| Test-Fitting a Roof Truss |
| Test-Fitting a Roof Truss |
From "Trade School"
episode DTRS-113 |
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In this segment, we follow Gideon and his co-workers as they assemble and test-fit a roof truss at the shop. Because having to refine joints at the home site costs time and money, timber-framers test each vertical cross-section of the frame before shipping the timbers ....
Basic Tools:Tape measure
Speed square
Combination square
Circular saw
Disc sander
Chainsaw mortiser
Framing chisels
Belt sander
Chainsaw
16" Beam saw
Band Saw
Rachet straps
Reciprocating saw
Hole Hog
- Gideon and his co-workers start by strategically placing three sawhorses to stabilize the work. This also keeps the timbers elevated for easier access. Then the team assembles all the timbers forming the truss. The pieces in this roof truss include the king post, two rafters, two knee-braces and the horizontal collar tie (figure A).
- The timbers are tightened together using a series of ratchet straps (figure B). If there are any gaps in a particular joint, the culprit is usually found on the opposite side of that joint. Often, a gap appears when a shoulder or a tenon is slightly too long.
- Gideon finds two problems in this test fit. One rafter tenon is a bit too long, so he shortens it using the disc sander (figure C). Another problem is a misshapen shoulder where the other rafter meets the king post. He makes the slight adjustment to the shoulder using a reciprocating saw (figure D).
- Once all the gaps have been corrected, Gideon drills holes for the connecting pegs using a large-bore drill called a hole-hog (figure E). Then he sands down the edges of the holes using the disc sander (figure F).
- After all the peg holes have been drilled, each timber is labeled to indicate the truss it belongs to (figure G). Then, the timbers are stacked, palletized and shipped to the home site (figure H).
In the next segment, we follow Gideon to the next phase: raising the frame.
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