Learn to Timber Frame: Craftsmanship, Simplicity, Timeless Beauty

by Will Beemer, Jack A. Sobon (Foreword by)

Overview

The elegant simplicity of timber frame construction is made accessible to all levels of builders with step-by-step building instructions for one small, easy-to-build timber frame cabin, along with plans for modifying it to suit particular needs and locations.

Veteran timber framer Will Beemer takes you through the entire process of building a traditional timber frame from start to finish, beginning with timber sourcing and ending with a finished building. Using full-color photos, detailed drawings, and clear step-by-step instructions, Beemer shows exactly how to build one small (12ʹ x 16ʹ) structure suitable for use as a cabin, workshop, or studio. He also explains how to modify the structure to suit your needs and location by adding a loft, moving doors or windows, changing the roof pitch, or making the frame larger or smaller. You’ll end up with a beautiful building as well as solid timber-framing skills that you can use for a lifetime.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781635869125
Publisher:	Storey Publishing, LLC
Publication date:	01/21/2025
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Will Beemer (1949-2022) was a founding member of the Timber Framers Guild (tfguild.org). A builder for more than 40 years, he and his wife, Michele, owned and operated the Heartwood School for the Homebuilding Crafts (heartwoodschool.com) until it was purchased by the Timber Framers Guild in 2019. Beemer taught timber framing around the world and was a regular contributor to Timber Framing and Fine Homebuilding.

 

Table of Contents

Foreword by Jack A. Sobon
Preface
Chapter 1: What Is Timber Framing?
Chapter 2: Getting Started
  Using Ungraded Native Lumber - Timber Frame Engineering 101 - Ordering and Storing Timbers
Chapter 3: Layout Systems
  Mill Rule
  Mapping
  Scribe Rule
  Square Rule
Chapter 4: Tools
  Tools for Layout
  Cutting Tools
  Boring Tools
Chapter 5: Procedures for Layout & Cutting
  First Steps in Layout
  Laying Out the Mortise and Tenon
  Cutting Procedures
  Rules of Thumb for Joinery Design in Square Rule
Chapter 6: The Tiny Timber Frame
  Plan Drawings
  Timber List
  Sills
  Joists
  Posts
  Girts
  Braces
  Collars
  Door Posts
  Tie Beams
  Plates
  Rafters
Chapter 7: Variations on the Frame
  Moving Doors and Windows
  Adding a Loft
  Changing the Roof Pitch
  Overhangs
  Making the Frame Smaller
  Making the Frame Bigger
Chapter 8: Raising the Frame
  Equipment for Raising Day
  The Raising Script
Chapter 9: Foundations & Enclosure Systems
  Foundations
  Insulation and Enclosure
Epilogue
Glossary
Resources
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

★ 05/01/2016
There is a unique quality to a timber-framed structure, with such materials adding strength and beauty. Experienced builder Beemer is codirector of the Heartwood School for the Homebuilding Crafts and here introduces the basics of timber framing construction. The book starts with an overview defining the difference between timber framing and modern construction methods. The presentation and organization is superb. A summary of materials and tools is given, with emphasis on the layout of the project. Joinery requires special attention being all mortise and tenon and wood pins. A sample design walks readers through all applications and techniques, with great instruction and detailed illustrations. Timber framing is not easy construction, appealing more to the intermediate builder/woodworker or those who delight in the challenge of traditional building methods. VERDICT Beemer's work focuses on the fundamentals, whereas Steve Chappell's A Timber Framer's Workshop offers a greater assortment of technique. Still, an excellent book on the topic.

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