On Tue, Jan 26, 2010 at 4:54 PM, Chris Phoenix <[email protected]> wrote:
> Tape adds a lot to the cost and skill of hexayurt building. I'm > wondering whether there might be more mechanical joints that could > work. > > For example, truss joint connectors - those little metal plates with > spikes stamped out of them - might be pre-bent to the correct angles > and used to attach the panels together. Although putting them into > wood requires a hydraulic press, they should go pretty easily into > foam. A bolt through them to a large washer or plate on the other side > should hold them in place. > > The resulting joints would not be water-tight, but just a little tape > should be able to fix that. > > I think I remember reading that an important part of hexayurt strength > is the tension in the tape that's wrapped around between the walls and > roof. If so, it might be necessary to add a cable or strap, either > wrapped around the outside, or run through the bolts (eyebolts?) > attaching the truss connectors. > > Has anyone tried anything like this? Can anyone see a major problem? > > Chris > > These, yes? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truss_connector_plate [image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Wood_truss_plates.jpg] If enough of them are used then there might not not be much of a weak spot in the wall joint when it's pressed by strong winds. With too few plates the wall might bend and snap. Instead of a bolt, maybe punch a few holes through the board with a large nail and use metal wire stitched through a few times and twisted tight. The perimeter cable could be secured to the uppermost plates with wire also. How strong does that cable have to be? Could it be rope? With the plates the tape is then no longer load-bearing and only has to be waterproof and sun-resistant. Looks like they cost nearly $2 each in packages of 100. How many are needed per hexayurt? This is a step towards using full-length connector joints which would be fast to assemble and strong. Those may not exist yet, but one size/angle might fit all (roof and wall and roof/wall joint). -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "hexayurt" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/hexayurt?hl=en.
