Use a square placing one side against the plumb cut line.
How to cut a birdsmouth in a roof rafter.
Use the square root figure to measure along the top of the rafter.
Multiply the figure from above by it s square and do the same for the height to the top.
Measure and mark plumb cut.
A lot of force is transferred down the length of the rafter and the seat cut on the birdsmouth transfers that force directly to the top plate.
This new line marks the horizontal cut for the bird s mouth.
Possibly the most satisfiying part of the roof yet.
Take a break from the measuring by cutting the top end of the rafter first.
Make a mark along the top edge of the rafter where this measurement ends.
This point is the start of the bird s mouth.
With this information determined and the rafter ends cut to the proper pitch lay out of the bird s mouth is fairly easy.
Granted a structural ridge can lessen the amount of force on a rafter but even then i would.
When you cut the rafters you ll need to make 3 separate cuts.
72 inches wide divided by 2 36 inches.
Due to the width.
This ensures that you make the birdsmouth cut at the right length in the rafter.
Draw a line at right angles to the bird s mouth plumb cut starting 3 inches up from the bottom of the rafter but no more than half the thickness of the rafter.
Divide the width of building by 2 e g.
Subtract half the width of the ridge board beam in this case 0 5 inches.
Make one rafter that has the bird s mouth cut in place and extends out past that for your roof overhang test fit it in place and mark it pat for pattern rafter to use in cutting its sisters.
Calculate rafter or joist length to birdsmouth location.
Start by measuring perpendicularly from the tail end of the rafter to the point that the overhang length meets the edge of the inside part of the rafter forming a triangle.