Oxfordshire Woodland Group

The cruck blades were levelled and then the smaller of the blade was raised and positioned on top of the other and levelled again with the apex invert plumbed over the framing floor centre line string and height nail.

The top blade was approx 6.5" thick (slightly variable over the joint) and so independant horizontal lines were scribed on both sides of the top cruck blade approx 3.25" down from the top surface using the laser level. The horizontal lines were then intersected by vertical plumb lines scribed down the vertcal face interfaces. The compasses were set at 6.5" and then this was stepped down from the top lap joint face to mark and position the lower cruck lap joint face.

The lap joints were then cut and smoothed to the lines and remated.

The apex lap joints were then pulled up tight using an 8" "G" clamp -

- resulting in the horizontal scribe lines now being coincident.

The cruck mantle was then pulled into place, centred and set at the required distance up from the cruck feet

Ken Hume - OWG