjoying your builds,,,again! Thanx~
Thank you for sharing that. What a great explanation on how to make a birds mouth. I will definitely be referring back to this video when I build my firewood shed. Stay safe
Sandy thank you for all the tips you provide. I found your channel after buying a Woodland mill and have learned so much. Keep the videos coming.
That’s great to hear Justin. Welcome to the channel
I agree, very simple explanation, been watching many videos lately and this really sunk in.. 👍🏽👍🏽
I learn something new and simple and quick thank you .
Glad I could help Dan
thanks man building my first roof for a chicken coop and your info is super helpful!
Just got finished with my shed roof. And now this video pops up ! Cutting my 2x4 rafters was a pain. And they didn’t turn out as good as I had hoped. But they work. Going to watch this now
Omg, finally... You, sir, are a flippin genious.
she-shack build in progress, got all the gear, reasearched the heck out of it & still no idea, until now. Thankyou!
After striking the two 'plumb' cuts, use a framing square on the high side of the plate holding it 'plumb' and the 90* angle facing over the top plate. Raise the framing square 'plumb' until it meets the open mouth of the rafter. The 'triangle' will show itself inside, make a strike mark. It doesn't matter what roof pitch your working with. When the raw rafter is marked in all spots like this correctly, the rafter will set right down on top of the plates with the seat cuts perfect.
Sandy, you may already do this but did not mention it and I felt the need to do so.
In addition, one should always align the top of the template rafter with the top of the rafter you are transferring the lines to. Otherwise, when rafters are not the same width and you align the bottom of the template, you will have ups and downs on the top of the roof. This will happen with even store bought dimension lumber as they can vary quite a bit at times. I have seen 2x10s where some are 9-1/8 and others are 9-5/8...this is mostly due to variances in drying once cut as quality control has really gone out the window in the last few decades. I know this is being extremely picky but that is how I am! :-)
I know what ya mean Mike. For sure I’d always want to align the template well when tracing
Looked all over for this info, described in a simple to understand way. No need for a calculator, Phd or voodoo magic at all! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
Glad you liked the video!
This is by far the best description of how to determine the birds mouth on TH-cam, thank you for this, so so helpful !
Great vid. I did it similar but not as detailed. Had to make a lot of extra cuts and chiseling Used a jigsaw and it did not work that well lol. Cheap saw maybe cheap blade. But was good experience for the next one
So hold on, as I am doing exactly the same roof on my shed (2 birds mouth per rafter no plum cut), with this method I dont even need to know what roof pitch is?
Man, please keep making videos where you teach stuff this well.
Glad you liked this video
How do you fasten the rafter to the beams? Nails? Structural screws? Simpson connector?
Hi Sandy, I really like the vids, I have a question, how much can a rough cut green 2x10 lose in width when it's done shrinking? I know nothing is exact, just approximately. Thanks!
I think it depends on how drying any the wood was before being sawn. In a freshly cut down tree with nothing but air drying I’d say 1/8” or so in width on each side so max about 1/4” I’d say
Quality explanation Sandy! Thanks for putting this vid together, as I can see from the comments previously, it has helped out a number of folks! 💯👍. Cheers Sandy!
Glad it was helpful
Thanks for the simple way in getting this done.
Glad I could help
Taught a old man a new trick
Thanks for sharing
Glad I could help
In the "university of youtube" the birdsmouth seems to be the most important part of building a shed. In reality I have seen many sheds without the birdsmouth cut, and they can easily stand a huge load of snow every winter. Is the birdsmouth just a fancy thing to make? It is also a weaker point in the rafter. Or is it important in the hurricane areas for preventing the roof from flying away? But there are also good hurricane ties available....
The birdsmouth helps transfer the load downwards onto the supporting beams nice and evenly
@@sawingwithsandy Yes, of course. I just built a shed without cutting the birdsmouth. If I'll remember and if I'll find this thread again I will comment on my experiences after the coming winter :D
Great job Sandy, you have the quality of a teacher.
Well and simply explained, Thnx
This is a good video for people who don't know how to lay out rafters. It is a slower method than if you do. Not knocking your technique, I just like doing it with the measurements, pitch and overhang size then laying it out by stepping it off or a construction calculator, make one and use it for a pattern.
