6X6 concealed post bracket, Simpson Strong-tie CPT66Z

This is the 6x6 concealed post bracket that we used to secure our 6X6 posts to our concrete slab foundation. This video was not sponsored by Simpson Strong-tie, we just figured we would post the video so others could see what we are using. :)
Simpson Strong-tie CPT66Z link: amzn.to/3xT6d64
We are a family that moved out to the country to escape the fast paced city life. We sold our house, cashed out my 401k, and found a piece of property that had nothing on it. Doing the work ourselves, building our homestead from scratch, paying as we go, living the dream. Follow along with us on our journey as we build our homestead debt free.
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[@samanthal7414]

Having just started working in a millwork company, I needed some anchors for 4x4 pine posts, and your video was just what I needed.

[@KoalityofLife]

Glad to hear that it helped, thanks for watching. :)

[@kennethlemke9826]

Excellent choice

[@KoalityofLife]

Thank you. and thanks for watching. :)

[@Azoutdooraddict]

I usually mark both sides then only drill halfway through. Also I use a large speed square to check my drill bit for square both ways trying to hold that position through the drilling. Only so much you can do as the bit will find the path of lest resistance.

[@KoalityofLife]

I've never been good at drilling straight holes in wood. The drill bit always seems to catch the grain and wander. This turned out alright though. Thanks for watching. :)

[@brianshaffer5090]

Always lay a post out like that from both sides and drill halfway and then drill from the other side and follow through. It will come out beautifully every time

[@KoalityofLife]

Good to know and thanks for watching. :)

[@Bootzey73]

Clean install. Nice.

[@KoalityofLife]

Thank you, we think so too. :)

[@HamiltonvilleFarm]

6x6 post aren't as easy to work with as people think are they😁👍 good video

[@KoalityofLife]

I was surprised how sturdy these brackets are. I figured they would hold the post in place but they are really sturdy. :)

[@elsharkio]

Thanks for this video - very useful :-)

[@KoalityofLife]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching. :)

[@holliwood3226]

Much simpler way of doing this. I just did 6 of them. 1. Cut the notch first using a narrow chainsaw blade. It's just a little lose but this allows you the play you need when installing the post. 2. Lay the bracket on the side of your post where you need to drill the holes. Drill starter holes about 1/2 inch deep. 3. Fasten the bracket to a 8x8 block of wood. Install the base. Then fit it into the notch, clamping is securely. 4. Now drill your first hole. If you are misaligned, the holes in the bracket will keep you aligned. Put a spacer (like an old drill bit) in this drilled hole and drill the 2nd hole. Add another spacer and drill the 3rd hole. Now all 3 of your holes are perfectly aligned.

[@KoalityofLife]

Interesting way of doing it. I don't know if I would like the gap a narrow chainsaw blade would make. I think taking your time and having a really snug fit would be better but to each his own. Thanks for watching and leaving an alternative method of installation. :)

[@holliwood3226]

@@KoalityofLife Shame these parts are so dang expensive.

[@KoalityofLife]

@@holliwood3226 Ya, would be easy to make some brackets but they wouldn't be stamped with a load rating so they wouldn't pass code when it came time for an inspection. :)

[@WillMarler]

Cool stuff. I did these with cedar posts and when hammering my pegs through, I noticed that the post had started to split. Maybe because of not cutting the notch wide enough. Good thought using the chop saw.

[@KoalityofLife]

I guess it would depend on the type of wood you were using as to how perfect the cut and holes would have to be. Using Doug fir I didn't even think about it splitting. Thanks for watching. :)

[@corbinvivaan1035]

i realize I'm kinda off topic but do anybody know of a good place to stream newly released movies online ?

[@Toddtoddy78]

I’m seen all them dang ol dee Walt Tool’s and got plumb jealous

[@KoalityofLife]

I've collected these tools over the past 15 years. One here, one there, couldn't afford to get them all at once. :)

[@Santiago-iv7oi]

Nice.. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@KoalityofLife]

Thank you :)

[@michaelhimes8778]

Seems like this bracket would be a good option for a double run of 2x lumber as beams for a deck. The split is naturally there for the two pieces of wood.

