A PRO's way of making Oak pegs 'FAST' for Timber construction

I attended the Bentley Woodfair 2017 located in the county of Sussex in the South of England, an all round fantastic event and whilst there I filmed a video with Chris Nutley who runs a company called 'Sussex Oak Framers'
In this video he demonstrates his technique for producing Oak pegs extremely fast and efficiently for the variety of timber structures his company makes
To find out more about Chris - www.sussexoakfr...
To find out more about the event - www.bentley.org...
As always I appreciate you watching
Take care
Peace
Zed
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[@boozoochavis7506]

Much more labor intensive than slapping still wet new lumber together with a pneumatic nail gun for stick building, and that twists like a pretzel within two days! Love me some timber framing and I hope it comes back in a big way. Thanks for posting this video, great to see an easier way than just an axe and a timber slick.

[@Zedoutdoors]

I sincerely appreciate your kind words and for watching thank you ~Peace~

[@marchollyer9382]

Wow, yet another educational video Zed, Chris certainly makes peg production look so simple and easy. Artisan skills like this need to be kept alive. Thanks again for sharing.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Could have done with this peg maker at our basecamp! ;) ~Peace~

[@Bugoutvehiclesuk]

I love simple engineering like this where you can see how things fit together.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Most definitely, and it's cool to know that all the pegs he makes are used in all the construction builds he undertakes day to day ~Peace~

[@MuddyDuck...]

Thanks Zed - Absolutely fascinating to see how some of the ingenious skills of our ancestors are still being celebrated today.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Amen to that dude amen to that ~Peace~

[@GOLDSMITHEXILE]

That is the proper way to make draw pegs! A lot of people use a cylinder with a small pencil sharpener point, but this wedge shape is correct, it pulls the joint up gradually

[@Zedoutdoors]

Appreciate you watching ~Peace~

[@rogerdodger5415]

How interesting to learn some of the technology used in the old crafts! Thank you! 🇬🇧🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇸

[@Zedoutdoors]

Amen to that Roger! ~Peace~

[@davew5583]

Hoy Zed. Your the most important person in woodcraft/bushcraft etc. etc. You know people. Keep up the good work, and thank you for what your doing. Dave :)

[@davew5583]

Seriously, your an important man. Important in relation to the future :)

[@Zedoutdoors]

Always appreciate your kind words and for watching David, we all play our part in bringing old skills to life for others to enjoy, stay well my friend ~Peace~

[@Dustypilgrim1]

Love seeing the old ways explained. I would have been obsessive about getting those holes perfectly lined up... Great to hear my 'always slightly off DIY' is apparently the right way to go , and historically valid... even if my version was always by accident . Nice one Zed...

[@Zedoutdoors]

Couldn't agree more and nice to see that none of the waste is discarded too, hope you're keeping well my man ~Peace~

[@MySelfReliance]

Very informative- thanks Zed. I'll be using this technique extensively soon.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly Shawn, you would have loved the work Chris and his team do day to day, they build entire structures of all sizes from Oak using traditional techniques and do lots of restoration work around the country ~Peace~

[@GrizzlyGroundswell]

I really appreciate your capturing of these artisans that most of us will never have access too! Slick peg strategy!

[@Zedoutdoors]

Sincerely appreciate your kind words and for watching thank you ~Peace~

[@thehillsidegardener3961]

Good stuff, I made a die like this, works a treat once you get the technique down. You also need the right wood - it really needs to be green (and was traditionally), fully dried hardwood (it needs to be a hard wood) is much harder to bang through as I have found to the cost of my wrist tendons. Also the grain MUST be as straight as possible. Another thing is, the bevel on the edge of the die needs to be such that it splays the wood nicely outwards like it was in this guy's setup, otherwise what can happen is the waste ends up impacting on the plate and you have to keep clearing it - or if you don't notice then you will be hammering away on the peg and wondering why it won't go through and will eventually break it - ask me how I found that out :D.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Sincerely appreciate your kind words and also for our insights. Indeed, this seems a simple enough die, but there's a lot of intricacy to it! ~Peace~

[@sosteve9113]

great to see the old skills back to life thanks for showing atb steve

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly Steve ~Peace~

[@TheMonkdad]