Go home early.
this video is to help people who haven’t cut many rafters before and are looking for a way to cut rafters accurately without having to use a framing square
Appreciate you checking out the video and thanks for watching
What a green, beautiful area he lives in. Does he live in a jungle? Also, thanks for the tips on how to do a birdsmouth cut on a rafter. This one video explained everything I wanted to know. I'm doing this same type of project on my own property, and I have two odd-sized walls and I was wondering how on Earth I was going to cut a perfect birdsmouth since the wall heights are weird lengths.
Great explanation as always Sandy! Thank you!
Thanks Rich!
I had tried a degreaser to remove pitch when it built up, sprayed on scraped with plastic scraper. Worked good on removing pitch. After 2 days yes destroyed both belts. Back to 20 liter warm to hot water with 6 oz of dawn dish soap. Worked pretty good, still got pitch build up after couple of trees, clean with warm water dawn plastic scraper. All I was cutting was green spruce. Turn water up not just drip, check your blade after 6 cuts, if it clean you can turn water lube down. I blew blades off ruined them. Water an dawn kept watching build up. Belts an blades work well now. Good luck keep cutting
Why is the depth of the birdsmouth limited to 1/4 the thickness of the rafter with IRC code? I got a 12/12 roof with a 2 x 8 rafter and 2 x 6 wall and to me it makes sense to have more surface area on the top plate. Some say this 1/4 rule is to prevent there being a "weak point" with tension splitting the wood but I dont see how there is a weak point.
Wow, great explanation. Thanks!
Glad it helped
If i have 10ft wide shed, and 12ft rafter, how do you go about centering it? Like equal overhang? Thx
Great info. Thanks.
Does this work with common rafters as well? I mean if I want the top cut to stop at the ridge, and not another bird's mouth as in your case. Thanks!
Bro, how this didn't break the Inet I'll never know. Best bird mouth video ever.
Thank you!
Have had this square in my kit for years and had no clue how to use it‼️ 😆🤣 🤷♂️
LEGEND‼️ 🛠 🥇 From Aussie downunder 😃 Australia 🇦🇺
Still need to know the roof pitch that would have been great to add.
Yeah this video assumes that you’d know the roof pitch already but if not you could take the rise/run
This is an example of how proper craftsmanship gets lost...not saying this won't work it's just not the right way to teach it...btw the right way is not hard at all...👷
If this will work, then what's the problem?
This is a fantastic lesson for newbees using speed ⬜🤩🤩🤩
Thanks!
Thank you 😊
Every other video I've watched left me more confused, but this seriously helped. Thank you!
Al Borlin would be proud. And he'd love your shirt..... and beard.
Genius! You should have dropped the mic and walked away!🎤 Something I should know but don't. Mr Sandy, teacher of the basics! Supposed to be 109 (about 40 C I think) this weekend in the PNW! I'm sending it east for you next week. Enjoy!
Glad it was helpful Jill. I sure hope that weather doesn’t come this way. I’ll melt
Screw to side
Mark
Cut
Multiply
Done ✅
Very easy to understand video on a birds mouth. My question though is do you do the same on the other end. Does the plumb face the same way?
The plumb cut will be the same for both ends of the rafter
@@sawingwithsandy thank you!
Thanks for sharing. Video is awesome ✌️🇺🇸
Awesome video I didn't know that. I would like to see more videos like this. Very very helpful.
Thank you for your knowledge and expertise
Love your videos but would like to see them longer. Your building style is a cross between Tim "The tool man" Taylor and Red "If the woman don't find your handsom they better find you handy" Green. Remember, a clean workspace is a safe workspace. LOL Keep them coming.
Thanks for watching. Be sure to check out the other recent videos in the playlist as those are longer
I am still lost, how did he know not to go to deep?
the seat cut will be 4” as that is the width of the wall top plate so the vertical line I drew will be at a right angle to the 4” line
FINALLY a way to do it by just marking and not pulling out Calculators and crap,, everybody else is a 30 minute video and I learned in this one in 3 minutes
Happy to help
Good explanation and simpleThanks!
Great to hear!
Great, easy to follow video. I knew the concept of the birds mouth, just needed a quick, simple, easy to follow "How to" and you nailed it!!
That’s great to hear!
***😊 Sandy, what brand is your tool belt suspenders? I'd love to get them for my husband.. he was admiring them on your video. Ty!!
They are made by Kuny and sold at Home Depot
We use metric in our country, but this explanation is by far one of the simplest ones I've come across. Thanks for the video! 👍🏿
Thank you!
