Timber Framing vs. Post and Beam Construction
Timber Framing vs Post and Beam Construction Something that is commonly confused is the difference between timber framing and post and beam construction. The major difference, really the only difference, is the type of joinery that is used. A timber framed building uses traditional joinery, like mortise and tenon, […]
Tools of the Timber Trade: The Wire Wheel
To finish the Tools of the Timber Trade series, I would like to visit one of the unsung heroes of timber fabrication, the Wire Wheel and Angled Grinder. Every tool that we have visited in the past couple of weeks is used to make the traditional joints that we cut […]
Tools of the Timber Trade: 16″ Circular Saw
Over the past couple weeks in our Tools of the Timber Trade blog series, we have traveled to the Chain Mortise world, we walked down the Maebiki Oga saw trail, and we sauntered through chisel land. Today we will navigate one of the big hitters; the 16″ circular saw, which […]
Tools of the Timber Trade: The Chisel
The chisel is one of the earliest created tools. Man (or some form of man) has been using tools for the past 2.6 million years, which, when taken at face value, were stones that were chipped/broken to create sharp edges. These tools were categorized by Mary Leakey, a British paleoanthropologist. […]
Tools of the Timber Trade: Maebiki Oga
Today our timber framing tool journey takes us to Japan where we will discuss the Maebiki Oga saw, or as the English call it “The Whale Back Saw”. Below you will see a photo of Dan Devine, our resident “Tool Guru” using his personal Oga saw. According to Amemiya-Daiku, a […]
Tools of the Timber Trade: Chain Mortiser
Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be showing you some of the tools that are particular to the timber framing industry. One of the Vermont Timber Works pillars is that we hand cut all of our timber frames. This certainly isn’t the easiest way to fabricate, but it is […]
Timbers and Stonework
This post covers different ways stone can be incorporated into a timber frame design. First, imagine a fabulous stonework foundation facade that is also incorporated into the post base design. Can you picture it? Viola! The masonry stonework doesn’t actually support the timber posts, but the design makes it look like […]
Timber Truss Designs
Heavy timber trusses are absolutely meant to be seen, and in many cases, they are also holding up the roof! Before we ask you which one is your favorite, let’s explore a few options to find out which structural timber truss design would be best suited for your project. Ready? In […]
Constructing A Home
This post covers some of the decisions a client makes when they decide to build a timber frame home. One of the first decisions that needs to get made is whether the client wants help from a Construction Management Company or to take on the project for themselves. In this […]
Checking in Curved Braces
Often our clients like the look of arched braces, and we like them too. Adding curves can add elegance and a certain “je ne sais quoi” to a timber frame. They certainly look beautiful when they are done right. However, if the curve is cut too deep, checking can occur along […]
