Study Group(s) Update

Both online study groups have been running for a good while now and I thought I’d post up a brief progress report.

Carpentry Fundamentals Group.

After completing the toolbox with multiple wedged mortise and tenon joints, we have moved onto a scissor-braced sawhorse, where the object is to produce a useful piece for the shop/worksite, and get some licks in on oblique miter lap joinery and concealed sliding dovetail joints.

Here’s some progress photos from the piece I’ve been making, in Jatoba:

After each cut out step we bring the piece back to a full-scale drawing to check alignment.

Then we transfer marks, either from the drawing or from pieces as they sit, depending upon whether cut out has produced some deviation from the sketch:

Here working on the sloped abutment for the upper end of the scissor brace tenon to meet:

With mortises cut out, the scissor brace assembly can be test fitted:

Came together fairly well on the first try, so no complaints:

A closer look:

There will be a sacrificial cap fitted to the top of the beam, in case you were wondering about the through tenons.

Carpentry Drawing Group.

The carpentry drawing study has been running for quite a bit longer than the fundamentals group and we are just embarking on our 5th study project, the second in a series of roof models. This one is the regular plan, regular slope hip rafter corner.

Here are some views of the model to be tackled:

Perspective view:

Plan view:

There’s a curious optical effect in the above drawing that makes it look as if the jack rafters are not 90˚ to one another in plan, however I can assure you that such is not the case. This is the first of what will likely be several hip roof corner models, as there is much to explore in that area, in terms of joinery choices, structural arrangements, aesthetics. It should be a pleasant journey.

All for today, thanks for coming by the Carpentry Way.