Jul
16
2012

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North House Timber Framing Workshop: Day Three

by Tara

During the past two sessions, I felt like I was barely treading water in a sea of new information. Without so much as a single high school shop class under my woodworking belt, I just couldn't visualize what I was doing or why. Even though I was methodically copying our plans to each timber in pencil markings and score lines, I couldn't see the big picture—where the finished pieces would go in our house. It was very frustrating.

But today, I finally got it! What helped the most (besides practice and repetition), was seeing the finished plans that Peter drew up—it took a couple of days for him to prepare them, thanks to our barrage of last-minute requests. Now, with a blueprint of how our entire home fits together, everything makes sense!

Tara & Peter Inspecting House Plans Tara Laying Out a Ridge Beam Tara Laying Out a Ridge Beam

Besides improving my own skills, Tyler and I are getting into a good rhythm working together as a team on this project. We're playing to our individual strengths, so the building process goes as smoothly and efficiency as possible. The result: we accomplished more in today's session than we did in the last two combined!

Us Working at North House Folk School Timber Framing Workshop Tara Hauling Timber for King Post Tyler Using a Chain Mortiser

Here's our house so far, a stack of wall plates and ridge beam pieces:

Scarf Jointed Ridge Beams and Wall Plates
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