I need to build a loft over the bed in our apartment, because we have a big open space with no closets and need a way to pack stuff away that doesn’t involve fire. Unfortunately, my technique with lumber is the same barely-successful one I use when programming or babysitting: just keep hitting it with a hammer until it stops moving.
So when I saw these Simpson Strong-Tie connectors on Kevin Kelly’s Cool Tools list, I perked up a little. They’re little metal clips that you fasten to lumber and just nail or screw in to form sturdy shapes—there’s almost 100 of them. I’ve seen similar things in walls that I was tearing apart with a sledge hammer I found, but I didn’t realize they came in such an array of shapes and sizes. You can even build whole decks and such with the things, as long as you don’t mind having all your joints metal and visible. I, for one, don’t, so I might just give them a try.
DIY Projects Page [StrongTie]
