How to hammer down a truss plate

[@chaddyer2815]

A 10 pound plate tamper is what I have had the most success with. Lay the 2 boards under something solid. Imitating a mechanical press, smack the crap out of the plate. It took me 3 whacks and the plate was flush and looked intact on the outside. Hope this helps

[@cornpop7805]

I like this method! One way to make this take fewer hits, is to place sandbags on either side of the joint. It GREATLY reduces the rebound of the assembly. Thank you for taking the effort to share your method!

[@adamr8628]

Glue where the wood pieces contact each other will also increase strength in enormous ways. Not necessary but sure makes it super strong.

[@adamr8628]

Ive used a regular hammer with these MANY times. Works great. Of course, bigger is better and easier.

[@PaulPaid]

Nice job ..and the only video on KZbin showing how to do it. Thank you.

[@meadowbyastream]

Not sure if someone already answered this, but the difference between 'mending' plates and 'truss' plates, is that those holes/spikes are staggered on truss plates. On mending, they are all in pretty rows.

[@lancer525]

And that, sir, is why the pyramids are still there... Nicely done, and thank you!

[@tehpimpmasta]

I’ve built trusses professionally; they nail gunned the one side once and we flipped it and I hammered a corner of each plate once and we shot it through a big roller that effectively pressed both sides at once. And it was done. I’m not sure why people would say you can’t hammer it lol. You’re right also, The corners are important. I’m wondering if you had a big enough hand tamp if you could just drop it down on top a time or two and have the whole plate set??? Anyway, good video; later.

[@ceciliaescobedo5624]

Excellent Job!! 👍 Thank you very much.

[@robertbassham8514]

Looks good sir. I'll be making some 12 foot trusses for my small barn and was planning on using these tie plates to put it together. I used a small hand sledge the last time I worked with them. Looks like a heaver one works pretty well. Thanks for the video.

[@themr.cheeseshow6800]

I am glad that this helps.

[@Saul.Tinoco]

Did you build your barn yet? If not then I’d recommend using a steel tamper to save time (and your arm). If you’re still building your trusses and have questions about it I can help you out 👍

[@robertbassham8514]

@@Saul.Tinoco Thanks for the feedback. No I have not built the barn yet. After reading many opinions on this matter I think I'll be using plywood plates with a bit of glue and nails to tie things together.

[@Saul.Tinoco]

@@robertbassham8514 you’re welcome. I build trusses for a living so I’m swinging a hammer 10 hours a day, 6 days a week and I love it. One thing I can tell you is that metal plates will hold if you hammer them correctly. But since you’re going with gussets you won’t have to worry about that. You’ll have more ceiling space too if that’s something you’re looking to get. If you’re still in the planning stages, look up gambrel trusses. If it’s going to be a tall barn I’d go with a gambrel style truss. If not then I’d go with gussets and bracing.

[@themr.cheeseshow6800]

@@Saul.Tinoco Thank you. Was a porch, and it turned out pretty well.

[@kyleallen1835]

I always wondered how do this thank you 🙏

[@themr.cheeseshow6800]

I believe that by sharing knowledge, we all benefit.

[@richardgieser6122]

I took some things apart that were fastened with plates like these and it was impressive how they hold.

[@SecretSoundSociety]

I build trusses the weak spots are the Webs so you add force to the webs it will pry the plates of if applicable

[@JennyBlank-l4i]

Thank you for making this video

[@smartpig2386]

People say you can still hear that loose vice grip there to this day.

[@davegarber7964]

2:46 Disclaimer solves any artifact effect.

[@SteepintheWoods]

Rock and roll, thanks for the video!

[@stephenroome3397]

You should hammer from end along joint to the other an example is get your hand and two pieces of paper position the two pieces paper as if it’s your timber now place your hand on but cupped as you are hammering edges first now flatten hand paper will separate so will you joints over time as

[@warpswede]

Thanks for this. I was thinking of trying to rig up my bench vise and some steel plates to make my own "press". This is better :) Also, how many of these truss plates did you use on the pyramids?

[@vsvnrg3263]

they were stone truss plates so this system wont work. now that ive seen this video and your comment, i have some tie plates that go under train rails that i'll slam with a hammer.

[@jackt6112]

The star of the show is correct! The the industry standard term is mending plate.

[@putawaywet1]

Might try putting a 1/4” steel plate on top to keep nails straight?

[@tylertodecheene4753]

I’ve done this but with a framing hammer. Took hundreds of whacks but it held and to this day my ex-brother in-laws roof is still holding strong 🤙

[@YinDavon]

Thanks for the video 📸 starting a job soon for hammering trusses

[@markervice2936]

Every once in a month one finds a useful BoobTube vid! I am all into caveman tech that actually works. When I worked on the railroad I used a 16# maul all too much for demo. Laughed when some cat below challenged the man's veracity over that!

[@marcusbrown7817]

New Balance. Baltimores favorite brand shoe!🎉

[@grants169]

Can I join together a joist for a deck doing this? Since I'm too cheap to buy a 12ft joist when I already have two 6ft pieces and lumber is super expensive right now?

[@PaulPaid]

You should be fine but I would reinforce them with screws or 16D nails.

