Pole Barn Truss Questions

roadracer · Oct 18, 2021

Hi folks, I'm sure I'm not alone in being a rabid follower of RR Buildings. I have decided to attempt one of their designs on my property and am currently waiting for concrete before I can start erecting it.

In all of Kyle's videos, the laminate posts he uses have a 4' "knockout" in the center ply which he uses to adjust the height of the truss and sandwich it in place.

The only laminate posts I was able to source have the top 2' unglued but the center ply is fully intact and not cut out. Short of a chain mortiser, I don't have a reasonable way to cut only that center ply. How would people recommend I mount the truss in this situation?

I could cut (offset heights) two plies out in order to get the "sandwich", but I'm going to lose meaningful structure or I can just cut one of the end plies and offset the truss 1.5". Since the posts are planed to size, the outside plies are slightly less than 1.5" as well, which might be mostly an aesthetic concern.

Love to hear everyone's advice!

PowerTracManiac · Oct 18, 2021

Saw down the two long ends with good circular saw full depth and square on one side of post. Flip post (if necessary if saw doesn't cut through in 1 pass on the first side) and repeat cuts on other side. You now have the long sides mostly cut.
Drill hole at bottom of the joint with a drill bit bigger than the carbide rough cut sawzall blade you will put in that hole. Sawzall in 1 direction, then sawzall in the other direction. Clean up side cuts/bottom with the sawzall and the mortise piece falls out.
Mark them well and with a helper to flip them u will be done fairly quickly.
Good luck

duffer · Oct 18, 2021

IIRC Kyle used to laminate his own posts from 2x6's or 2x8's depending on the structure. You could easily do that. Just overlap your joints by 2'-4' and glue and screw them together from both sides. Could even use lag bolts if you're so inclined.

I suspect Kyle found a local supplier to fabricate them for him.

roadracer · Oct 18, 2021

PowerTracManiac said:
Saw down the two long ends with good circular saw full depth and square on one side of post. Flip post (if necessary if saw doesn't cut through in 1 pass on the first side) and repeat cuts on other side. You now have the long sides mostly cut.
Drill hole at bottom of the joint with a drill bit bigger than the carbide rough cut sawzall blade you will put in that hole. Sawzall in 1 direction, then sawzall in the other direction. Clean up side cuts/bottom with the sawzall and the mortise piece falls out.
Mark them well and with a helper to flip them u will be done fairly quickly.
Good luck

Maybe I'll make a practice one and see how badly that goes before I try it in earnest!

roadracer · Oct 18, 2021

duffer said:
IIRC Kyle used to laminate his own posts from 2x6's or 2x8's depending on the structure. You could easily do that. Just overlap your joints by 2'-4' and glue and screw them together from both sides. Could even use lag bolts if you're so inclined.

I suspect Kyle found a local supplier to fabricate them for him.

I already have the posts. It was the only option and I'm running out of nice weather. I figured offset by one ply wouldn't be so bad. If it was a 2-ply truss it would be offset anyhow.