Today, after doing some analysis, calculations and measuring outside in very, very chilly winds, we started the task of joining together two lengths of CLS timber. We fetched in six lengths of 89mm and two lengths of the 63mm CLS timber and then got our heavy duty planer machine to remove a few millimetres off the edge of the wood to form a flat surface for gluing. It was only by positioning the machine right beside the main doors, we could just about slide the full 4.8 metres length from outside on the driveway and feeding the timber through the machine into the workshop. We did all eight lengths of the timber we brought in.
After lunch, we played with our new toy, a biscuit joint cutter machine, which we had bought on clearance offer somewhere several years ago ! The machine cuts shallow curved slots which are filled with a glued-in oval shaped ‘wooden ‘biscuits’, if two matching slots are made in opposite side of the joint then this aligns and strengthens the joint.
Biscuit-joint-example
After doing some successful tests, we then proceeded to make our first set of two extra wide planks, made out of two 89mm CLS timber and fortunately, we had plenty of larger sized clamps to squeeze the joint together for this 5.5metre long piece.
Front-porch-Hip-beams-glued
Tomorrow, we will glue the second set (made of a 89mm and 63mm wide parts) and then start looking at the cement boards to build up the face of the gable wall on the front door porch.