Memory lane *long*
cooper suter
>This thread reminds me of a very short lived submission I once made to The Badger Pond.
I doubt any regulars there got to read it, cause it got bounced pronto quick.
I think the thread that triggered my tirade was regarding the "ART" of the timberframer. Someone was awestruck, and gushingly quoting Ted Benson on how a timberframer had to work in 32nds of an inch.
I'm not vain enough usually, to save my web postings, but I'd composed the rant in simple text, and never deleted the folder. Coincidentally, I recently ran across it when cleaning up the desktop. Must have been meant to be, cause now I can regurgitate it again for your enjoyment ;).
.........."Come on, any one fussing and bragging over 1/32" on a joint or length measurement in a 24' long 8"x8" airdried piece of hardwood, or comparing a timberframe to a piece of fine furniture, is either full o' sh*t or hopelessly anal. I don't know Ted Benson, and he is maybe a fine individual, but he has put himself in the limelight so I think his pronouncements are fair game for criticism. I have heard this sort of crap firsthand out of timberframers in the past (except that person was talking 64ths).
To fit together well and be structurally sound should be the end goal, all this talk of what infintessimal fraction they work to has no function in the real world, it's only ego and marketing. It doesn't take more than a sneezes change in humidity or a small swing in temperature to make that 32nd mean absolutely squat in that size of a piece of wood.
Timberframing itself is fine, but it is not the end-all, it is just one facett of the whole range of constuction and carpentry technics. People whom market themselves as saviors and keepers of any one "true sacred ancient" craft are obnoxious and do a diservice to all the rest of the quality minded tradesmen, craftsmen, and pros who just go about their work with conscience and skill. Look at the breadth of skills that Steve Thomas has shown in his postings. Or Todd's ability to take a hammer, a fire, and an idea and produce something, but w/out claiming he is THE high practicioner of THE most important craft. In my experience, timberframers (or at least the owners of the companies) are frustrated college educated professionals living out overly romantic midlife crisis's. They are savy in the marketing department, but their BS doesn't hold water in reallity. Many have next to no foundation in the trades and are very limited in their scope of general carpentry knowledge.
Why do some timberframers sell themselves as a professional "artisans" (they feel elevated above the term tradesman) when procurring work, but then put on a "seminar" to perform the actual construction w/ rank amatuers ( that's getting payed twice for one job, once by the homeowner and once by the people that you Huck Finn into paying you to do your work) . A lot of craftsman would have to much pride, and intolerance for working day in and day out w/ amatuers to do this. Mr. Benson appeared on This Old House I think 10 years or so ago. He was building a house/holding a seminar.His work force appeared to consist of old ladies in tennis shoes, and he came across as self righteous and arrogant. He pontificated about the "dance of the timberframer", and how the house deck was "his dance floor". His "dance" partners were a bunch of grandmothers and narrow shouldered wide waisted middle aged Walter Mitty's. A dance? Save it for your creative writing exam, it's a job, a trade to be proud of, work to be done well. It's not some romantic/fantasy dream world.
I have been in three different self proclaimed "professional" timberframers houses (one had a masters in library science, one had been a mid-level sales exec., and one had an english lit. degree). None of them cut the stairs properly, they were off by a full tread thickness at the top and bottoms. A complete rookies mistake, and one that is very dangerous, but one they didn't/couldn't fix. They all had roof leaks and rotting/waterlogged siding due to poor detailing. It took me only a couple of years to learn how to frame a house, after 21 yrs. professionally I'm still learning better flashing details. Putting it up is easy, taking the time and knowing the many technics to make it last is the hard part that only experience can give. But the initial sale and erection is what results in the pay check so that is where novices and BSers spend their time.
I had one framer belittle me, because at the time I had no idea how to convert rise/run roof ratios into degrees. That's not how many carpenters view and manipulate roof framing math. His buildings were planned on a cad programm and cut in the shop to the 64th. His set of skills would have been useless out in the mud where everything isn't perfectly square, plumb, and level, but things still need to fit well and be straight and fair to the eye.
Timberframers are not unique in having a Balkanized veiw of the carpentry trade. I work w/ carpenters all the time who consider themselves only board hangers, only ceiling guys, only form jockeys, only scaffold rats, only framers, only fixture setters, only metal stud guys, only welders, only millwork builders, etc., etc., etc. The true carpenter is reasonably proficient at all facets of the trade. Give him the proper tools, plans, labor, and materials and he will produce quality work in a productive manner. I enjoy and seek-out variety in my work. Having to learn new skills, even under sometimes harsh jobsite conditions, is what keeps me fresh and involved. Specialization is fine, and can lead to good productivety and profit. But the specialist is not better than the generalist and many times is limited by his narrow scope of skills. Obviously a nerve was hit, and there's more, but I'll save it. Coop".........