I love the simplicity of that peg maker

[@Zedoutdoors]

Me and you both! ~Peace~

[@dutchcourage7312]

Zed m8, due to your name starting with a Z, you are at the bottom of my youtube subscription list, and due to that i found it was always bedtime before I actually got to your videos. Tonight i actually decided to start from the bottom of the list and i have not been disappointed. Tnx for sharing this event, that (as a dutchy) i will likely never be able to attend, as well as showing a selection of actual skills demonstrated. Much better than anything i saw listed in the TVguide for tonight (likely even the whole week, if tomorrow 'Gifted' wouldn't start on Fox, which remains to be evaluated). Hope you had an awesome couple of days over there, you certainly gave me a awesome couple of hours of entertainment and an awesome bit of new knowledge. ~peace~

[@Zedoutdoors]

Sincerely appreciate your kind words and for watching, the disadvantage of having my name begin with Z heh ;) ~Peace~

[@dutchcourage7312]

It sure is, maybe you should refer to yourself in your name to beat the system ? 'A Zed Outdoors' ;) ... in the meantime i will just try and work my way up instead of down. Keep up the good work ^^

[@therealsparkman]

Genius idea with the peg shaping jig!! I love it! Thanks for sharing this video. I'm going to make some up over the winter. Two thumbs up! - Cheers for Canada

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly! ~Peace~

[@texasfossilguy]

Awesome! Was looking at some old barn beams wondering how they did it!

[@Zedoutdoors]

Isn't it a fascinating process, was a real eye opener for me too filming this ~Peace~

[@KellyBurnham]

Would really like to see a video on making the Die used to cut the pegs. Thanks for posting

[@Zedoutdoors]

Hopefully in a future video Kelly, in the meanwhile you can buy them online, they are called 'Tine Cutters' ~Peace~

[@stephb8178]

Fantastic Zed another gem from you, brilliant.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly Steph! ~Peace~

[@OregonMikeH]

woodworking science and history for modern applications .. Fascinating as it spins off other ideas as well. Liked This one Z Man, Regards, .. Mike.

[@Zedoutdoors]

As always Mike you are very kind thank you young sir ~Peace~

[@raymondbailey1970]

Glad you found this guy Zed hahaha ,awesome.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly Ray! ~Peace~

[@huvee998]

I think that there has to be a one inch step after if feeds. If you had a 8 inch by one inch pipe it would not feed. But the first inch in length is one inch than it goes into a bigger diameter pipe the peg would feed thru easier. You can see where he has two different pipes on his peg maker.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Many thanks for watching and for your insights ~Peace~

[@andrewblack7852]

We made our trunnel cutter octagonal. Octagonal trunnels bite and compress as they are driven and are much stronger than round pegs. Cheers!

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thats useful to hear Andrew thank you ~Peace~

[@willalexander2179]

I'm looking to make a 1" octogonal cutter. How did you get yours / make it?

[@modestadventurers]

Thanxs for sharing. I love a good peg. Atb.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Beauty in simplicity heh ~Peace~

[@jamesblanton9364]

Always Awesome Zed ! I really enjoy seeing all these old world crafting methods mate, it's cool to see how things used to be done and you're videos have very much helped to fill in a lot of blanks for me, all my life i'm often asking, i wonder how that was done, how that was made. Anyway mate, thanks for another puzzle piece and i'll cop ya ron.

[@Zedoutdoors]

I'm just like you James, curious how to so many things are done and the processes that are used. As always I appreciate your kind words and for watching my man ~Peace~

[@michaelbayliss9412]

new to OG wood craft. clever stuff.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Isn't it just, very simple yet effective ~Peace~

[@slomkaadas9603]

Thx for upload very interesting! Cheers from Poland 🍻

[@Zedoutdoors]

Dziękuję ~Peace~

[@pamtnman1515]

This is fascinating. Thank you for doing this interview

[@Zedoutdoors]

I sincerely appreciate you watching and for your kind words thank you ~Peace~

[@beetooex]

Very interesting thank you. Random question- did you see how they kept their big signpost upright? It's obviously only temporary and I'm wondering if the event organisers would have allowed them to dig a hole?

