A good sawshed header design

[Don P]

Below is a link to a pdf file at APA, the American Plywood Association, on building Box Beams with spans up to 24 feet.

Their whole series of downloadable publications requires registering but is worth checking out. I think this will take you to the registration page.
http://www.apawood.org/level_b.cfm?content=pub_main

Box Beam pdf
This is a good way to span a sawshed opening.

[KiwiCharlie]

Don,
Thanks for the link, thats a great one.  Im still looking at various plans and styles of sheds.  You can never have too much info!
Good stuff.  Thanks again.
Cheers
Charlie.

[brdmkr]

That is a good site.  Thanks for the link.

[Snag]

Thanks for sharing the likn Don.  I was actually just pondering how I was going to make a 20' opening for a small building to put my mill in.  You just solved it for me.  Thanks.

Jerome

[FiremanEd]

Don,

I know a lot of guys like to build their own stuff but you might want to check on the cost of a commercial LVL from your local supplier. I looked at building them and with value on my time it was a good bit less expensive to buy commercial LVL's. We have 22' & 30' openings in our millhouse.

Eddie

[Riles]

The trick would be finding 2X4 or 2X6 pieces 30 feet long.  The design calls for continuous top and bottom flange pieces.

[Radar67]

Below is a link to a pdf file at APA, the American Plywood Association, on building Box Beams with spans up to 24 feet.

Box Beam pdf
This is a good way to span a sawshed opening.

Don, thanks for providing this link. I downloaded the file and just finished building 2 16 foot beams for my shed/cabin. The beams seem to be extremely strong, yet they are light...light enough that I installed both by myself with only the help of a block and tackle.

Now my arm is another story...it will take a few days to recover from driving all the nails required for these beams. It took roughly 1000 nails for each beam, I have been a hammering fool for the last two days. ( I thought about using an air nailer, but could not find out if the nails were similar in strength, so I went with the suggested method). I'll take a few pictures this week.

Stew

[Don P]

I'm glad it worked. Do post some pics.
I can figure the interchange for gun nails next time. The APA help desk probably would too  ;D.
My dad never has owned a nail gun, I still can't keep up with him hand driving.

And have no desire to try  :D

A thread on a construction forum turned up this pdf, its another good read;
http://toolbase.org/PDF/DesignGuides/flitchplate.pdf

[Don K]

Wished I would have had this a few months ago when I built my sawshed. :(

I saved it anyway as I'm sure I'm not through building things. After all, I do own a sawmill. ;D ;D

[scgargoyle]

I noticed in the text they mentioned using glue as well (but not in place of the nails). As an old boatbuilder, I can tell you the glue would make a substantial improvement in rigidity and life-span. I glue everything! A boatbiuilder I knew in CT once built one of his plywood rowboats entirely w/ glue- no fastenings at all. It held up fine.

[Radar67]

Just got in from working on my shed. Here are the pictures of the beam I promised.



This is just a 16 inch section, you can see the amount of nails used.



Here you get a better idea of the overall amount of nails.

Stew

[beenthere]

Looks good.
Do you have double 2x in the top and also in the bottom of the beams? Appears to be two rows of nails. Also, did you glue before nailing?

[Radar67]

Yes, I used double 2 bys in top and bottom. I did not glue. The information sheet said the nails were adequate for the listed loads and glue could be used to increase stiffness. I only spanned 16 foot and each beam should hold 3000 pounds based on the listed loads less about 10%, should be more than enough for my application.

Stew

[scsmith42]

RE nail guns, the Porter Cable FR350Mag will drive a nail up to 3.5" in length and .161 in diameter.  Of the framing nailers that I researched a few years back, it had the greatest capacity in terms of diameter and length.  It's hard to find nails longer than 3.25" and .131 in diameter though.

There are some bridge nailing guns that will drive 6" and longer nails, but they are pretty large.

Maze nails offers some high quality nailgun nails (in terms of strength).

Nice job on the beam.

Scott