Come spend one and/or two long weekends learning the art and craft of timber framing. This 2 part workshop will give an overview of the theories and techniques necessary for heavy timber construction using hand-cut mortise and tenon joinery. Participants will have the opportunity to learn and practice skills ranging from the layout of all joinery, to cutting, peg making, tool maintenance, sharpening, assembly and raising. The frame that will serve as our learning opportunity is from a variety of species of locally harvested and milled timber. The structure planned is a net zero, straw bale infill home on the site and more learning opportunities will follow this workshop.
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This Workshop will cover the following:
- Basic layout using the mill rule system. Other layout styles will be briefly mentioned, but mill rule will be the focus. Students will learn everything from timber selection, reference face orientation, accurate measuring and marking to roof and angle layout and what to do when your timber is crooked. There will be a hands-on portion where students will be able to layout a stick and learn how to check the work that others have done.
- How to cut timber frame joinery. Students will get the opportunity to learn the safe and proper use of the power and hand tools used to cut a modern timber frame. There will be an emphasis on hand tool usage along with instruction on the appropriate use of select power tools. Maintenance and sharpening of timber framing tools will also be covered.
- The making of a hand-riven peg. Students will be given instruction on how to make a wooden peg used to hold a mortise and tenon joint together using a froe, mallet, drawknife, and a shave horse.
- History of timber framing and other techniques. An optional evening lecture will cover some of the history of timber framing and other techniques we won’t have time to practice during the days.
Example schedule for weekend one:
Friday
9am - 12pm - Live Demo of a mortise and tenon joint to include use of modern and historical tools and layout techniques.
12 - 1pm - Lunch
1 - 5pm - Layout philosophy and techniques. We will focus on Mill Rule, but will give a brief description of other layout techniques. Assessing quality of the timber, choosing the orientation of the stick, establishing reference faces and appropriate use of all layout tools will be covered. Students will split up to form 2 or 3 person teams and will layout all joinery on a single stick. All teams will then switch to a different stick and check another team’s layout. If time allows, cut out can begin.
6:30 - 8:00pm - Lecture at Warner Public Market. Timber Framing as art and structure.
Saturday
9am- 12pm - Cut out begins. Safe use of all power and hand tools will be emphasized. Students will learn the correct order of steps to achieve accurately cut joinery: Knife, Drill, Mortise, Cut. Teams of 2 to 3 will break up and take a stick from no joinery cut to all joinery finished and ready for fit up.
12 - 1pm - Lunch
1 - 2pm - Sharpening Demonstration. Students will get a basic overview of sharpening techniques. Sharpening by hand will be emphasized. Students are encouraged to bring their own sharpening stones and if time allows, the instructors can give one on one instruction and assistance.
2 - 5pm - Cut out continues. Survey to be taken at the end of the day to inquire about the direction of the following day. More layout instruction? Tool maintenance? Cut out?
7pm - Campfire - hang out, share some stories, bring an instrument (optional for those interested)
Sunday
9am - 12pm - Cut out continues, although we could do more layout as per the survey the previous day.
12 - 1pm - Lunch
1 - 2pm - How are we going to hold this together? Peg making 101.
2 til 5pm - Fit up of student cut joinery and wrap up.
5 - 6pm - Sauna decompress in our timber frame cordwood masonry sauna (optional for those interested)
9am - 12pm - Live Demo of a mortise and tenon joint to include use of modern and historical tools and layout techniques.
12 - 1pm - Lunch
1 - 5pm - Layout philosophy and techniques. We will focus on Mill Rule, but will give a brief description of other layout techniques. Assessing quality of the timber, choosing the orientation of the stick, establishing reference faces and appropriate use of all layout tools will be covered. Students will split up to form 2 or 3 person teams and will layout all joinery on a single stick. All teams will then switch to a different stick and check another team’s layout. If time allows, cut out can begin.
6:30 - 8:00pm - Lecture at Warner Public Market. Timber Framing as art and structure.
Saturday
9am- 12pm - Cut out begins. Safe use of all power and hand tools will be emphasized. Students will learn the correct order of steps to achieve accurately cut joinery: Knife, Drill, Mortise, Cut. Teams of 2 to 3 will break up and take a stick from no joinery cut to all joinery finished and ready for fit up.
12 - 1pm - Lunch
1 - 2pm - Sharpening Demonstration. Students will get a basic overview of sharpening techniques. Sharpening by hand will be emphasized. Students are encouraged to bring their own sharpening stones and if time allows, the instructors can give one on one instruction and assistance.
2 - 5pm - Cut out continues. Survey to be taken at the end of the day to inquire about the direction of the following day. More layout instruction? Tool maintenance? Cut out?