[@Zedoutdoors]

Alas this event was a while ago so don't remember how they kept that upright, feel free to ask them though via their contact details in the description. Sorry I couldn't help further ~Peace~

[@craigbarker1077]

Thank you! Great video.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly Craig ~Peace~

[@dadgad68]

Interesting stuff as always Zed. Thanks very much.

[@Zedoutdoors]

You are very kind thank you dude ~Peace~

[@SouthernRebelRanger]

Zed I hope you know that now we'll expect you to actually use this technique! LOL. Another good video, keep them coming!

[@Zedoutdoors]

Ha! sure would have made things easier on my basecamp built! ~Peace~

[@mischef18]

Brilliant indeed so thanks for showing bro. ATB

[@Zedoutdoors]

You the man Ken thank you ~Peace~

[@migmagingenieria]

That is so cool and useful, thanks for sharing!!!!

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you Jose! ~Peace~

[@darreldugan1917]

Now that is pretty cool Zed, great vid!

[@Zedoutdoors]

Isn't it just Darrel, appreciate you watching dude ~Peace~

[@kimbullock475]

Love that Zed...Brilliant....

[@Zedoutdoors]

Was impressed the moment I first saw him do it ~Peace~

[@joshbabb7470]

Love these soft skills. You don't often hear about them in the bushcraft community these days. Thanks for the video Zed I hope you have a wonderful week. P.s where can you get that tool that you drive the pegs through? - Josh

[@morganhughes3601]

White Oak Outdoors you would have to make your own

[@Zedoutdoors]

Amen to that Josh, skills like these aren't the most sexiest but still extremely useful. Chris had that Dye custom made by a blacksmith friend of his and then mounted it on the block of Oak himself ~Peace~

[@GrizzlyGroundswell]

You can buy a dowel plate that will allow you to make standard dowel lengths, but I agree, this custom peg jig is outstanding. I was wondering if steel pipe would be hard enough to just grind down to that bevel and use a plumbing fixture to thread pipe into to attack to a wood block. This ejecting peg model is brilliant.

[@DumitruUrsu]

It should be, it acts more like a wedge than a cutting tool. Also, you drive the peg with a hammer, so even if it get a bit dull, you can just hit harder.

[@waltlars3687]

I have seen a peg maker made from a tractor 3 point hitch replacement pin it is hardened steel so You might have to a machine shop bore it on a lathe with a carbide cutter while it is chucked up in the lathe He can bevel the outside edge if it ever gets dull It can resharpened with a angle grinder touching up the outside edge

[@missouribob7850]

Wow! Fascinating!

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly Bob ~Peace~

[@brianspencer4220]

Totally absorbing. Thanks Brian 77

[@Zedoutdoors]

Appreciate your kind words Brian thank you ~Peace~

[@hasdrubal121]

Really great tips thanks

[@Zedoutdoors]

You are very kind thank you ~Peace~

[@PreparedCamping]

As he said also makes you some handy kindling win-win 👍 Thanks for sharing, take care Roo

[@Zedoutdoors]

You the man Roo thank you ~Peace~

[@BunkerhillRanch]

Mate! Ye nailed it......:)

[@Zedoutdoors]

I see what you did there ;-) ~Peace~

[@AfricanSouthernCross]

SUBSCRIBED, THANK YOU FOR UPLOADING THIS !

[@Zedoutdoors]

A pleasure to connect Mark! ~Peace~

[@muddytigeroutdoors4790]

Very interesting. I'd love to se how most of the tools used are made as well. -Jacko

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly Jacko, I may possibly visit him in the new year as want to learn timber frame structure building and so if that happens will try and do the video then ~Peace~

[@muddytigeroutdoors4790]

Zed Outdoors That'd be awesome!

[@scottbrown3444]

thanks

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly Scott ~Peace~

[@tyrellgiacoletti4216]

Hey Zed, love the content. Can you put me in contact with Chris about purchasing one of these jigs. Thanks. Keep up the good work!

[@Zedoutdoors]

Hi Tyrell you can purchase them here buddy - www.woodlandcraftsupplies.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_11

[@gondebas]

What are the diameters of the pegs you make for timber framing?

