Past Projects

A two-week introductory timber framing workshop has concluded with a successful raising of the completed bell tower pavilion at the main entrance to Palomar College in San Marcos, California. The college is one of the premier woodworking schools in the country. Palomar has more than 300 regular students in their Cabinetmaking and Furniture Technology program, and has almost 10,000 square feet of shop and studio space. This is one of the few (if any) fully accredited timber framing courses offered in the U.S., and is being offered for the third year in a row.

Below we present photos emailed to us by instructor and Guild Co-Executive Director Will Beemer.

Organized by Guild member and Palomar College Woodworking Director Chris Feddersohn, the workshop is being taught by Guild co-Executive Director Will Beemer and fellow Guild member Dave Carlon. Will and Dave have been teaching workshops together for more than ten years.

Palomar's next basic timber framing workshop will be offered from May 20 - June 2, 2000, but the Guild hopes to offer some advanced workshops at the College before then, perhaps as early as January of next year. Details will be announced on the Guild's workshop calendar as soon as they are confirmed.

Dave Carlon demonstrates how to cut a stepped-lap rafter seat in a plate.

Instructors Will Beemer (left) and Dave Carlon explain details of the bell tower project in the classroom.

Left: Palomar College's first timber framing project, a pavilion built in 1997. Right: Student putting finishing touches on a brace tenon.

Detail of 1997 project showing carving in the roof truss.

Interior of Palomar's machine room.

Chris Feddersohn giving some pointers during the morning meeting.

Interior of one of Palomar's classroom/shops.

Boring peg holes with brace and bit.

Dave Carlon showing how to set up and level timbers in preparation for marking joinery using the French Scribe technique.

Russ Filbeck tries his hand at marking out a brace joint using French Scribe.

This mortise and housing with diminished haunch will take a rafter foot in the final assembly.

Guild members attending the workshop at Palomar included (clockwise from bottom) Russ Filbeck (and his dog, Raven), Chris Jones, Ted Stearns, Chris Feddersohn, Will Beemer and Dave Carlon. Five new members joined the Guild from the workshop crew.