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Discussion Forum

Trimmers, Cripples or Jacks??

| Posted in Construction Techniques on March 4, 2002 01:28am

*
Hello all,
A simple answer from a lot of you would clear up a jobsite debate we occasionally have when working with a few co-builders.

What do you guys call the stud that’s holding up the header and is adjacent to the king stud?
Thanks

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Replies

  1. Joseph_Fusco | Jan 19, 2002 12:15am | #1

    *

    Otis B,

    Jacks.

    1. ken_hill | Jan 19, 2002 12:57am | #2

      *OTIS- Maybe it's a 'Western framing' thing out here in Olympia, Wa.. We call 'em trimmers.

      1. RonTeti | Jan 19, 2002 01:08am | #3

        *We call'em trimmers here in So Cal also.

        1. piffin_ | Jan 19, 2002 01:13am | #4

          *JacksThe cripples are under the sill to the bottom plate for a window openning.Trimmers are the guys who install the casings.:>)

          1. Mike_Smith | Jan 19, 2002 02:19am | #5

            *jacks to open.... ante up

          2. blue_eyed_devil_ | Jan 19, 2002 02:43am | #6

            *We call it a "doubler".No trimmers, jacks, kings or queens. Nope, nada. We do have cripples though. They are top cripples or bottom cripples. blue

          3. r__ignacki | Jan 19, 2002 03:08am | #7

            *Jacks.Cripples AKA short studs

          4. Mike_Smith | Jan 19, 2002 03:11am | #8

            *blue.. u ignorant framer u... trimmers (jacks) are not doublers... doublers are doublers... trimmers & jacks stop at the bottom of the header..they "jack" the headerdoublers run by..but u new that .. u were yust tryin to see if anyone was payin attention.. right ?

          5. xJohn_Sprung | Jan 19, 2002 04:06am | #9

            *The stud that holds up an end of the header can be called either a trimmer or a jack or both. The word trimmer comes from the fact that the trim gets nailed to it. The word jack refers to its structural function supporting the header. Cripple studs go between a header and the lower top plate, or between the sole plate and a window sill.-- J.S.

          6. Mike_Willms | Jan 19, 2002 04:20am | #10

            *You mean I need a stud UNDER the header too??? Or shall I say under the lintel.

          7. kcoyner_ | Jan 19, 2002 04:45am | #11

            *Jacks are better here also

          8. James_DuHamel | Jan 19, 2002 05:42am | #12

            *Jacks here.James DuHamel

          9. LocalBulldog_ | Jan 19, 2002 06:03am | #13

            *Jack

          10. Mongo_ | Jan 19, 2002 06:39am | #14

            *No jack is required as long as you use two drywall screws to attach the header to the adjacent...er...king stud. As a safety note, make sure that the drywall screws penetrate at least 3/8ths of an inch into the header.

          11. Matthew_Steadman | Jan 19, 2002 06:54am | #15

            *According to my old college carpentry book by the reliable Gaspar Lewis, "Trimmers are shortened studs that support the headers. In door openings the trimmers are sometimes called jacks." I use trimmer because, that's how I learned.

          12. Snarly | Jan 19, 2002 07:08am | #16

            *I tried to solve the problem by totally re naming them as crimmers, tacks, Jammers or tipples. Thus a consensus is reached. This is a WGS. As long as you are the boss your crew can get used to calling them whatever you like. As crew boss I call them trimmers. Aren't headers part of the floor joist system, you know the place where you hit your head when there isn't enough headroom?

          13. RonTeti | Jan 19, 2002 07:18am | #17

            *Now now , this is the new millenium, Id thought Id mention this before the pc police does, we cant call them "cripples" anymore. They are length impaired studs.

          14. GACC_DAllas | Jan 19, 2002 07:26am | #18

            *Yes to all of the above.....Trimmers, jacks, cripples, doublers AND bucks.Heard them all used to explain the same thing.Had one guy call the short studs over the header on a tall wall "studlets". I kinda like that.Ed.

          15. jim_at_great_white | Jan 19, 2002 08:49am | #19

            *Heard this one from a guy from Brookllyn, or was it Da Bronx "Liners"Trimmers here in COjim

          16. Ken_Drake | Jan 19, 2002 02:09pm | #20

            *Yeah Jim. I worked with a bunch of guys from Colorado during my years in the Virgin Islands, and they all called them trimmers.Down here in Texas, you hear jacks.Ed,I like the "studlets"

          17. Snarly | Jan 19, 2002 09:33pm | #21

            *Hey Ed what kind of a Liscence do I need from Fish & Wildlife to go hunting a "Studlet Buck"? When does the season open and can I use 2&1/2's or do I load the spiker up with 3&1/4's ? I've heard old timers say they remember when the prairiess, deserts, mountains and forests were over-run with 'em.

          18. piffin_ | Jan 20, 2002 03:41am | #22

            *How come you're fawning over a few stud-ents

          19. GACC_DAllas | Jan 20, 2002 06:45am | #23

            *Snarly,I think you need a "Home Improvement Licence".But I could be wrong.Myself, I don't hunt. I go to the grocery store for meat.Ed.

          20. J.R. | Jan 21, 2002 06:55am | #24

            *Looked this one up in Tauntons "Graphic Guide to Frame Construction":Studs holding up headers they're calling "trimmers".Studs above header (same o/c spacing as wall) they're calling "cripples".Full length studs at outside of headers are called "king studs". When in doubt go with the regional favorite. I like to keep it simple, "(2) studs bearing, (2) studs full ht., etc.Now what about sole plates, bottom plates & or mudsills?

