Jim D
New member
Hi - first post here for me so go easy on me folks!
I'm a relative beginner to woodworking and have volunteered to make a new chicken run for SWMBO. Actually, SWMBO wanted to buy a commercial one but I convinced her I could save her £££hundreds, get it done faster (chap was quoting Oct delivery) and plus enjoy myself into the bargain. So no pressure! I've made a chicken run before, a couple of years ago, which is still going strong, but this will be a bigger thing all together - 15ft x 8ft x 6ft or so high.
The question's about jointing methods. I've chosen to build it from 2x2" pressure treated timber, and the run will be assembled out of panels, mainly 6' tall x 3' wide with weld-mesh stapled on to keep the chooks in. These'll have crossbars half way up for extra strength, and possibly some extra bracing too. For speed, rather than go to the trouble of tenon and mortises, which is what I did on the old run (and took me ages
) I basically want to screw the panels together using butt joints. However, I've got a biscuit joint cutter for my router, and I've been thinking that to give the panels some extra rigidity and prevent the joints twisting I'd put a biscuit either side of the screw that'll pull the butt joint together. I'm using pressure treated timber and expensive Spax stainless steel screws for weather resistance in the hope I won't be doing this again in 3 years time , but how do you think the biscuits'll react to the damp? Will they absorb any rain and expand, splitting the wood, or am I worrying too much? For that matter, if I use waterproof glue in the joints will that seal any damp out of the joint, making it impossible for the biscuit to absorb water and expand?
Any thoughts appreciated - timber arrives on Wed so will be starting construction on Sat (or even Friday if I get away from work at a sensible time!) Thanks in advance!
Jim
I'm a relative beginner to woodworking and have volunteered to make a new chicken run for SWMBO. Actually, SWMBO wanted to buy a commercial one but I convinced her I could save her £££hundreds, get it done faster (chap was quoting Oct delivery) and plus enjoy myself into the bargain. So no pressure! I've made a chicken run before, a couple of years ago, which is still going strong, but this will be a bigger thing all together - 15ft x 8ft x 6ft or so high.
The question's about jointing methods. I've chosen to build it from 2x2" pressure treated timber, and the run will be assembled out of panels, mainly 6' tall x 3' wide with weld-mesh stapled on to keep the chooks in. These'll have crossbars half way up for extra strength, and possibly some extra bracing too. For speed, rather than go to the trouble of tenon and mortises, which is what I did on the old run (and took me ages
) I basically want to screw the panels together using butt joints. However, I've got a biscuit joint cutter for my router, and I've been thinking that to give the panels some extra rigidity and prevent the joints twisting I'd put a biscuit either side of the screw that'll pull the butt joint together. I'm using pressure treated timber and expensive Spax stainless steel screws for weather resistance in the hope I won't be doing this again in 3 years time , but how do you think the biscuits'll react to the damp? Will they absorb any rain and expand, splitting the wood, or am I worrying too much? For that matter, if I use waterproof glue in the joints will that seal any damp out of the joint, making it impossible for the biscuit to absorb water and expand?Any thoughts appreciated - timber arrives on Wed so will be starting construction on Sat (or even Friday if I get away from work at a sensible time!) Thanks in advance!
Jim
