The second RPSL is suspended above its pin with the plumb bobs hanging from above. Our jack post stands next to the RPSL, giving the girder extra support while it holds up the RPSL.

Looking up the RPSL and the jack post.

After measuring everything to attain our 1 1/2 notch up at the girder, our pin location is determined to be quite a bit away from center (where the small black circle is).

Jeff prepares to drill while the base gets pulled away from the pier.

Lacking full clearance for the drill, Jeff starts the hole at a slight angle...

...then straightens it up.

Drilling up along the grain causes the screw tip of the bit to clog easily, so after stopping a few times to clean out the bit...

...Jeff finally gets the hole drilled deep enough for the pin.

The hole is finished. Notice we moved it in over an inch from the original marked location. We wanted the RPSL centered more on its pier; we're also planning to notch the girder above 2" instead of 1 1/2".

Lowering the RPSL onto its pin.

Jillena watches while Stephen seems more interested in playing with a chain.

Even after moving the hole over, the RPSL still sits quite a bit off-center on the pier. It could have been much worse.

Up on the first floor deck, standing at the back wall and looking north straight at the first inner RPSL. The alignment of the poles looks good as the others are hidden behind.

Stepping to the left a bit brings the other poles into view.

All of the guy ropes tied off, holding the RPSL tight against the girder.

Time to start sketching the notch. Paul begins transferring the bottom of the girder onto the RPSL. We're only carving the RPSL notches at this point. The matching girder notches will be carved once we have the ridge pole center line laid out and can set the exact vertical positions of the RPSLs.

Sketching the top of the girder on the RPSL.

Around to the other side.

Marking the 2" ledge for the notch in the RPSL.

Difficult to see, but the pole has an arch drawn onto it representing the upper part of the girder.

With the RPSL tipped away from the girder, Paul finishes up his notch sketch.

A simple triangular platform of planks and ladders is quick to set up and move.

After Jeff cut the notch in the first RPSL, he and Paul moved to the second one. Jeff tackled the girder profile transfer on this one.

Jeff transfers the bottom of the girder to the other side of the pole.

Stephen was a big help, picking up stones off the floor.

Connecting the two girder transfer lines across the RPSL.

The middle rope tied to a come-along which is hooked to the wall. This is the line that holds the RPSL tight to the girder. By letting the come-along out, the RPSL can tip away from the girder so we can work on the notch.

The two guy ropes tied off to the side walls hold the RPSL plumb and allow us to adjust the pole sideways.

It was Paul's turn to carve the notch this time. He starts by making a series of kerf cuts about 2" deep.

This makes it fairly easy to pry small chunks out with the claw of a hammer.

Removing these chunks reveals the rough shape of the notch.

To fine-tune the cut, Paul uses the electric chainsaw as a type of planer, holding it horizontally and moving it vertically along the back of the notch.

Next, Paul cuts the angled top which will fit over the girder.

Pulling the RPSL back to the girder, you can see how the notch will eventually fit. The shelf is cut high on purpose to match the future 2" mate we'll cut in the girder. This needs to be as close to center, vertically, as possible or we'd have to make the notch in the RPSL even deeper.

With our notch work finished for now, we went outside to our ridge pole and set a couple of rafter templates on the top surface with a string line over them.

We just wanted to see how wavy our top surface really was compared to the string line so we could figure out a reference depth for our shallow rafter notches. We'll come back to the ridge pole once the cap logs are prepped for the rafters.