Posts in the «timber frame» Category

• No Waste – High Tech Timberframing

I watched this video and was impressed by all the cool automated technology used to create the timberframe  components.  But I also thought, where’s the fun in that?   Industrially precut timber framing has become the predominant house construction method throughout Japan. In this documentary, Bakoko explains the process from factory floor to building site. […]

• Barn Moving

In general, timber frame structures are incredibly solid and stable.  Here is a great example of the stability when 344 people gathered to lift a barn and move it by hand and foot from one location to another.

• Timberframing with Plywood

This video is interesting.  They used a CNC Mill to mill out strips of plywood, then glued up the strips to make posts and beams.  Their mortises and tenons were all created at the various depths of the plywood to make that relatively easy. I am sure this lumber is incredibly stable, but I’m not […]

• Scarf Joints in American Timber Joinery
This is the last in a series of 6 articles by Jack Sobon, author of Timber Frame Construction. We are often amazed at the lengths of timbers found in old American structures. Plates 40 ft. long are common. Fifty-footers are encountered occasionally, and timbers 60 and 70 ft. long are not unheard of. In the […]

• Roof Joinery in American Timber Joinery
Here is the 5th in a series of articles by Jack Sobon, timber framing book author. In the design of timber-framed buildings, the roof is the dominant element. The structural system necessary to support its expanse greatly influences the total building design. In masonry buildings, the roof structure may be the only timber-framed element. The […]

• Wall and Brace Joints in American Timber Joinery
This is the fourth in a series of articles by Jack Sobon, author of Timber Frame Construction. More great diagrams of joints and analysis of their strengths and weaknesses. When a timber-framed building was sheathed horizontally, typically with clapboards, the supporting framework provided vertical nailers called studs, spaced according to the type of sheathing applied. […]

• Sill and Floor Joints in American Timber Joinery
Third in a series of timber framing joint articles by Jack Sobon, author of a great book on timber framing. His diagrams make understanding even complicated joints easy. Personally I find the sill and floor joints to be some of the most interesting. Sadly they are almost always hidden from view once the timber frame […]

• Tying Joints: Tie at Plate in American Timber Joinery
This is the second in a series of articles written by Jack Sobon, author of Timber Frame Construction: All About Post and Beam Construction. His ability to represent common and not so common joints is outstanding. The tie-at-plate category encompasses the most complex and varied of timber joints, including not only wall, roof and cornice […]

• Tying Joints in American Timber Joinery
Here is the first in a series of articles written by Jack Sobon, author of one of my favorite timber framing books. The diagrams he uses are incredibly clear and effective at conveying the simplest and most complex timber framing joints. Of all the joints that make up a traditional timbered frame, the most important […]

• Cordwood Infill is an interesting option

I found this video today showing how cordwood (predominantly old cedar logs) can be used to create an infill wall between posts on a timber frame.Pictures from the cordwood workshop can be found… here. I wish there were more how-to’s described in the blog. But it was interesting to see another option. There is an […]

• Timber Framing Workshop – learn timberframing

This timber frame workshop (to teach timber framing) was taught right in my town. Unfortunately it took place a few years before I got bitten by the timber framing bug. This was a bit of fun to watch.

• Circular Saw for the Serious Timber Framer

For the gazebo I built, you can get by with a couple of decent hand saws and a 7 1/4″ circular saw. However, if you plan to make a living at timber framing or are just timber framing a single house with lots of timbers that need cutting, there is a larger circular saw available […]

• Amish Barn Rasing

The scale of this is huge. What the Amish have going for them is lots of manpower. Here in the Finger Lakes region of NY we have a lot of Amish in the area. I have seen them put up barns and houses in similar fashion. You drive by one day and the field is […]

• Timber Framing Slideshow

I enjoyed this video as it has some very artistic shots of tools and wood together. Great closeups of joints too. It has a nice flavor of simpler times and the connections made by people putting up timber frame building. Timber Framing isn’t done for the speed, it is done for the fun of it. […]

• Larger Timber Frame Erection

This is a nice video that shows a large scale timber frame building being erected.Notice the need for a lot more people on hand. This one has some neat joints that go into the construction.

• Balinese Gazebo

This gazebo built in Bali has some very interesting joints that tie one piece to another. I enjoyed watching the thing be assembled. It impresses me the way timber frame construction has developed around the world and some of the methods of joinery are so different from one region to the next.

• Raising the Rafters
This entry is part 13 of 21 in the series Timber Frame Gazebo

The rafter seats have been cut in the top plate. The top plates are in place on the gazebo, and the rafters have been cut and pegged together at the joint. Now it is time to raise the rafters. This is the first rafter raised into position and temporarily held in place with a brace […]

• Top Plates – Tying it all together
This entry is part 12 of 21 in the series Timber Frame Gazebo

With the bents raised, it is time to put the “plates” into place. They will tie the two bents together. Now the top plates that join the South bent to the North bent are brought into place. They are a little over 16 feet long and true+ 6″x6″. With one raised up but not put […]

• Rafter Creation
This entry is part 11 of 21 in the series Timber Frame Gazebo

This roof will have a 12″ in 12″ pitch and will use bird mouth joints to attach to the top plates. The rafters are made of 4″x6″ that are tenoned and open mortised at the ends. Each rafter will join to its mate at a 90 degree angle. Here are the mortises and tenons. They […]

• Time Lapse Timber Frame Erection

This video is pretty funny. It shows a time lapse of a timber frame gazebo being erected at what looks to be a trade show. Don’t be fooled…it didn’t take them 15 seconds to put this up 😉This particular design did not use the bent method of building two bents then connecting them. Notice they […]