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Square Rule Timber Framing...With A Touch Of Scribing
August 30-September 7, 2008

Workshop Frame

The Square Rule Workshop will build a frame similar to the photo above and the drawing below.

The completed 12' x 16' frame is available for sale at a great price. Call 970-482-1366 for details.

This unique workshop offers students a solid introduction to basic timber framing using the "Square Rule" technique. Developed in America in the early 1800s, the "Square Rule" approach to timber framing is an elegant system that allows framers to accurately layout traditional mortise and tenon joinery on roughsawn, imperfect timbers. In this workshop we begin with a stack a roughsawn timbers and end with the celebratory raising of a complete, finely crafted frame. The workshop frame is purposely designed as a teaching tool and, as such, incorporates a wide variety of pegged mortise and tenon joinery. Hand tools (chisels, axes, adzes, handsaws, spokeshaves, handplanes) will be our tools of choice, not power tools, as we believe this to be the most effective and enjoyable way to get new framers started.

Workshop Frame Sketch

Click on the photo above to view a larger image

As a bonus, this workshop will also include two days dedicated to exploring scribing techniques; one, "plumb line" scribing in the French tradition, the other, the various types of modern day bubble scribes for working with round material. "Miter" joinery techniques, as often used in log trusses, will be discussed and examples of such joinery examined, but this technique will not be used in the construction of the workshop project.

Topics covered will include (see tentative daily schedule summary below):

  • Timber framing fundamentals-the layout and cutting of mortise and tenon joints
  • Accurate layout on roughsawn timbers using the Square Rule technique
  • Proper use of hand tools to cut joinery
  • Tool sharpening
  • Making your own pegs
  • Putting a hand planed finish on timbers

Evening sessions will feature slideshows by the instructors, discussion on basic engineering and design, and ample time for questions and answers.

Minimum enrollment for this workshop, 14 students. Register early!

Raising the Frame Square Rule Timber Framing

Be sure to see our gallery page for more photos from square rule workshops.

Tentative Daily Outline

  • August 30 (Saturday)
    :: Dinner at 6:00 PM
    :: Individual student introductions
    :: Meet in classroom for workshop/Pingree Park orientations
    :: Overview of course and project
  • August 31 (Sunday)
    :: Meet in classroom after breakfast
    :: Introduction to the Square Rule technique
    :: Frame and critical dimensions
    :: Safety
    :: Move to site for demonstrations
    :: Evening class, slideshows
  • September 1 (Monday)
    :: Brace layout
    :: Demo whole stick layout and tenon cutting
    :: Layout posts and tie beams, start cutting
    :: Evening off
  • September 2 (Tuesday)
    :: Work continues on posts and tie beams
    :: Demo on brace cutting
    :: Continue work on posts and ties
    :: Evening class on enclosures, peg making, slideshows
  • September 3 (Wednesday)
    :: Continue work on posts, ties
    :: Brace cutting
    :: Plate layout and cutting
    :: Evening off
  • September 4 (Thursday)
    :: Rafters
    :: Continue plates
    :: Evening classroom discussions on engineering/design
  • September 5 (Friday)
    :: Scribe demos
    :: Cutting scribe work, finish frame
    :: Evening party
  • September 6 (Saturday)
    :: Scribing compound work demo
    :: Frame raising
    :: Evening roundtable with local timber framers
  • September 7 (Sunday)
    :: Disassemble frame, load frame for transport, site clean-up
    :: Depart

Taught by Josh Jackson and Skip Dewhirst