Using green wood with metal brackets?

[littledog]

I know that many timberframers prefer to frame with green wood.  I was wondering does anyone know whether or not using green wood with the metal simpson (sampson?) brackets creates any serious structural problems?  If not I thought about using wood from my site in the exposed beam ceiling.  Thanks.  

[John Raabe]

I would suggest doing your framing with wood you've let dry. I know folks who have used green or wet 2x6 decking and had it open up cracks in the joints big enough for the kids to drop a dime down on folks sitting at the table below.

I don't think there would be any special problems with the Simpson galvanized hardware as long as the framing doesn't remain wet for long. More of a concern would the shrinking and twisting that may happen as it dries out.

[glenn kangiser]

I find that most green softwood shrinks about 5/8 to 3/4 inch per foot of width as it dries.  I use the wood green from my sawmill in many places and have to keep that in mind.

[Amanda_931]

Furniture makers sometimes use the difference between green and dry wood to ensure that their chairs stay solidly together.   I can never remember which way they go--seems like it's a bit counterintuitive.

Not much difference in length wet and dry, but, yes, a lot in width.

And building a log cabin (even a vertical one) out of mixed sizes and kinds of wood may mean redoing the chinking a couple of times.