[@KoalityofLife]

You could, just use the 3 holes for screwing the pieces together. :)

[@amattson6578]

You can also make a jig with a drill press then use jig to drill holes into base so you know itll line up perfect. Either way looks good man

[@KoalityofLife]

Thank you and thanks for watching. :)

[@Joellyboy283]

Great job on installing the concealed post. What would you do differently in cutting the slit?

[@KoalityofLife]

I don't know if there is any other way to cut that grove, I used a skill saw. A beam saw is a little bigger and might have worked a bit nicer. :)

[@dd3371]

Great work and informative video! Just wondering how this compare with the traditional post base where the post just sits on top. Is concealed stringer or weaker?

[@KoalityofLife]

You would have to look at the uplift value of each bracket to see which one was stronger. I'm sure they all hold the post in place just the same but the uplift value might be stronger on one. :)

[@leestebbins5051]

I always call vertical structural members beams. For my next trick, I,ll put a slab on my roof.

[@KoalityofLife]

LOL. Thanks for watching. :)

[@TriciainGeorgia]

Awesome update...hope your wife didn’t hurt her finger too badly.

[@KoalityofLife]

Nope, she was all better after a few minutes. :)

[@davegordon6943]

Keep some of your sawdust from the beam and mix with wood glue, smear it in the hole let dry and sand smooth

[@KoalityofLife]

Interesting, I'll try that. :)

[@fredriccuthbertson]

Question: could i use that same method to add 6x6 pillars on top of a brick column to create a pergola? 4 brick post/4 ft tall on one side of wall...then add 8 foot post, into the concrete pad on the other side, connecting with 2x6 rafters? That really looks solid!!!

[@KoalityofLife]

It is a solid bracket but I don't know about your situation. I would say as long as the bracket is securely attached to both things it would be ok but I'm not a contractor or engineer. :)

[@Bigshoots86]

Ace sells bubble level's for drillS I just epoxy anchored to the back

[@KoalityofLife]

Thank you. I’ll have to buy one for my drill, it’ll help out tremendously. :)

[@ceno8039]

Hi there, thanks for this, it was exactly what ive been looking for. From the proximity of your post all the pressures are vertical so it will work, but how do you reckon it would cope with shearing forces as external wall post fixing system? Im thinking of using this system on non-code build and over engineering the bracing through the frame to mitigate shearing forces (ive got an existing solid slab to work with, so cant embed posts). All the literature seems to suggest this system is suitable for decks, pergolas only, i get that (building codes) , but i really want to make it work on a house build.

[@KoalityofLife]

I'm not sure I'm following you, are you thinking of using it on a horizontal beam? Dont think it would work so well doing that but it should work on any vertical beam. The best way to prevent shear is with a diagonal brace or plywood or OSB sheathing. :)

[@ceno8039]

Thanks, yeh im just going to go ahead and use these bases. To clarify, I was wondering how it would perform throughout my house build as plates for every 6x6 load bearing post element in the frame. I guess by shearing i also was including uplift. Double top plates and plenty of bracing should maximise downward pressure, cos i can see the fixing slowly eroding away over time if there is too much sideways force on these posts.

[@KoalityofLife]

@@ceno8039 Gotcha. They should work just fine. :)

[@ocloudx]

Don't we need some kind of nut+washer to lock the all threads?

[@KoalityofLife]

The bracket is attached to the concrete with concrete anchor bolts and the post has the pins to attach it to the bracket. Hope this helps and thanks for watching. :)

[@cris2068]

I've seen guys hot glue a circular level to their drill if it helps.

[@KoalityofLife]

Thats a good idea. Thanks. :)

[@justin_t]

are there any concealed brackets options for aluminum columns?

[@KoalityofLife]

I'm sure there are but I don't know of them. I haven't built a lot and haven't built anything out of aluminum. :)

[@mjh5437]

If the base of the post is going to be visible in the house (and you don`t want to see the screw holes) I would face it all around with skirting board.

[@KoalityofLife]

We were thinking about that but didn't know if a skirt that tall would look good or not. Still throwing ideas around. Thanks for watching. :)

[@mjh5437]

@@KoalityofLife Personally I like a Torus profile...Or a Half-Scoop.