          21. r__ignacki | Jan 22, 2002 12:48am | #25

            *O.K. we got "king studs", "jack studs", something had a "queen post" once, for those of you who whack their thumbs there's an "ace" bandage, nail them together with "10" penny nails, we got a Royal Flush.

          22. Mad_Dog | Jan 22, 2002 04:43am | #26

            *Old carp I learned from called them shoulder studs. That was the first and last time I've ever heard them called that.Otherwise, they are trimmers here in Wisconsin. Some guys call them jacks.

          23. Mike_Maines_ | Jan 22, 2002 07:12am | #27

            *Jacks. Out west you guys call roofs "ruffs", too, doncha?

          24. piffin_ | Jan 23, 2002 01:13am | #28

            *Now, Now Mike. Be nice! I get made fun of all of the time on that.

          25. Boss_Hog | Jan 23, 2002 02:22am | #29

            *Mongo - I've been on a jobsite where this was done - but with nails instead of screws. I've also been on a job where the pieces under the headers just went down to the bottom of the window sill, with nothing underneath.

          26. Don_Reinhard | Jan 27, 2002 10:59pm | #30

            *Doesn't anyone want to vote for "Short Thingys"?Don

          27. Mr.T | Jan 28, 2002 03:28am | #31

            *Heres one for you guys.When framing a large rough opening (6 ft. +)I like to put about the same number of jacks under the header as there are Joists or rafters resting on top.make sense to youse guys?Overkill?should I start anew discussion?Mr. T

          28. Ken_Drake | Jan 28, 2002 04:01am | #32

            *2 on each side should do it. Never heard any code call for 3 or more.

          29. blue_eyed_devil_ | Jan 28, 2002 07:10am | #33

            *Ken, I've seen specs that called for SIX trimmers, jacks, dubblers, queens, shoulders, or whatever you call them!I put whatever the spec call for. If is says three studs at the end of each header, I put one king and two doublers. I had a young snot nosed white hat call me on that once. He wanted the three studs under the header. We made a bet. He called the engineer. I won.blue

          30. Robertsdgi | Feb 02, 2002 12:59am | #34

            *Since I am one of those Co-builders I figure i gotta jump in. I call them cripples, an old time framer used that term so it stuck. My only question is it a fly rafter or a rake.

          31. Ken_Drake | Feb 02, 2002 01:24am | #35

            *Hi blue,How's it going? Staying warm? It didn't even crack 50º here today. That's cold!Anyway, what in hell were you building that called for 6 trimmers, or doublers as you call them, at each side?Even when we use glulams or other types of engineered beams, we usually only put 2 on each side. Never seen one fail inspection yet. I'm talking trimmers, jacks, doublers, not king studs. Ken

          32. xJohn_Sprung | Feb 02, 2002 02:55am | #36

            *If the load really required the strength of six jack studs, wouldn't it make more sense to use a single piece of larger stock, say a 4x10, instead?-- J.S.

          33. josh | Feb 02, 2002 07:15pm | #37

            *in these days we had to rename a few things to be politically correct.jacks are now trimmers because jacks imply one sex over another (usually on top, oops)and cripples are renamed height challanged 2xs

          34. r__ignacki | Feb 02, 2002 07:30pm | #38

            *Where we are cripples are "mobility impaired" 2x'sKing studs are "presidential 2x's"On a soffit/cornice crew, to qualify as a "cutman"(the one stays on the ground), you need a handicap tag.

          35. blue_eyed_devil_ | Feb 03, 2002 03:20am | #39

            *Ken, I've been warm...in the house! I finally ventured out today. I actually worked onsite for the first time in a couple of months. The weather was nice, and we've fallen a tad behind because of recent ice crap weather. Now my bones hurt!The builder that requires 6 studs is.....Pulte! They engineer everything in a big corporate office somewhere. The white hats that come around inspecting cant think. If it says 6 studs, and it only requires 2, they'll insist on 6. Robots! Fresh out of college, sometimes this is the first house they ever worked on. Around here, if the plan says 6, the city inspectors will require 6, or the builder must supply a engineers report, and re-draw and re-submit the plans. This happens in some localities...not all. I've had to do some really stupid things because the inspectors "...don't want the liability..."If it says 6 studs, and I put an 8" solid steel stanchion, I'd get knocked down!blue

          36. ricky_espo | Feb 15, 2002 02:03am | #40

            *JACKS OR BETTER, TRIPS TO WIN, PROGRESSIVE OPENERS, PROGRESSIVE POT.Here in New England I have only heard them called jacks. I usually use a double jack if the opening is up around 7'or more. When it's a 2x6 wall and there is not a need for a triple header, I will notch the jacks and slip it between the header. Makes for very sturdy setup.

          37. CCB_ | Feb 20, 2002 10:38am | #41

            *Also heard of the top cripples/vertically challenged studs called "dragons teeth"

          38. Little_Joe | Feb 21, 2002 10:36am | #42

            *Trimmer or shoulder. Also, Fly rafter goes on the rake.Later. LJ

          39. Leigh_Morgan | Mar 02, 2002 05:14am | #43

            *Where have you guys been all yor lives. They are cripples. At least thats what my Kansas City grandfather called them 15 Yrs ago.

          40. George_Roberts | Mar 03, 2002 09:23pm | #44

            *My code book must be an authority.ICC 1&2 Family dwelling CodeFigure 602.3(2)They are called "jack studs" or "trimmers."The same figure shows a "foundation cripple wall." This is a wall less than ...

          41. Casey | Mar 04, 2002 01:28am | #45

            *In St. Louis I hear both jacks and trimmers, though more often it is jack stud. Cripples are always above a header, below a window, etc.

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