The Last Purlin

I managed to get the fourth purlin on to the roof frames exactly one week later! However I have started the "lean to" frame (storage for Barbara's bee keeping equipment) and have fitted two small braces to the rear purlins. I have just two more to fit. I was originally planning to use tanalised soft wood for the rafters but have now ordered some oak from http://www.anton-coaker.co.uk    

One of the roof braces fitted between the
two rear purlins

The First Purlin

 
Managed to fit the first purlin yesterday. They will need to be pegged and some additional braces for the roof may be required. If the weather stays fine this week I am hoping to have all four in place (we shall see). 

Lifting and moving

The final roof frame in position

Quite an occasion yesterday - after a small amount of woodwork the last roof frame was lifted into position. The rest of the day was spent moving scaffolding and then the timber for the four purlins from the storage space in the garden to the shed. These are the last four heavy timbers that I will have to move. Not a great deal of work needs to be done to prepare these - just cut to length and then four cut-outs on each one to sit over the roof frames.

Wall and roof frames with scaffolding
positioned to hoist purlins

Peg making

Rectangular blanks

Oak log with Froe

Cutting rectangular blanks

   

Cutting square blanks

 

Square blanks

Shaping pegs from
square blanks

Shaping pegs from
square blanks

Testing the diameter of
the peg

Finished pegs

I managed to work for a few hours on the shed this morning (before the rain started) and now there is only about 30 minutes work and the final end frame will be complete. Still for once I don't mind it raining as I have a lot of pegs to make. I have been making pegs throughout the construction of the shed - usually when the weather is not so good. However, I still need to make a lot and before I can lift the final frame I need to peg the joints to ensure it is secure.

I make the pegs using a Froe (to cut the square blanks) and a draw knife to shape the pegs from the blanks. I hold the timber in my Workmate (in a rather non-traditional way) when shaping the pegs.

Fitting the last end frame

Cutting the last mortice

All the roof frames are now virtually finished and the first end roof frame is now in place. I was expecting it to be rather difficult to lift and position the end frames as they have additional braces and therefore slightly heavier than the two internal frames. The roof frame was lifted on the outside of the building with the pulleys positioned so the frame hung over the tenons - some manoeuvring was required but the process worked well. 

There is a small amount of work to finish on the final end frame so hopefully it will not be too long before this is also in place (weather permitting).

Lifting the frame into position

Three frames now in position