That definitely is the simplest way to understand and cut the birds mouth cut. Is the end cuts made by putting a 3-12 cut on the ends? Just wondering, thanks
Yes they are Rich. I use my speed square for the plumbs cuts on the tails of the rafters
Awesome info thanks I needed this lol
Right on!
sooo.. how to mark a birds mouth in the wrong spot
Yeah you’ll want to make it to fit your shed. It’s worked for years now for my shed
Thanks for that video, I was worried about making them rafters. l seen other videos and they were using geometry.
Glad this video helps Hank.
Sandy, my 126 arrived this week and glad I can tap into your knowledge...Thanks again from NS
Glad I could help Wayne! Great to hear your sawmill is there. You'll be up and running in no time
fine but how do you do this on the ridge beam end for a gable roof? as opposed to a single slope
You’d need to put a bevel on the rafter cut opposite the ridge so it meets the existing roofline
i knew about the 3- 12 pitch but never saw it done the way you explain it, it is a simple way to do so and i will use it to explain to other's on how to do things have a nice day
Glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching
Aw man this was awesome. Thanks for this.
All I can say is thank you my next build will be better now just dont look at the ones I've done lol but at least they are still standing
Haha hey I’m in the same boat. Some things are good that I’ve done and others are good enough haha
Great video. Thanks!
Great video, on showing us how to
Thank you for the great video. I'm building a similar structure but on the tall side will be using rafter hangers on my beam and on the shorter side will be on top of the beam like yours Would you think the way you secured your beam to the posts on this video's structure will still work? Looks like you used 2x4 cuts to secure it directly on the support posts but should be locked in once the rafters are secured if I understand correctly?
I love found the way I attach beams to posts for sheds like this works well but for anything else I’d likely use a metal beam to post connector
@@sawingwithsandy Thank you Sir!
Thanks for the video great explanation. I will certainly use this trick in the future.
Right on! Thanks for watching Leif
Good and simple
Glad it was helpful.
thanks for the learning info for a homeowner DIY !!!!
Glad it was helpful Don
best & easily understandable explanation ever on TH-cam
Thanks Krish
Best explanation I've seen yet. Great video bud
Thanks for that!
Best, simplest instructions yet! Thank you!
Glad I could help
Not a 2x4 ?
With the span and snow load we get I find a 2x6 gives me a better peace of mind
Great tip thanks
Thank you so much. So easy and of course it makes sense 😁
Glad I could help ya!
Very nice
Thanks Justin
Thats what i was looking for❤
Glad I could help
Very helpful - thank you.
Glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching Jeremy
excellent explanation.
I appreciate that Z C
How does this skillset not make $500,000,000,000,000,000 a year?
Good info.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks for watching Jeff
@@sawingwithsandy I try to watch them all! I’m glad I’m not the only guy that has an error or two during my projects.
What do you do on the rafter tail,did you plumb it with a level once in place? Also did you cut the tail down to 5.5 inches for your facia board?
Great video!
I let the tails run out without a plumb cut as I tacked on a piece of 2x4 to give me longer eves
Why cut a birdsmouth anyway? just wondering
Basically the purpose is to have the weight evenly distributed over the top plate and therefore down through the studs to the support under them. It also allows much more of a nailing surface to tack them in which you would do even if hurricane ties are to be used as it aligns the rafters where they are wanted prior...so tacking them in is not necessary when using hurricane ties, simply convenient.
ok thanks
I agree with Mike.
Hope you liked the video Wallace. Thanks for watching
If one doesn’t know how to correctly calculate and cut rafters, he should have to pay someone who does.
Why?
@@brianmatthews4323 Because he said he “saved” having to use the framing square. I could, in less time than he took, measure the span, calculate the length, and mark both bird’s mouths.
@@small-town-southern-man3573 But his way works for him, and the results are the same.
I have learned in my 58 years that the old saying is true: "there is more than one way to skin a cat".
As far as roof framing goes, I was taught to layout and mark the rafters using a speed square, using a framing square and the step off method, using the framing square without the step off method, to build my own trusses, to install pre made trusses, etc., etc.
There's many ways to do many things, and many folks like doing things their own way.
Craftsmanship is more about the results than about the method, and I'm always wary of anyone who says my way is the only right way.
As for me, the last time I cut rafters, I used my trusty Swanson Speed Square and Little Blue Book. Works for me, easy peasy lemon sqeezy.
How do you calculate and mark rafter length?