Tying Joints in American Timber Joinery

Here is the first in a series of articles written by Jack Sobon, author of one of my favorite timber framing books. The diagrams he uses are incredibly clear and effective at conveying the simplest and most complex timber framing joints.

Of all the joints that make up a traditional timbered frame, the
most important are the tying joints. Tie beams, also referred to as crossbeams, anchor beams, ties and lower chords (in trusses), are transverse horizontal members that span from wall to wall or eave to eave, resisting the outward thrust of the roof planes. Where the tie beam joins the wall framing, we have the tying joint.Tying joints are usually the only connections in a frame that must resist tension. … This was posted on scribd.com