[@KoalityofLife]

@@mjh5437 We had that in our last house. Not a bad look. :)

[@diggingmystyle]

Seems like a lot of work over traditional post base.

[@KoalityofLife]

May be a bit more work but it makes a cleaner look. :)

[@mjh5437]

What is that metal triangular squaring tool called?

[@KoalityofLife]

Most commonly referred to as a speed square. I'm not a contractor but I'm sure there might be other names for it. :)

[@mjh5437]

@@KoalityofLife Thanx mate.

[@KoalityofLife]

@@mjh5437 You're very welcome :)

[@perryh.5306]

It's called a Square, but there are different types of Sqaures that look the same but have different markings on them....depending what your using it for. The Standard is the Speed Sqaure. Then they have a Rafter Sqaure and a Trim Square.

[@davidewan3]

I just installed 6 of these strong-ties for a handrail. Definitely clamp the plate when drilling and use the pins too to hold the plate in place when drilling the 2nd and 3rd hole. I also used a 12" mitre saw to cut the slot. I mounted these on an old concrete surface that was pitted - there's a lot of play in the posts. I'm going to have to shim them. Biggest mistake - i mounted the row of strong ties using the same orientation. I should have switched it up - so if the first flange was facing North-South, the next one should have been East-West. May have to re-do a couple.

[@KoalityofLife]

They are nice brackets, look really clean too. :)

[@israelclayman4489]

Would these be good to use for the post to build a 14×16 pavilion?

[@shanebaillie7926]

Drill from both sides????

[@KoalityofLife]

That might make it easier to line things up. :)

[@louish.9414]

I found me small portable drill press frm 7os

[@KoalityofLife]

That will make drilling straight holes a lot easier. :)

[@tompaj10]

looks like pain in the neck, a lot of room for error. what if you need you adjust plumb???

[@KoalityofLife]

You would have to adjust plumb when you attached the top but hopefully all the measurements have been done correctly before drilling any holes and everything matches up. :)

[@fergferguson7370]

Good video….ridiculas product..talk about waste o time

[@KoalityofLife]

The product is nice, the price of the product is a bit outrageous now days. Thanks for watching. :)

[@MrTHEBRITINWA]

Blocking the sheathing !!!???

[@KoalityofLife]

Thanks for watching. :)

[@MrTHEBRITINWA]

That’s not answering the question……

[@KoalityofLife]

@@MrTHEBRITINWA Maybe you could elaborate on your question a bit. :)

[@MrTHEBRITINWA]

@@KoalityofLife your sheathing does not reach the top plate. All sheathing edges are required to land on plates studs or blocking to meet shear nail requirements.

[@KoalityofLife]

@@MrTHEBRITINWA Gotcha. I wasn't done sheathing the house at this point, the walls are 10 foot tall and the sheathing is laying horizontally as per the engineered plans. I promise you there is sheathing all the way up to the top plate. The house has been inspected for nailing and shear strength and everything else. I'm not a contractor but took my time building our house and researching anything I had a question on. :)

[@tompaj10]

and is quite wobly after install...

[@KoalityofLife]

This bracket only holds the post to the ground. The bracket provides enough stability to hold it in place while you build around it. The whole house makes the stability, not any one wall or beam. :)

[@tompaj10]

@@KoalityofLife I am using this to attached post for stair railing. This base seems to be useless for me. No way to provide plumb or any lateral stiffness.

[@KoalityofLife]

@@tompaj10 I would not recommend this attachment method for railings. I used a hidden newel post mounting hardware for my railings. :)

[@tompaj10]

@@KoalityofLife to attached to concrete???

[@KoalityofLife]

@@tompaj10 No, sorry, I should have been more clear, my banisters and railings are attached to the second floor or the staircase which are wood. :)

[@AlMai222]

This was painful to watch

[@KoalityofLife]

Thanks for enduring the pain and watching. :)

[@bull5919]

lmao how you hit your thumb? uh I don't know it can't be my shades I have on..lmao

[@KoalityofLife]

I don't think it had much to do with the shades as much as it had to do with the fact that my wife isn't a carpenter so she doesn't swing a hammer very often. Thanks for watching though. :)