[@Zedoutdoors]

Alas I don't remember as I filmed this video some time ago, I have put a link to the gentlemans website in the description just below the video, so worth contacting him there ~Peace~

[@craigmooring2091]

Wonderful dowel maker! Thanks Zed. What did he use? Was that an artillery shell?

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly Craig, he had that dye forged by a blacksmith friend of his and then mounted it on that block of Oak himself ~Peace~

[@dougLinker]

Very cool

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you Dougmeister ~Peace~

[@kevinandrewmoore9752]

Thanks!

[@Zedoutdoors]

You are very kind Kevin thank you! ~Peace~

[@jamesellsworth9673]

Thanks for a great, short video. Did you consider purchasing the pegs you need from this craftsman rather than carving each one for yourself? Handmade woodcraft takes time and it seems that your style of bush-craft journalism would not leave you with much time to build for yourself.

[@Zedoutdoors]

It was tempting to use this gentlemans pegs but wanted to stay committed to making them by hand so as to stay true to my project ~Peace~

[@jamesderoc6717]

good teacher

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly James ~Peace~

[@jodywooten5511]

Wow, that's awesome

[@Zedoutdoors]

Isn;t it just! ~Peace~

[@keenowl1410]

Nice

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly ~Peace~

[@kerrythatcher1788]

How do I saw off the extended pegs in my timber frame that weren't lobed off after installation?

[@Zedoutdoors]

Use a fine saw like a japanese saw ~Peace~

[@JamesStoertz]

Chris - I manufactured one of these peg cutters like yours. I'm having a problem. The pegs won't drive through but seem to get harder and harder to drive as they go in as though they are wedged inside the steel pipe. Any special insight about how you manufactured that pipe to alleviate this problem?

[@VideoOverdrive]

Looked like the die was 3/4" only for the first few inches, then opened bigger at the next section to provide relief.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Hi James as already stated by the other gentleman the die opens up inside to allow the peg to pass through ~Peace~

[@christophermball]

A slightly different approach that reduces this binding problem is to simply use a piece of tool steel plate with the holes drilled in them, say roughly 3/8" thick. The exact same hammer technique can be accomplished with the added benefit of supporting many different sizes in a single plate.

[@pondguru]

Another class video Zed but as the owner of a log burning stove it was heartbreaking seeing that wonderful Oak firewood being used for pegs and kindling, lol

[@Zedoutdoors]

Haha! the sacrilege! ;) ~Peace~

[@jamesellsworth9673]

Good Humor, Guru! Though I like the thought of quality wood being used in something that will last longer than a single fire!

[@dutchcourage7312]

wait, loOol, that's obviously the other way around ;P

[@venturewithcam2421]

Great video Zed! ;) Keep it up, also when is the next basecamp video coming out?

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly my friend, have a series of basecamp videos coming as of this weekend as had to take a little time out to source materials for it which has proven to be tad difficult ~Peace~

[@venturewithcam2421]

Zed Outdoors Ooo, can’t wait! Keep it up!

[@metroplexchl]

Dumb question....I am using a bunch of 6"x6" and 8"x8" white oak beams that have been dried already to build a workshop. If I have a 1" peg hole diameter, wouldn't I use a 1" diameter peg?

[@Zedoutdoors]

The peg would have to be a fraction bigger in order to have a tight fit and thus giving you a more solid structure ~Peace~

[@tbirdsteve1]

nothing better than an old Thor mallet too.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Amen to that ~Peace~

[@jimm4201]

Wow really neat

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you Jimm ~Peace~

[@rachellane2836]

That is so clever!!!! Ingenius!!! ;)

[@Zedoutdoors]

Amen to that Rachel ~Peace~

[@stuartriggs7018]

Where did he get the drift from? The biggest cutter like that I have found is only 14mm. Or any idea of materials in order to make one myself?

