# How to make a birdsmouth

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-make-a-birdsmouth/31075>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [March 30, 2024, 9:57pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-make-a-birdsmouth/31075 "2024-03-30T21:57:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DullKnife](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/dullknife/32/25571_2.png) [@DullKnife](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/DullKnife)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2024, 9:57pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-make-a-birdsmouth/31075/1 "2024-03-30T21:57:59Z")

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Hello. New to CAD and Shapr3D, but having a blast. I’m designing a wood & storage shed, with a mono pitch roof. The roof joists will be 2x6s sitting vertically on a 2x4 double top plate. I want to design the birdsmouth cuts into the underside of the vertical 2x6s, so they rest on top of the 2x4 top plate - but can’t figure out how to do it. I know how to copy and use the Pattern tool to repeat them once done. It’s just getting the first 2x6 birdsmouth correct.  
Talk to me like I’m a 3rd grader struggling to progress to 4th grade… 😃  
Thanks in advance!

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**Author:** ![Xdrakosha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/xdrakosha/32/24881_2.png) [@Xdrakosha](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Xdrakosha)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2024, 10:23pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-make-a-birdsmouth/31075/2 "2024-03-30T22:23:41Z")

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![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/a/c/ac9ebdf83e5ad419b75a67da23dd9bebda80e1d3.jpeg)

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/e/2/e20e1f8833cc84e77dd02fb933d0dc2a8d1f87d7.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![TigerMike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/tigermike/32/32650_2.png) [@TigerMike](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TigerMike)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2024, 10:25pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-make-a-birdsmouth/31075/3 "2024-03-30T22:25:04Z")

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Welcome to the forum.  
I made two 2x4’s (1-5/8" x 3-5/8") and an angled 2x6 (1-5/8" x 5-5/8"). I did not include the fillet radii on the pieces.  
Place the 2x6 on the two top plates and do a **Subtract**. After that you can use the **Pattern** tool to make copies of the 2x6. I spaced them 16" apart in this demo. Hope this helps.

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**Author:** ![MichaeI](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/michaei/32/35780_2.png) [@MichaeI](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/MichaeI)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2024, 10:27pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-make-a-birdsmouth/31075/4 "2024-03-30T22:27:07Z")

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A short awncer, If you have the wall framing up, you can place the rafter where you need it and use the subtract tool.

Or you can use a rafter table and do it just like you would in real life. Whenever I do stringers I do it just like I would in real life. And then use the align tool. You can then use the pattern tool to add the additional rafters.

Also I use shapr as an onsite calculator from time to time, it’s really powerful for getting sq footages. Just don’t bring the nice iPad

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**Author:** ![DullKnife](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/dullknife/32/25571_2.png) [@DullKnife](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/DullKnife)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2024, 3:49pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-make-a-birdsmouth/31075/5 "2024-03-31T15:49:25Z")

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As a visual learner, the video was perfect for me! Thanks for taking the time to do that. Works perfectly now. Cheers!

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**Author:** ![Oregonerd](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/oregonerd/32/8012_2.png) [@Oregonerd](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Oregonerd)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2024, 5:48pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-make-a-birdsmouth/31075/6 "2024-03-31T17:48:09Z")

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A lot easier in Shapr than in the field, unless your only job is rafters. And often on track home projects you have a small crew who’s only job is rafters. You have a stairs guy or two and a couple layout guys. That was the old way. The new way is all prefab.

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**Author:** ![TigerMike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/tigermike/32/32650_2.png) [@TigerMike](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TigerMike)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2024, 6:14pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-make-a-birdsmouth/31075/7 "2024-03-31T18:14:36Z")

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Glad to help. I too am a visual learner and definitely a ‘right hemisphere’ person.  
Reach out if you have any other ‘how to’ questions regarding Shapr3D.

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**Author:** ![DullKnife](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/dullknife/32/25571_2.png) [@DullKnife](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/DullKnife)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 12:17pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-make-a-birdsmouth/31075/8 "2024-04-01T12:17:33Z")

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Well. My next project will be interesting then. Building our own home (doing as much of the work as we can, ourselves). No significant construction experience - and no, I don’t have a death wish:D

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**Author:** ![Oregonerd](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/oregonerd/32/8012_2.png) [@Oregonerd](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Oregonerd)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2024, 3:00pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/how-to-make-a-birdsmouth/31075/9 "2024-04-01T15:00:43Z")

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If it’s your first, best not to build it for you, but rather for potential buyers market. Mistake a lot of people make and run out of money near the end.