(Rob) writes:

I am building an 8'x10' storage shed from mostly scrap materials for
$$ reasons. I need to construct side walls 7' high using 2'x4's that
are 3'- 4' in length. Is it safe? If so, how should I do it? Mending
plates, kerf cuts?

Considering that "Mending plates" (are that the metal plates that are
nailed on?) do not come for free i would (if enough material is there)
glue the 2x4s (i guess you mean 2"x4" and not 2'x4') staggered to form
4"x4"'s, like this: (Each strip of identical letters stands for one 2x4)

AB
AB
AB
AC
AC
AC
DC
DC
DC

For the roof beams i would consider one-piece beams, though; but the
need not necesarily be rectangular in cross section, round ones can
also be used (also for the side walls), and they might be got much
cheaper. (My fathers workshop has also some round poles, which wree
available when it was constructed partly from scrap material 45 years
ago, also on a very tight budget)
--
Dr. Juergen Hannappel http://lisa2.physik.uni-bonn.de/~hannappe
Phone: +49 228 73 2447 FAX ... 7869
Physikalisches Institut der Uni Bonn Nussallee 12, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
CERN: Phone: +412276 76461 Fax: ..77930 Bat. 892-R-A13 CH-1211 Geneve 23