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Square...Scribe...CRUCK!
August 12 - 25, 2012

Class project, 2012 - courtesy of Timber Homes LLC
Click on image for larger view. Course Description: Responding to requests for a longer workshop, we have combined the popular introductory Square Rule timber framing class with the more advanced techniques previously covered in the one week scribing class. Featuring a "cruck" frame (the use of large, naturally curved members forming an A-shape in the bent) and continuing our emphasis on the use of hand tools, this unique two week course is carefully designed to satisfy all backgrounds and skills levels, beginning to advanced. This workshop offers ample opportunities for individual and team assignments…and a great chance for our former students to further practice the skills they learned in previous classes.

Students will receive thorough instruction in the traditional methods of Square Rule layout and cutting, with plenty of opportunity to apply and hone these skills as we build a three bent, 16'x 20' cruck frame with porch. This workshop will also offer an introduction to the world of scribing, and we will explore three techniques in particular: the French scribe system, English scribe techniques, and the use of bubble scribes to layout and join members of strange geometries and wild shapes. Though the technique will not be used in the workshop frame, we will also demonstrate mitered joinery layout for round to round connections, developed by log builders for use in truss work.

Finished cruck frame, courtesy of Scott and Nancy Carlson, www.sweetgrassjoinery.com The Square Rule system allows framers to accurately join timbers that may not be perfectly square or of uniform size. By cutting reductions and housings to a smaller perfect timber found within each piece, such irregularities can be overcome. Scribing, in contrast, involves directly transferring layout from one timber to another so that the resulting joinery reflects the exact shapes of the mating pieces. Each system has advantages, and well-rounded framers should have them both in their tool kits. Indeed, we will be using all of these techniques as we join square to square, round to square, book matched braces, curved pieces and incorporate live edge (flattened on two sides only) pieces into the cruck frame.

Tentative Daily Outline

  • August 12 (Sunday)
    :: Student and Instructor Meet and Greet
    :: Workshop and Pingree Park Orientations
    :: Overview of course and project

  • August 13 (Monday)
    :: Intro to Square rule
    :: Look at plans and frame dimensions
    :: Safety
    :: Move to site for sill lay out and demonstration
    :: Evening Q&A then slideshow by Neil

  • August 14 (Tuesday)
    :: Continue to work on sills.
    :: Introduction to cruck selection, sawing and rough out
    :: Demo of shaping with chainsaw and traditional hewing methods
    :: Continue sills
    :: Evening Q&A then slideshow by Josh

  • August 15 (Wednesday)
    :: Complete sills.
    :: Set up, level and square sills
    :: Begin and finish joists
    :: layout sill system for cruck layout :: Finish rough out on hewn pieces
    :: Evening Off

  • August 16 (Thursday)
    :: Intro to scribing
    :: Begin scribing first pair of crucks over floor system
    :: Demo curved brace layout
    :: Begin carving braces
    :: Evening Q&A then Engineering Talk by Josh and Neil

  • August 17 (Friday)
    :: Continue scribing crucks
    :: Begin square rule of longitudinal posts and plates
    :: Finish first pair of cruck blades
    :: Scribe in curved tie beam and a yoke
    :: Continue braces
    :: Evening Q&A

  • August 18 (Saturday)
    :: Begin scribing second pair of cruck blades
    :: Continue square rule of longitudinal posts and plates
    :: Evening Off

  • August 19 (Sunday)
    :: Finish scribing second pair of crucks
    :: Scribe in curved tie beam for second bent
    :: Scribe in yoke and post for second bent
    :: Continue braces
    :: Evening Off

  • August 20 (Monday)
    :: Square rule third pair of cruck blades
    :: Tumbling demo of girts
    :: Evening Q&A then Design Conversation - Students bring plans

  • August 21 (Tuesday)
    :: Scribe in curved tie beam, yoke, and post for third bent
    :: Evening Q&A

  • August 22 (Wednesday)
    :: Begin layout and cutting of rough sawn rafters
    :: Assemble longitudinal sections and scribe in fully round, porch log brace
    :: Evening Off

  • August 23 (Thursday)
    :: Completion of rough sawn rafters
    :: Repeat scribed longitudinal porch log brace for other side
    :: Evening Q&A

  • August 24 (Friday)
    :: Demonstration of layout and cutting of log rafters
    :: Layout and cut log rafters
    :: Prow Scribe Demo
    :: Demo mitered joinery with round collar to round rafters
    :: Evening Q&A

  • August 25 (Saturday)
    :: Finish cutting
    :: Prep site for raising
    :: Evening Raising Prep Talk, Q&A

  • August 26 (Sunday)
    :: Hand raising safety
    :: CRUCK FRAMING RAISING!!!
    :: Disassemble and load for shipping
    :: Site Cleanup
    :: Depart


Taught by Neil Godden and Jack Sobon.