Building a house made of wood (beams, logs, shields) requires completely different methods and technologies for connecting wooden units, elements and structures. In particular, splicing timber along the length is used in all of the listed structures, since, in addition to logs, timber is used in any complex wooden assembly. The house can be large or small, but very often with wall lengths ≥ 6 m it is not possible to use a solid beam of the required length, and it becomes necessary to splice the beam into a single whole without losing strength at the junction. Splicing a beam is a process that can be carried out independently, since working with a tree of this section does not require the use of complex woodworking machines and other equipment - it is enough to have ordinary carpentry tools at hand.
Options for joining timber along the length
Building standards limit the maximum length of a beam to six meters, therefore, in order to obtain a beam of greater length, a connection must be made, and this can be done in the following ways:
- Longitudinal joint on the key and tenon;
- Connection on an oblique lock;
- Longitudinal joint of the beam into the root tenon;
- Simple joint;
- Joint in half a tree.
How to connect a beam on dowels using the tenon method
This option of connecting wooden parts from a bar of the same section is the most durable, and the simple design allows the solution to be used in any wooden structures. The principle is simple - the spliced beams are connected into grooves of the same size, which are reinforced with perpendicularly driven dowels. Not only do the keys themselves reinforce the structure - the interweaving of longitudinal and transverse fibers in itself provides a strong connection. 
A key is a piece of wood that can have a different shape - from cylindrical to rectangular, prismatic, diamond-shaped, dovetail or notched. The wood for the dowels must be harder than the wood for the timber, and most often it is oak. For timber, the woodworking industry of the Russian Federation most often uses aspen.
Oblique and straight lock
A spliced bar using a direct or oblique locking method is considered a very strong structure, but it is a difficult element to complete, it requires a certain carpentry experience and more complex tools. Common options for such a joint are shown in the figure at the beginning of the article, even more complex methods are below: 
- Option number 1 - connection in a straight bowl with a wind lock;
- No. 2 - groove-thorn joint, oblique groove-thorn;
- No. 3 - docking in the tooth;
- No. 4 - a connection called "passing swallow";
- No. 5 - the junction of the city corner-oblique swallow;
- No. 6 - connection "not a through swallow";
- No. 7 - connection into an oblique bowl with a wind lock;
- No. 8 - Figured cutouts in the ends of the timber.
To implement such a joint, oblique cuts are cut in the beams at a certain angle and in such a way that the spike completely repeats the shape of the groove and enters it without gaps. This will be the oblique lock. Such a spliced beam is reinforced with dowels (spikes of various shapes), which are driven into the joint perpendicular to the axis. 
The spikes and grooves for the joints shown in the photo are made on sophisticated woodworking equipment
Joint in root tenon
This version of the joint is called a key joint - it is also a difficult method to perform, requiring experience and the use of sophisticated tools. The standard docking of the connected node is done at an angle of 45 0, but you can take another angle - it depends on the complexity of the design, the hardness of the rock and the very need to change the angle.
This variant of the jointed structure is used at the corners of the structure, and for a stronger connection, spikes and grooves are often made in the form of a trapezoid, that is, a “dovetail”, and strengthened with dowels (thorns).
Splicing in half a tree
This is the easiest option for joining two beams, which you can do yourself, since you only need to cut a groove in each beam to the middle of the section. Then the beam is stacked on top of each other, and connected with self-tapping screws, plates, clamps, brackets or spikes (dowels). The connection is less durable than other solutions, since at the junction each element becomes exactly two times thinner. 
Attachment connection
This variant of timber joining, in addition to low strength, does not have a very aesthetic appearance, therefore it is suitable for internal joints that will be further strengthened by other structures or reinforced by applying a layer of materials, for example, decorative. The lumber is connected as follows: the beams are simply applied to each other, and the junction is connected with a bracket or clamp, sometimes with long self-tapping screws or simple nails. You can strengthen such a joint with the same spikes. 
We have considered the main methods of joining timber, it remains to find out how to choose the right option for a particular design.
Choosing the right connection
In individual construction, options for joints and connections of wooden parts are most often used that do not require accurate calculations and sophisticated equipment, and this does not at all guarantee the high strength of a complex assembly. Therefore, any do-it-yourself connections must be strengthened additionally. These can be overhead fasteners: plates, metal corners, staples, clamps, or mortise parts: self-tapping screws, nails, spikes, tongues, dowels, etc.
And one more drawback of home-made joints: they are categorically not recommended to be made on load-bearing nodes and structures, so as not to put the entire object at risk of deformation or destruction. If you want to mount a beam longer than 6 meters, it is better to order it from a construction company that will make the connection strong and reliable, at a highly professional level and with the same equipment.
Correctly docked timber
If profiled or glued beams are used in construction, then it is recommended to use splicing in a tenon or on dowels to connect such parts. Such a connection is practically not inferior in strength to a solid wooden element, and can work at any key points in the building due to its rigidity, strength and reliability.
Important: In this beam joining technology, an important fastening element is a dowel or dowel. Therefore, it should be made of hardwood, or purchase high-quality wooden hardware.
The next connection, claiming high strength and structural rigidity, is an oblique lock. A beam, consisting of several segments connected in this way, can be installed on the load-bearing walls of the house. The more complex the splicing, the stronger the joint will be, so there are two options here - either to do it quickly and simply, but not very reliably, or to perform a complex docking operation, and as a result get a powerful structure.
But for such work, experience is needed - otherwise it is better to order parts from a construction company, or invite builders to your facility. But all the costs will be more than paid off by the fact that you will live in a safe and durable home.
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