Replies

1. 
   razzman | Mar 12, 2006 05:08am | #1

   Greetings dock,

   This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again.

   Perhaps it will catch someones attention that can help you with advice.

   Cheers

   'Nemo me impune lacesset'
   No one will provoke me with impunity

1. 
   dockelly | Mar 12, 2006 05:32pm | #2

   Thanks Razz, I'm starting to think I did something wrong, broke some house rule and am not getting any responses.  To all who read this, if I have, I apologize. 

   Kevin

1. 
   razzman | Mar 12, 2006 05:55pm | #4

   Nah, all is well.

   Your post just got lost in the shuffle as highfigh said.

   Everytime your post gets a response it enters into the 'recent discussions' listing again which is where a  number of the Breaktimes read from mostly.

   If a post slides by too long it is on it's way to the archive burial ground with nary the chance to ever see the light of day again:o)

    

     

    

   'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity

2. 
   highfigh | Mar 12, 2006 05:46pm | #3

   I don't remember seeing this thread before, so it must have gotten shuffled away.

   If you're looking for a class, find the closest chapter of the Timber Framer's Guild. When TOH did the barn house outside of Boston, I remember them talking with Ted Benson about how to get involved with that kind of framing. I don't know if they have changed anything but when the show was on, if you helped with 3 Guild framing projects, it qualified you to have them help with yours. There was a magazine called 'Timber Frame Homes' but I haven't seen it in quite some time. I know 'Log Home Living' is still out there- maybe they have info on this.

   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
3. 
   QCInspector | Mar 12, 2006 08:29pm | #5

   I took a week long class in 1991 at Timbercraft in Port Townsend Washington. There were two or three instructors from Timbercraft plus Ted Benson with one or two from his crew. Ted did most of the lecturing every night (with lots of slides) and with several doing demos all through the day. Had a great time and love timber frames but the economics of life haven't put me in a position to make one for myself. I'd recommend taking a class just for the pleasure and enjoyment. After if you have the opportunity to do some later then it's a bonus.

1. 
   dockelly | Mar 12, 2006 11:49pm | #6

   " After if you have the opportunity to do some later then it's a bonus."

   Good attitude!  But I was thinking of doing it down the line when I could use the information learned.  I'm hoping to hear others have done this and used their skills to actually build something, that the courses out there actually gave them enough of a base to feel comfortable building something, even a garden shed or small cabin.

   Thanks for the reply.

   Kevin

1. 
   QCInspector | Mar 13, 2006 04:32am | #9

   You will definitely have the skills to work on a timber frame of your own. What it doesn't give you is the ability to do the structural engineering. You'll have a good understanding of the general designing of a timber frame house. By that I mean what to take into consideration when selecting the timbers, closing in methods, the needs of systems like plumbing, electrical, heating, etc. All the things to think about when making the house.Making small structures like sheds, trellises, and even decks would be no problem. The layout/making of mortise and tenons for furniture will be a benefit to you, since timbers are rarely square and straight.

2. 
   Notchman | Mar 13, 2006 05:32am | #10

   I'm a self-taught timber framer, and, while I haven't done it full-time in my construction business, the ability to do the joinery has enabled me to add some TF and some exposed joinery features in some custom homes and additions I've built.

   I've also built a number of sheds, a horse barn and a couple of woodshops using European TF joinery.

   My own house is kind of a hybrid post and beam, with an eclectic mix of sawn timbers and logs, with a variety of TF methods room to room; from a cruck framed entry, hammerbeam trussed dining room, summerbeam supporting log joists in the living room, etc.

   Probably not the house for everyone, but every stick was cut, peeled, sawed, hand mortised and erected by my lonesome.

   In the beginning, I joined the Timber Framers Guild in its infancy, but at that time, most of their activities were in New England and Eastern Canada, so by the time I could carve out the time to attend one of their workshops, I was busy and, while it would have been instructive and fun to interact with others, I had to pass.

   But there is a lot of resource material on how to do traditional TF construction.....lots of books, videos...

   I've always thought the classes were over-priced and too restricted time-wise to expect to come away with much more than a fun time and some inspiration.

   But to do the actual work means getting some good basic handtools (Good quality framing chisels, a slick or two, a good drawknife, some decent handsaws and possibly a good chainsaw, some rigging equipment and so forth) and learning how to use them effectively and safely, how to keep your tools sharp and in good shape.

   Ted Benson is probably the most well-known leader of those who resurrected TFraming, but a few other framers put together some good instructional materials and collectively, those books and your skills and some hands on experience, starting with, maybe, a small garden shed along with your imagination can take you well beyond what you'll get in a single class.....

   The engineering is another matter....some of the TF books I have include some specs; mostly span tables.  But traditional timber frames, using mortise and tenon joinery, have some weak spots structurally and I have had some issues with building inspectors.....I have had to resort to a PE a couple of times to get a set of approved plans even though the specs I pulled from, say, Benson's book, were totally fine in the end.

   Whatever you end up doing, enjoy!  Cutting out and assembling and erecting a timber frame is one of my joys....especially when I've had the time to use handtools. 

1. 
   razzman | Mar 13, 2006 05:54am | #11

   60995.10

    

     

    

   'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity

4. 
   bryank | Mar 13, 2006 01:58am | #7

   I've taken a few classes at Yestermorrow in Vermont. Not timberframing, but they were excellent. You can see their courses online.

5. 
   notagain | Mar 13, 2006 02:40am | #8

   As others have said:

   http://www.tfguild.org/

   Great bunch of guys........went to a 3 day conference in Burlington VT a few years ago. Had an appreciation for this stuff when I went, (have worked on a number of timber frame jobs, repair & restoration, not new stuff), came away with an even greater appreciation.

   The Japanese artisans are incredibly gifted for what they can do. Saw pictures of a fella who built a small fire, forged his own chisels and used them in the timber framing process. Holy cow.

   I try to do this stuff as much as I can.

   Some local timber framers like volunteers on frame raising day......could be a way to work yourself into some "school" days with them.

   Rod

6. 
   hammer1 | Mar 13, 2006 05:17pm | #12

   I learned on the job but there is a school close by that offers classes, Shelter Institute. Bring the whole family for a Maine vacation. Lie Neilsen is up the road a bit. You can stuff yourself with lobster while you're here.

   http://www.shelterinstitute.com/index.htm

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match