Still raining, with at least another 5 days of nasty weather to come.

The timber work continues. The learning curve is pretty steep, but I'm enjoying the process. These 3 pics show some of the tools, systems and  design employed. The beetle (mallet) was made from a gum log. Initally 10kgs , but proved to be a bit heavy, so cut it down to about 6kgs and now does the job nicely. The 2500kg truck tiedown is just the trick for pulling the joints together tightly. The inlay around the post top will feature the top of stair case banister post. I purchased a Makita chain mortiser which makes short work of the mortise joint. Tenons are cut carefully with a circular saw and hand saw. I'm learning the art of keeping a keen edge on the chisel.

The wooden pegs arrived today from Log Home Store in the US. Ideally I would have sourced the hardwood pegs locally, but that had its challenges. An internet search and on-line purchase took just 5 days form order to delivery; both economical and efficient. As I had pre-drilled 25mm holes in a number of beams, I was very pleased to discover that the pegs fit my holes perfectly.

Confined to the beamery

We are definitely in the grip of winter now. The open sided barn has been converted into a beamery which keeps most of the weather out most of the time. 

I'm using a shouldered mortise & tenon for the tie beam to post joint, with a simple, but wider mortise & tenon joint above for the floor beam post joint. A simple dovetail mortise will secure the lower portion of the intermediate floor beams.

Milling beams

Locally sourced Lawson Cyprus trees where used. The majority of the milling took place on site over the summer producing about 10 cubic metres of columns and beams along with another 3 or 4 cubic metres of smaller dimension timbers. 

Top plate/bond beams are 200 x 100, columns are 200 x 150, floor beams are 250 x 150 and roof and tie beams are either 200 x 150 or 250 x 150 size timbers. 

The Rimu Mill  turns out some impressive Macrocarpa slabes.

Timbercrete block laying completed

The block work has been completed with the last of the lintel blocks set in place. The wet weather of late has meant more shed time. The home built FEL boom extension will lift beams to over 4m in height. High enough for positioning the heavy floor beams and lifting materials and gear onto the first floor.

Lintels and top plates

The wet weather continues to moderate the pace of site work. Lintel and sill blocks are being placed. The first of the timbers are being prepared. They will be the top plate/bond beams for the Timbercrete walls. The Lawson Cyprus 200 x 100 beams  are hand dressed with a Makita 1806B planer and sealed with Organoil Olde Style Danish Oil ready for fitting.