[@jorgevillarreal4210]

Right, I have a 10 lb hammer so I am all set up... Quick question: Where I can buy these plates by unit? because I don{t need a lot of them...

[@furrycircuitry2378]

Become a lowes pro member and ask a vendor to quote you the mending plates usually if you get alot they'll give you a discount

[@jamesfriend481]

Very helpful video

[@jymlewis]

Thank you for posting. Very helpful

[@GooseAlarm]

Thank you!

[@richardgieser6122]

How about i lightly tack the plate on the wood, put it on my concrete driveway, put a 1/4" or 1/2" steel plate ovef it and drive over it with the car or pickup truck?

[@jeremygoodwin7321]

It is true, us old pimps of any profession can tell if eachother is worth their salt by looking at their footware. We all wear New Balance!

[@dmark6699]

Have you tried a big vice setup?

[@themr.cheeseshow6800]

Great idea. We were doing it as economically as possible. Vice was not in budget, but solid suggestion. Thank you.

[@JJ-my9uw]

I got sidetracked on what colt you join for those clothes instead of how to join a nail plate. That looks great for one plate, but after you do that for 200 you would look like Conan

[@deankay4434]

A few metal plates and some fixtures bolted to my 20 ton log-splitter will travel at 50 MPH to a job site, then go for it. We are Americans with a can-do attitude to thing outside the box. Go for it! Automotive ASE Master Tech since - 1978 (Retired) Besides, I like any tool that can do double duty! Just a fabricator with a 150 amp MIG I have had since 1984...Works great on 3/8” - 1/2” plate steel! That works for me!

[@outinthesticks1035]

Looks like a nice neat job , but have to comment that that is not a 16 lb sledge , I spent enough years swinging a 16 lb to know

[@themr.cheeseshow6800]

Respectfully, I must disagree. This man knows his tools, and I have also used this hammer to help destroy a car. It really IS 16lbs. I promise.

[@johns8552]

I remember when we were building those pyramids

[@Francois_Dupont]

i rather just cut some plywood form, glue and screw them.

[@robertshriver8392]

Where do you get those plates

[@themr.cheeseshow6800]

Menard's. They are readily available.

[@normferguson2769]

Home Depot or Lowes

[@vincentmontambault217]

Here in Canada they are only available to truss manufacturers. What you can have in hardware stores are plates that you use with nails, or special plates with teeth made to be hammered. But the real truss plates are only available to manufacturers for the exact reason mentionned in the video, they have to be inserted in the wood by hydraulic press to have their real strenght. When hammered, the teeth don't go straight into the wood and the strenght is not good. A couples of years ago, we made many tests to show that to visitors in the shop.

[@crosisofborg5524]

@@vincentmontambault217 Canada has become an authoritarian dictatorship.

[@vincentmontambault217]

@@crosisofborg5524 ok, very brilliant commentary by a very brilliant man... Not!

[@robertshriver8392]

That’s interesting

[@lindabedard4022]

What is a clamp is not possible like a 45° angle?

[@TheLastCrumb.]

Ok but the reason you don’t use a mallet is because the nails need to be driven straight into the wood. That’s why you use hydraulics. This way just bends the nails and splits the wood so the nails come lose. It’ll be ok small scale but if you built a house like this it wouldn’t be that great.

[@earnestjogia278]

That is also called nail plate

[@joekotofskyBush_Pilot]

Not to sure about your method...🤔

[@themr.cheeseshow6800]

Method is sound. Promise.

[@michaellowe5558]

Hydraulic press? Heck, just put a steel plate over the top and drive on top of it with your car.

[@joshuagarcia1343]

You never need a hydraulic press when you have power socks.

[@Anglo-EgyptianMan]

Imagine having the confidence to dress like this and post it on youtube...

[@joekotofskyBush_Pilot]

Crazy dude...🤣

[@joekotofskyBush_Pilot]

Imagine not giving a damn...😂

[@prostokrasavchik8837]

Troll

[@MandrakeRoots]

I think it's groooovy✌🏼

[@jacksonjames7177]

Imagine being a dumb 20 something year old that would actually care about that

[@Solid3d-Melb]

shouldn't have to take you that long. Way too long.

[@themr.cheeseshow6800]

Some things just take a while. When you post your video of this activity, I promise that I will watch and learn from it. That way I will be able to do it faster. Thank you!

[@maesali]

It’s upside down

[@Johnnyreengo]

DO NOT DO THIS YALL

[@themr.cheeseshow6800]

Please disregard this comment. While the gentleman is free to voice his opinion, and I do encourage him to do so, respectfully, I must also, respectfully disagree. The gentleman in this video has over 50 years experience working with his hands. However, please do not let me discourage anyone from voicing an opinion contrary to mine. Everyone has to be free to be heard, even if I disagree with what is being said. I also do not block or delete comments just because I don't agree with them. That is not how a free exchange of ideas works. I would like to report that the porch that is being held up with the truss plates is very sturdy, and has remained so through some really bad Michigan weather.

[@PaulPaid]

@@themr.cheeseshow6800 The "YALL" was the giveaway. Very professional, detailed advice....😅😅.

[@ceciliaescobedo5624]

Excellent Job!!! 👍 Thank you very much.

[@gingsSon]

Thank you!