{"product_id":"post-cap","title":"Post Cap","description":"\u003cp\u003eA post cap seats a beam on top of a post and bolts the two together: a steel saddle for the beam, and a strap down each of two faces of the post. Use it for one beam that runs over a post, or for two beams that meet over it. Set your timbers' sizes below, and it's made to fit. Also called a column cap or post-to-beam bracket.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhich cap for which joint\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePick this cap when the beam sits on the post and carries straight on, or when two beams butt end to end above it. If two beams turn a corner and both stop at the post, that joint takes the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/corner-post-cap\"\u003ecorner post cap\u003c\/a\u003e. If a second beam comes in from the side of a beam that keeps going, it takes the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/cross-post-cap\"\u003ecross post cap\u003c\/a\u003e. The foot of the same post gets a \u003ca href=\"\/products\/standoff-post-base\"\u003estandoff post base\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSizes this post cap is made in\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBeam:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3\" to 12\" wide.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePost:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3\" to 15\" wide, measured along the beam.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSaddle:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5\" to 15\" long and 5\" to 10\" tall.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStraps:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2\" to 6\" wide and 7 1\/2\" to 10\" long, never wider than the beam.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBolts:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3\/16\" to 1\", one size for the whole cap.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat takes in 4x4 to 12x12 timbers, and the beam and the post don't have to match. Sizes move in 1\/8\" steps. The saddle is made 1\/16\" wider than your beam and the straps 1\/16\" farther apart than your post, so the timbers slide in without a fight. The configurator opens on a 6\" beam over a 6\" post: a saddle 10\" long and 7\" tall, 3\" by 8\" straps, and 5\/8\" bolts. For a beam over 12\" or a post over 15\", send your sizes through the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/contact-us#quote\"\u003equote form\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere the bolts go\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach side of the saddle has a hole 1 1\/2\" in from either end, along the top. A saddle over 6\" tall gets a second row beneath. Each strap has two holes down its middle, 3\" apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat this configurator won't let you do\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe top of a post is end grain, and a bolt too near it can split the wood. So the upper strap bolt always sits at least 3 1\/2 bolt diameters below the post's top. On the standard 8\" strap that bolt is 3 1\/2\" down, which is enough for every bolt up to 1\". Shorten the strap to 7 1\/2\" and the largest bolt you can pick is 13\/16\". The guide explains \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/timber-connector-guide#bolt-end-distance\"\u003ewhere the 3 1\/2 comes from\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne more limit keeps the part buildable: the saddle has to be at least 7\/16\" longer than the post is wide, so both straps hang from its bottom plate. And a word of advice: there's rarely a reason to go shorter than the 8\" strap unless the cap is only for looks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eQuestions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan two beams meet in one post cap?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, when they meet end to end in a straight line. Make the saddle long enough for both ends to bear on it and take a bolt each. The configurator can't see that splice, so one check is yours: each bolt sits half the saddle's length, less 1 1\/2\", from the joint. Ask your engineer whether that is far enough from the beams' ends.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhich way do I measure the post?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlong the beam. The straps hang under the two ends of the saddle, on the post faces the beam passes over, and \"post width\" is the gap between them. The post's other dimension doesn't change the part.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe basics\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e3\/16\" A36 steel plate, laser cut and welded in our ISO 9001 shop in Texas.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eHoles are cut 1\/16\" larger than the fastener you choose. Fasteners aren't included.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eEnter your timber's real size, not its name. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/timber-connector-guide#measuring\"\u003eHow to measure a timber\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eBare steel, or matte black powder coat added in the cart.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eShips free in the lower 48 states.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eNo published load ratings. Ask your engineer, and see \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/timber-connector-guide#load-ratings\"\u003ewhat to give them\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Timberplates","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42178516943005,"sku":"column-cap","price":133.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0432\/5985\/files\/render-column-cap-89e6df63.png?v=1791420077","url":"https:\/\/www.timberplates.com\/products\/post-cap","provider":"Timberplates","version":"1.0","type":"link"}