Stirrup suppliers for large posts

[groovemachine]

I'm a newbie to this forum but did try to look through as many posts relating to pergola & decking.

I'm looking for T stirrups or general stirrups to hold 200x200 posts. I'm building a pergola area with alot of exposed beams & joist with 6 200x200 posts. For the life of me a i can not find anyone who can even steer me in the direction of a supplier, i have even asked both the major timber recyclers which i thought would know.

Can anyone help or know where in the Brisbane area's :confused:

[Wood Butcher]

Something that big would be unlikely to be a stock item for almost anyone.
Have you thought about contacting a metal fabricator and getting them made up?

[Vernonv]

If there is no "off the shelf" stirrups, why not try a local welding mod.

They could probably knock up exactly what you want.

[DJ’s Timber]

You will probably have to get them made for you.

Go to a steel fabricator with the measurements, so he can make them for you and he should be able to get them hot gal dipped, if you want as well.

[Vernonv]

Great minds think alike ....


and fools seldom differ!!!:D

[groovemachine]

Cheers guys,

I would have thought they might be off the self as well, i was quoted $250 each to get them made and galv.

I'm sure there is a business that just makes T stirrups :)

[DJ’s Timber]

Cheers guys,

I would have thought they might be off the self as well, i was quoted $250 each to get them made and galv.

I'm sure there is a business that just makes T stirrups :)


Were they goldplated as well? Sounds pretty high

[macca2]

If you have the lenght just sink the posts into the ground and concrete around.
Cheaper than $250 x 6

[scooter]

i was quoted $250 each to get them made and galv.



They obviously make them all the time and really wanted your business... :rolleyes:

Try contacting Pryda or Tuff direct, could be a start.

[journeyman Mick]

I don't use stirrups often as they don't provide as ridgid a fixing as a large fish plate, or in the case of a larger post like yours, a pair of fish plates.

Mick

[ausdesign]

Don't follow you there Mick ??

[thebuildingsurv]

how bout 2 peices of gal angle bolted to the side of post and chem-set bolted to the concrete pad.

[groovemachine]

Thanks to all who replied. After numerous phone calls and frustration i have found a supplier to who unfortunately only sells to Hardware outlets. They sell a T Blade stirrup for $120 Galv and i managed that an immediate payment of cash does talk.

Fish plates?? As a newbie, are they just Galv flat bar with holes?

The 2 pieces of angle would be a good idea for anything 100mm or smaller.

[peterbange]

Try Virginia Building Supplies 3865-3788, they have heavy duty T-blade supports (4 holes, M16 bolts) for up to 200mm posts. Cost per is $42.

[groovemachine]

Cheers, spoke to chris at trade, he is faxing me spec on them now.

[scooter]

Goodonya Peter, good first post :)

Welcome. :)


Cheers.................Sean

[journeyman Mick]

Don't follow you there Mick ??

Peter,
not sure what bit you don't follow so for everybody's benefit will tell the whole tale, so to speak.

When standing a bunch of posts, it's usually neccesary to provide temporary bracing. This is all extra work and often means that you need to drag about half your roof battens out and have them sitting in the sun for a couple of days, warping them and also drying them out making it harder to drive batten screws through them.

Stirrups need the most bracing as the posts can move back and forth and side to side. A single fish plate is better as the post can only move by bending the plate from side to side. If two fish plates are used, one on either side of the post then as long as the bolt holes are reasonably snug movement is minimal. You can usually get away without any bracing whilst actually standing the posts and maybe two braces on the entire run whilst you put the verandah beam up and then build the rest of the roof.

Oh, I'd better explain what a fish plate is for those that aren't familiar with them (it's been asked in the past). It's just a piece of heavy galvanised flat bar with a couple of bolt holes at one end and the other end split with the two halves twisted apart slightly to give them grip in the concrete footing. I guess they do look just a little bit like a fish. (If you squint and look from the corner of your eye ;) )

I've done some very large heavy posts (300 x 300 green hardwood 4m long) using two fish plates with the sides of the post checked out to take the plates. Once the bolts were done up there was minimal movement in the posts.

Mick

[Michael Breen]

Faced with a similar problem I found two large I bars and cut them in 6" lengths and then in half. This gave me a sort of T with the base as the top side of the original I bar or RSJ. Then I cut holes in the tongue of the T with an oxy torch. The holes are for bolts. Then I welded pieces of 2" pipe onto the base of the T. So the centre of the tongue of the T fits into a slot cut in the centre of the bottom of the post and bolts go through the sides and through the holes in the tongue. You can add bits of welded pipe on to the stem pipe if you want further strength in the ground. (my lack of technical skills makes this sound terribly coimplicated) No gal in my case I guess they will outlive me. I know a photo would help, let me know if you want one. These cost me almost nothing as I found scrap and did the work at welding class and finished it at home.
Cheers,
Michael

[Michael Breen]

Just read your post Journeyman and your fishplate solution is so much simpler. Do you do anything to protect the wood from termites?
I thought that fishplates were the plates under railway sleepers. Maybee just a fish of a different kind.
Cheers,
Michael

[journeyman Mick]

Michael,
posts are off the ground a minimum of 25mm (50mm is better) so any termites would need to build their galleries on the steel fish plates to get at the timber. Termites don't like building their galleries on steel, but if they do they're easily spotted so preventative steps can be taken. (ie poison the little buggrs)

Mick

[ausdesign]

I seeeee the light Mick.
I've always referred to a fish plate as being a timber or metal plate that goes along one or both sides of a butt joint supporting both bits of timber [either nail laminated or bolted]
You know . . . when you cut the tail ends of your rafters too short & need to extend them, you whack a piece on the end & give it support with a 'fish plate'. ! ! ! !

[groovemachine]

:) Update to all

Thanks to Peter Bange i picked up the the T Blade stirrups from Virginia Building Supplies. The Manufacturer is Big Gee in Brendale. I picked up the 200 T Blade stirrup for $98ea instead of the 150 (which is rated for a 200x200 post) because i dont fancy the 25mm exposed cut on each side of the tongue, but thats just me.

Big Gee sells most heavy duty connectors such as the plates you are talking about Peter, T Plates etc for large post and beams.

I will try to attach some pic's of the project later on, i'll be digging footings this weekend.

[Michael Breen]

Michael,
posts are off the ground a minimum of 25mm (50mm is better) so any termites would need to build their galleries on the steel fish plates to get at the timber. Termites don't like building their galleries on steel, but if they do they're easily spotted so preventative steps can be taken. (ie poison the little buggrs)

Mick
So Mick, the fishplates or fishplate is parallel bolted to the upright? Correct?
I has some strange idea that they were bolted at right angles to the post.
Michael

[journeyman Mick]

So Mick, the fishplates or fishplate is parallel bolted to the upright? Correct?
I has some strange idea that they were bolted at right angles to the post.
Michael

Michael,
when using just one you cut a slot in the bottom of the post and sit the post over the end of the plate, drilling holes through the post to take the bolts. When fitting a pair they go either side of the post, rebated in if you want a neater job.


I seeeee the light Mick.
I've always referred to a fish plate as being a timber or metal plate that goes along one or both sides of a butt joint supporting both bits of timber [either nail laminated or bolted]
I'd call that a splicing plate.



You know . . . when you cut the tail ends of your rafters too short & need to extend them................
Sorry, don't know, never stuffed up that badly:D (yet :rolleyes: )

Mick

[journeyman Mick]

For pictures of fish plates go here:
http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?p=462294#post462294

Mick