Past Projects

Complex roof geometry is a challenge most timber framers face eventually. One can meet the challenge mathematically, graphically, or visually; but the complete joiner will have a variety of skills to call upon, including geometry, trigonometry, and traditional drawing.

Sign up early for the three-day Guild compound joinery workshop on November 6-8 (Friday - Sunday) at The Cascade Joinery in Everson (near Bellingham), Washington. This event is an expanded, more comprehensive version of the previous two compound joinery workshops. Curtis Milton of Monolithic Building Services (New Hampshire) led the course in Colorado last year, and John Miller, foreman at Dreaming Creek Timber Frame Homes in Virginia, taught the workshop there in January. These two experienced instructors are pooling their talents at the Cascade shop as part of a Guild effort to develop a concise and coherent approach to leaching complex roof geometry.

The workshop will focus on the use of developed drawing techniques, simple math, graphics, and trigonometry to predict the intersections, angles and lengths of pieces in a compound roof. It will include hands-on layout and cutting of the compound pieces of a roof model, including hip and valley rafters and jack rafters. The use of the Hawkindale angles (a computer derivation of all the required cuts for various pitches (see Timber Framing issues l9 and 21) will also be explained. We'll give special attention to the problems of pre-planning the elements to ensure a successful raising. We encourage you to bring prints of current projects involving complex joinery for discussion.

Fee

The tuition fee for this three day workshop is $350 for Guild members ($400 for nonmembers) and includes lunch. Other meals and lodging are your responsibility. Enrollment is limited to 20 people. Please make your check payable to the Timber Framers Guild and mail with the registration form to the Guild office, or register in our online store.

Upon receipt of your registration you'll receive a list of recommended local accommodations, a map, a list of what to bring, and introductory course materials.

Cancellation Policy

Tuition fees are refundable up to four weeks prior to the workshop; after that, fees will be refunded only if another person can be found to take your place in the workshop. Please contact Will Beemer, at 413-623-6677 if you have questions.

For maximum benefit, you should have some experience in either timber framing or roof carpentry and layout, although none is required. We require you to bring some basic drafting and layout tools, and a good eye.