Abstract: A method of manufacture of a tapered wood beam, such as an I-beam, is described. With such method an I-beam of uniform width including a web member of uniform width and a pair of first flange members attached to the opposite sides thereof, is first produced and then cut into two portions by sawing the web member of such beam along a diagonal line to form two tapered web members each attached at one side to a first flange member. The resulting I-beam portions are then assembled by releasably fastening, such as clamping, the first flange members together in back to back relationship so that the sawn edges of the tapered web members are facing outwardly and parallel to form an assembly of substantially uniform width.

Abstract: Method for forming a symmetrically bifurcated terminal portion on an existing truss web component having a tubular medial portion and flattened web ends comprises shearing one of the web ends for removing tubing skin from its longitudinal margins, forming two unsupported side walls, and then flattening the side walls. The flattened side walls are wedged apart, separating them relative to one another and forming the symmetrically bifurcated terminal portion. The opposed web end is flattened, forming a comparatively large flattened terminal portion. The apparatus includes a frame having mounted thereon shearing means, splitting means, flattening means, and drive means for accomplishing the foregoing operations.