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Vermont Timber Works still hand crafts all of our frames using classic timber framing tools like framing chisels, mortising machines, beam saws, peg drills, slicks and more. We design using state of the art computer CAD programs, develop detailed shop drawings, then use modern cutting tools to fabricate each piece individually and precisely.
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We buy our hemlock and pine timbers from local mills in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Douglas fir timbers come from Oregon.
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| Raw Logs Waiting to be Cut at the Mill |
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First the bark is stripped from the logs.
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| Logs going up the conveyor to the Saw Mill |
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Then the raw logs are cut into square timbers.
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| The Saws at the Mill |
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After being cut, the saw mill bands the timber together, loads it onto a tractor trailer truck and ships it to our shop. |
| Fir Timbers Ready to Ship to Our Shop |
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The timbers are brought into the shop laid out by hand using the CAD generated design drawings. Accuracy is assured by a triple checking process. We use traditional measuring tools for the layout, like a framing square, bevel squares etc. It is the most exact way since every timber is unique. |
| The Layout |
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A mortising machine is the tool used to punch pockets in the timbers. |
| Mortising Machine |
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Beam saws are used to cut the timbers to length, and to do angle cuts and compound cuts as shown here. Other hand tools used for cutting include japanese style pull saws and left handed worm saws. A large band saw to cut curved beams. |
| Big Saw |
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A hand held drill press is the tool used to bore the holes for pegs and bolts. |
| Drill Press |
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Smaller saws are used to do the finer cuts. |
| Cutting a Detailed Joint With a Small Saw |
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The final work is done using hand tools like chisels and mallets. A well honed chisel is sharp enough to shave with. |
| Framing Chisel |
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All timbers are finished on all sides, including in the pockets and on the ends, before leaving our shop. |
| Applying Urethane |
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For an truly authentic look, hand hewn timbers are hewn the old fashioned way - by hand. |
| The Adze |
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A slick is used to clean the surface of a hand hewn beam. |
| The Slick |
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Finished timbers are labeled according to their unique location in the frame. |
| Fabricated Timbers Ready to Ship |
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