[@Zedoutdoors]

Search for 'Tine Cutter' online and you'll see them available to purchase in many different sizes ~Peace~

[@richardmoss8772]

What are these called and Can you buy them

[@Zedoutdoors]

They are called Tine cutters and yes you can buy them online, heres a link to one good maker of them - www.oldtoolstore.co.uk/ray-iles-tine-cutter-269-p.asp

[@whirled_peas]

I'm attempting to make one of these from scratch and getting nowhere. Every design ends up with the peg completely jamming up after about 1". A few Qs if I may: - is the inner surface of the cutter parallel or slightly conical? (cutting edge narrower than inner diameter of pipe) This is my main theory why these just aren't working, I've been using stock cold rolled pipe that has a straight/parallel inner surface. I'm wondering whether the cutting edge needs to be narrower, or the mild steel pipe is bending outwards slightly upon first hit, causing a the cutting edge to be fractionally larger than the inner diameter of the pipe. - is the cutter case-hardened? - are you using older growth green oak or younger green oak? I thank you for anything you can share!

[@Zedoutdoors]

These are referred to as 'Tine Cutter's and this link may help answer your questions on the structure of it - www.woodsmithexperience.co.uk/shop/product/tine-cutter-1-2/

[@jeremiahbrown4344]

Grind a sharp bevel on a chunk of pipe the diameter you want. Cut of that section of pipe 1"-2" then weld it to a plate with a bigger diameter hole than your die. Another method I have used is a 1"-2" threaded pipe with a bevel grind on it, the opposite end that still has factory threads is attached to a circular threaded pipe bracket ( the kind used to hold gas line to the floor in your house. Has four screw holes in it and threaded hole in the center for pipe). Attach that assembly to a wood base with a hole in it, and your good to go. Hope that helps you out a bit in making a few tree nails. Happy timber framing. -J. :)

[@christophermball]

Just use a steel plate roughly 3/8" thick, with various hole sizes drilled into it. Mount the plate onto a structure, and hammer away. This approach leaves nothing for the dowel to bind to.

[@2manysigns]

Nice !

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly Geoff ~Peace~

[@mariogatica2363]

07:17 did i heard good...they move the hole 3 to 4 mm ??? That is a lot ? I am not an expert but, isn't that peg doing strong force ??

[@Zedoutdoors]

It is yes hence it is made from Oak ~Peace~

[@TristanJCumpole]

Yeah, the peg diverts itself a little as it winds through the holes, plus both it and the wood around the offset holes facing each other compress. The resultant high tension and compression is important for large external structural/architectural Oak pieces. Something smaller like an indoor household table will use smaller pegs and holes plus an offset maybe half of what is used here.

[@woodlandsedge3456]

Where can you get that kit to make them pegs

[@Zedoutdoors]

This is one place that stocks them - www.woodsmithexperience.co.uk/shop/category/tine-cutters/

[@woodlandsedge3456]

Many thanks zed hope your keeping well

[@toddbell152]

Like his tool for making pegs smarter not harder.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Amen to that Todd! ~Peace~

[@MySelfReliance]

Any idea where I can get one of those?

[@Zedoutdoors]

He had that forged by a Blacksmith friend of his so is custom made, worth mentioning that on the inside of this metal Dye in the hollow part, it is very slightly concave so the Oak doesn't stick and allows it to pass straight through. If you want an introduction to Chris let me Shawn and i'll CC you into an email with him ~Peace~

[@NewportDispatch]

Zed Outdoors Could you connect me with him to find out the angle on the die, dimensions, etc. looks like he had a smaller setup also for smaller pegs. Thanks.

[@waltlars3687]

NewportDispatch easy enough for a make a simple one by grinding a edge on the outside of a lenght of pipe with a angle grinder

[@willalexander2179]

@@Zedoutdoors I'd like to connect with him to get one made if possible.

[@tyrellgiacoletti4216]

Hey Zed, love the content. Can you put me in contact with Chris about purchasing one of these jigs? Thanks. Keep up the great work!

[@pedrofskymtb]

Now that is a nice drawknife. Anyone knows the maker?

[@Zedoutdoors]

I don't remember the maker of that particular drawknife but that is a common shape in the UK makes ~Peace~

[@pedrofskymtb]

Thanks for the reply. Its not the shape of the blade that caught my attention, it was the details around the handle/blade connection. It looks really well thought and made.

[@jr5389]

👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you for watching ~Peace~

[@eluawu]

Like his hammer...THOR....nice

[@Zedoutdoors]

Indeed avery impressive and well used hammer ~Peace~

[@kevinandrewmoore9752]

Thanks!

[@Zedoutdoors]

That is very kind of you Kevin thank you ~Peace~