This fall Measure Twice is excited to co-host a three-session German Loft-Style Timber Framing course in the northern Upper Valley of Vermont. The lofting technique dramatically simplifies complex joinery by utilizing full-scale layout and a story pole. Any of the three sessions can be taken as a separate module, though the course is a coherent suite which builds upon the experience of the previous. Each weekend session begins on a Friday night with meals & camping provided. Class runs through Sunday at noon.
Through the exercise of building a pair of sawhorses the course introduces students to basic layout principles of German timber framing techniques. Beginning Friday evening, there will be an introduction to terminology, the project and the process. Saturday and Sunday will be spent working independently on layout, transferring marks, cutting timbers. Hand tools will be in use for the majority of the cutting. $150.00 (includes meals, camping, wood for 1 saw horse (not pair) and all requisite layout materials).
The Stuhl Truss: Mortise & Tenon and the Half Lap. (October 25th, 26th, 27th)
Taking the methods learned in the first session, participants will deepen their understanding by applying the Lofting technique to the under squinted braces of this unique truss formation.
Through the construction of the plate system of a hip roof the students have ample opportunity to practice the different ways to go about laying out and cutting the most prevalent joints in timber framing and some of their variations.
Inspired by an article in Timber Framing #108, this frame has been outfitted with a stylized simple version of a liegender Stuhl. This is not a common choice for a hip roof, but this way the frame provides plenty of learning opportunities: Layout by measurement, Layout by simple scribing and lots of extra birdsmouths for the hips and common rafters.
Combination of hand and power tool use for cutting. There will be an evening session on Friday introducing terminology, the project and the process. $150.00 (includes meals and camping).
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The Hip Roof: Demystifying the Notorious (November 8th, 9th, 10th)
For the layout of common rafters and hip rafters we return to the layout method used for the sawhorses. Students will create a 1:1 scale drawing of three different roof profiles. There will be an evening session on Friday introducing terminology, the project and the process. The test of planning, draftsmanship, layout and execution will be set up on the second weekʼs plate system. $150.00 (includes meals and camping).
Session Format:
Friday
5:30 – 6:30 pm - Students arrive and settle themselves.
6:30 pm - Welcome dinner.
7:30 pm - Discussion of session syllabus.
Saturday
7:00 – 7:45 am – Coffee & Breakfast (provided).
8:00 am – Introduction and demonstration of techniques.
Break
10:15 am – Continued.
12:00 – 12:30 pm – Lunch (provided).
12:45 pm – Independent practice of methods.
Break
3:00 pm – Continued.
5:30 pm – Work concludes.
6:30 pm – Cook Out (provided).
7:30 pm – Slideshow, lecture, continued practice.
Sunday
8:00 – 8:45 am – Breakfast (provided).
9:00 – Complete project as need be
11:30 – Break Camp
12:00 – Lunch, adios.
Instructors:
Gerald David is a German-American woodworker, who received his initial training as a
Zimmermann in Germany. His apprenticeship with the Barthel Korr GmbH in Aachen
started in 2000 and went through 2002. He graduated at the top of his class. During
this time Gerald participated in the the restoration of the Aachen cathedral and other
historic structures. He continued his formative years on the traditional three year journey known as
ʻWanderschaftʼ. These years of travel in his trade brought him to many different job sites
throughout Germany, Europe and the United States.
In the Spring of 2006 he moved to Plymouth Massachusetts where he joined forces with
preservation specialist Michael Burrey. Together they have completed many restoration
and preservation projects on historic buildings, private residences, churches and barns. To name a few: Winslow House in Marshfield MA, Harlow House in Plymouth MA, Atwood House in Chatham MA, Second Congregational Meeting House in Nantucket MA. From time to time Gerald builds new timber frames as well. Starting in October 2011 Gerald has been working for the Wooden House Company in Wells River VT, building log homes and log additions as well as performing restoration work.
Gerald joined the Timber Framers Guild in 2007 and has since attended many
conferences and TTRAG symposiums as well as presented at some of them. He has
participated in many Guild projects throughout the US. He was part of the leadership
team for the TFG at Gwozdziec Synague Replication project in Sanok Poland, and the barn project for the Old Stone House Museum in Brownington VT.
Jacob Mushlin grew up the Upper Valley of Vermont and spent his childhood dinking around in the woods building things with friends. He studied architecture and art a multiple institutions and has been teaching since his teens as a camp counselor.
Now living in Burlington, Jacob has been a carpenter and woodworker for ten years and teaching for 15. From wood-and-canvas canoes, historic restoration, to project management he’s been a Timber Framers Guild member for three years and sits on Preservation Burlington’s education committee.
In 2012 he founded Measure Twice, a school of wood crafts based out of ReSource’s Waste Not Products woodshop at 339 Pine Street with the aim of establishing a competence in wood butchery, cultivating reverence in the build world, and empowering individuals through skill building and crafts.
Location:
All sessions will take place at the Wooden House Company in Wells River, VT. Camping is provided for free and while there are minimal amenities on site (restroom), there are showers available just down the road at a truck stop. For those who would prefer there is a hotel minutes away. Wells River will be gorgeous in autumn, but it will also brisk, so we encourage campers to plan accordingly.
Food:
In order to maximize time for instruction and practice meals will be provided for the weekend. Breakfast (continental) and lunch (sandwiches from town) will be simple and efficient. Saturday night we will grill and provide side dishes. If you have any eating patterns we should be aware of please contact Jacob
(802-578-2286).
Tools:
Students should come with their own set of hand tools including but not limited to the list below.
Tape, chisels, saws, knife, chalk line, combination square, framing square, hand plane, pencils. If you have a circular saw you’d like to bring, feel free.
Registration:
In order to best prepare for each session and coordinate meals we ask that you register for sessions two-weeks prior to the start date. We will be as inclusive and flexible as possible, but quality is born from good planning.
To register call or send an e-mail to the information below. Any questions can be fielded there as well.
MeasureTwiceSchool@gmail.com
(802) – 578 – 2286
