616 THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE. IJooK II.

the dc])tli of the timber is a usual length for a scarf Scarling requires great acciiracv
ill execution ; for if the indents do not bear e(iua!ly, the greater part of the strength will
be lost: hence it is iin])roper to use very complicated forms for the indents.
2008. Pieces of timber are framed into and joined to one another, by the aid of
luort'Cfs and tenuns, and by iron straps and bolts
;
and on the proper placing of thuse
depends the soundness of the work. If a piece of framing is to stand perpendicularlv,
as in the case of partitions, witliout pressure from either side, the mortice and tenon
should be in the centre of the wood. But in the case of framing floors, in wliicli
the pressure is on the iip})er surfac, and entirely on one side, the mortices and tenor's
ought to be nearest the side on which the pressure is, by
which the timber will not be so much weakened
;
and
hence it is tiie constant practice to cut the mortices and
tenons as in Jii/s. 66^, 665. By the method shown in the
^
last-named figure, the tenon obtains more strength from !
an additional bearing below, which is further increased by
the inclined hutment above, called a fimh.
1:009. The method of framing wall plates together at an angle, for the reception of the
hip rafter on the dragon beam, and the angle ties for retaining the wall plates in their
j)laccs, is shown in
Jit/. 666., wherein AB is the mortice cut for the tenon of the hip rafter
?
Fih'. GG5,
LJ
r
FiK. Rfifi. Fig. B6S.
sliown in
fit/. 667. Fie/. 668. is one of the wall ]5lates, showing the halving to receive tiie
other plate, and the cutting necessary for dovetailing the angular tie. Fie/. 669. shows the
method of cutting the mortices and tenons of principal and hip
rafters; another method being given
in
Ji(/ 670., and to be pre-
ferred where a greater resistance to thrust is sought, because by it
a double hutting is obtained on the tie beam. Inasmuch, how-
ever, as in this last case the beam is cut across the grain to re-
ceive the rafter, the part left standing to receive the heel of the
rafter may l)e easily split away; to obviate which, the socket may
be cut, as at A, parallel to the grain of the wood. c<l is the iron
strap for securing the rafter's foot to the tie beam, and keeping it
\ ^
in its place. A plan of the upper part of the tie l)eam is given
'^"
at B, showing the socket and mortice of the section .\ in tlie list figure!
C exhibits the
mode in which a principal rafter is strapped to a tie-beam, with i\\cj(ii</Utig,
'iOlO. The most approved method of fjrming
hutments
(^fig.
67
1.)
for the struts or braces, au, rn^
which ate joggled into the king-post, is to
make their ends, which act against the joggle,
l)er])cndicuhir to the sides of the brace
;
they
will thus be kept firm])' on their hutments,
and have no tendency to slide. C is a section
of the king-post and tie beam, showing the
mode of wedging and tightening the strap,
with a single wedge, in order to draw the tie
beam close to the king-post. D is a section
of the same parts to a larger scale, and with
tlie introduction of a double wedge, which is
easier to drive than a single one, because there
is less action ujjon the cross grain of the wood.
'2011.
Strai)s in carpentry should be sparingly used. Professor Robison lias very
properly observed, that
"
a skilful carpenter never emjiloys many straps, considering them
as auxiliaries foreign to his art." The most important uses of them are, that of suspend-
ing the tie beam to the king-post, and of securing the feet of the
i
rincipal rafters to the
tie beams in roofs.
201 'J. Bolts are sometimes used for the last-named ofKce, ith vr.s7/(?-. and heads and
sriew iMit^. in v.liich c.isc the wasliers, nuts, and heads should bt well painted, though