7pm - Campfire - hang out, share some stories, bring an instrument (optional for those interested)
Sunday
9am - 12pm - Cut out continues, although we could do more layout as per the survey the previous day.
12 - 1pm - Lunch
1 - 2pm - How are we going to hold this together? Peg making 101.
2 til 5pm - Fit up of student cut joinery and wrap up.
5 - 6pm - Sauna decompress in our timber frame cordwood masonry sauna (optional for those interested)
Course Details and Fees
Enroll for just one weekend or attend both. First weekend open to all ability levels, no previous experience needed. Second weekend will go further in depth and is appropriate for all who came to the first weekend or as a stand-alone workshop for those who already have previous experience.
Weekend 1 - $450 | Weekend 2 -$450 | Both weekends -$800
Course limited to 20 people | Couples* registration Discount $100 off | Warner Public Market Member Discount $50 off
*friend, family, colleague, any two people on the same registration form
Course includes:
- Expert instruction and hands on learning
- Simple vegetarian lunches provided by Warner Public Market
-Saturday night campfire hangout (optional)
-Sunday Sauna decompression (optional)
- Not included: Please refer to the required tool list
- A $250 deposit per person is required per weekend and $400 for both weekends.
- The remaining balance is due a week before the course begins (this portion is refundable any time before the course begins). If the balance is not received and there is a waitlist, your spot will be given away.
Cancellation policy
- All course deposits are refundable up until two weeks prior to the class minus a $25 processing fee. Within two weeks of the course a refund for your deposit will only be given if we can refill your spot. If we are unable to refill your spot, we can not issue a refund. Thank you for your understanding.
- Enrollment fees beyond the deposit are refundable any time before the course begins
Accommodations
- Local accommodations and meals (with the exception of workday lunches) are arranged by students individually. There are hotels 20 min away, the Maples B&B nearby, rustic camping available onsite and limited yurt space available for a small extra fee. If camping, you must be self-sufficient and prepared for October weather in NH.
-For camping and yurt dorm inquiries please contact us at [email protected] for more information.
Weekend 1 - $450 | Weekend 2 -$450 | Both weekends -$800
Course limited to 20 people | Couples* registration Discount $100 off | Warner Public Market Member Discount $50 off
*friend, family, colleague, any two people on the same registration form
Course includes:
- Expert instruction and hands on learning
- Simple vegetarian lunches provided by Warner Public Market
-Saturday night campfire hangout (optional)
-Sunday Sauna decompression (optional)
- Not included: Please refer to the required tool list
- A $250 deposit per person is required per weekend and $400 for both weekends.
- The remaining balance is due a week before the course begins (this portion is refundable any time before the course begins). If the balance is not received and there is a waitlist, your spot will be given away.
Cancellation policy
- All course deposits are refundable up until two weeks prior to the class minus a $25 processing fee. Within two weeks of the course a refund for your deposit will only be given if we can refill your spot. If we are unable to refill your spot, we can not issue a refund. Thank you for your understanding.
- Enrollment fees beyond the deposit are refundable any time before the course begins
Accommodations
- Local accommodations and meals (with the exception of workday lunches) are arranged by students individually. There are hotels 20 min away, the Maples B&B nearby, rustic camping available onsite and limited yurt space available for a small extra fee. If camping, you must be self-sufficient and prepared for October weather in NH.
-For camping and yurt dorm inquiries please contact us at [email protected] for more information.
About the Instructor: Lucas FowlerSoon after graduating from Dartmouth College, Lucas Fowler, owner of Lion Creek Design, found himself working on a crew in Alton, NH building a house from peeled cedar logs and huge boulders. He was hooked. Lucas has spent 16 years learning several different styles of timber framing from some of the best in the business. He has cut many large western style frames using mill rule, snap line square rule, scribe, and combinations of all three. Lucas has also spent time working with some fantastic Japanese carpenters learning a very different approach to a familiar discipline. Lucas has always loved sharing his knowledge with others who are also passionate about the built environment: from teaching new members on the crew to a stint as an Adjunct Professor at Manchester Community College to teaching Timber Framers Guild Workshops. Lucas's passion for woodworking is always expanding. He has built a wooden kit boat, loves to build furniture when he can, still likes to play with sticks and logs, and is always open to chances to learn something new. Lucas keeps busy these days catching up to his 5 year old daughter, Bianca, and trying to run a small timber frame shop at the same time.
About the Site: Mink Hills, Warner NHThis project will be held in the backwoods of Warner, NH. Warner is a small and vibrant rural town about 25 minutes northwest of Concord NH on route 89. The site, surrounded by hay fields, settlers foundations, stone walls and 14 thousand acres of continuous forest, lies in the shadow of Mount Kearsarge. On site are other examples of alternative building techniques including earthen bag, cob, cordwood masonry, yurts, and rammed earth.
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