I was wondering if anyone out there has used bolted shear key connections between heavy timbers rather than the common timberframe practice of a scarf joint. I am building a barn (36 by 56) and I need to tie the roof plates and the main tie beams together over posts with a large (8 to 10 feet) mortise and tenon lintels. Shear key connections to me appear easier to construct, require no additional timber length and provide more surface area to transfer tension. Any advice?
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My only comment is that if you're doing a traditional timber frame, bolts kind of go beyond the pale a little. A well-done scarf joint, if properly placed, is not necessarily a weak spot and can be an attractive detail. If you do use bolts, use galvanized. If bolts are subject to condensation they'll rust, cause stains and/or even be a starting point for decay, particularly in an outbuilding.
Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with a piece of chalk and cut it with an axe.