what joint?

[gaz]

Hi

I'm putting a sort of 'stage ' in my garage to give me storage space high up. I was hoping to use materials I have left after other jobs, but this would mean joining 3 pieces of 9inch by 2 inch on edge ( to form a u shape) for the supports. Halving joints will only give me a 1 inch thickness which I don't think will do. What is considered the best way to do this joint. I will put a metal plate across the join, but as it will need to take my not inconsiderable weight and lots of 'stored stuff' I am nervous about it. As the timber is 9 inches across I would need to bore 5 inches in to do what I would usually do in this situation if I use 4 inch screws. There will be a ¾ ply floor over it and all the timber will be screwed to this.

Thanks in advance.

[Michael Mcneil]

You lost me there.

[N. Thornton]

Have little idea what youre doing, suggest drawing and explain properly.

Regards, NT

[Steve Firth]

If you want to keep the full strenth of the timber you should not cut it. Rather than a halving or tenon hav eyou considered using a metal join? There are suitable joiners made by a company called Joiners (or Joyners, I forget) which are galvanised brackets used to support the join. These make extremely strong joins. An alternative may be a strap on the outside of the join and a 90 degree angle bracket on the inside.

[]--------------------- S []| 9x2 T []--------------------- R []| |]==== A []| 9 |]//

[gaz]

Yea, this is more or less what I did. I put a steel plate each side and coach bolts through. As I said, I wanted to use up what I had here rather than get more in.

I did not make clear what I wanted to do. I wanted to join the 'end' of a

9x2 to the 'edge' of a 9x2 to give me a u shape 2 inches 'thick' if it was laying on the ground. Not the best way to explain it sorry, but its done now. thanks for the replys.