How to Do Basic Timber Framing in a Weekend

Well, I think we figured out that the project for the weekend was a lot to squeeze into only two days! There was theory to cover, reading drawings, reviewing measurements, learning how to utilize sections from imperfect timbers, and then starting to use the tools at hand (circular saws, chainsaws, hand saws, chisels, mallets, and drills; really big drills). Whew, is your head spinning yet?

We had a fabulous group of eight people attend the workshop, in addition to Paul and Tristan from Golden Ears. Everyone was diligent and keen to make their measurements perfect before starting to drill, chisel, and chop. Saturday was full of theory, tool familiarization, and measuring. The pace on Sunday picked up as people started cutting, making mortis and tenon joints, and piecing one section together to make sure that if fit snugly -- which it did!

Feedback from the group let us know that people loved the amount of hands-on time they had to work with the tools and each other; learning the “centre line rule”; and learning how to read drawings and make measurements accurately. We had so much interest, we are thinking about running another workshop in late September. Dates are still to be confirmed, so if you are interested, please let Michelle know at [email protected].

Special thanks to Kerwood and Jess for venturing out here for the weekend to share their skills and knowledge with the group -- discussing ideas and projects with people over meals and by the fire on Saturday evening and extending the day on Sunday to get to a certain point in the process -- you both went above and beyond!