How do you timber frame if your timber isn't perfectly square?

Square rule uses a reference face and deals with your unsquare timber. Use a reduction to find the perfect timber inside your stick. This is a a critical timber frame joinery technique to know because virtually no timbers are perfect.

Cutting a reduction is easy, but it's important to cut it correctly in order to prevent cracking in the future. The 45º bevel is essential. My current home is a 1908 farm house with incorrectly notched floor joists. They're all cracked and the floors shake every time you walk. Do this the right way!

Want to see the whole process of cutting out a square rule tenon? Stop by this video:    • MustKnow Timber Framing Joinery (cut...  

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