woodworking class *LINK*

Re: woodworking class

Derrell Sloan

>I took the one day class on hand tools at Homestead Heritage and really enjoyed it. The folks there are extremely friendly and master craftsmen. I have talked with others that have taken the week long course and they loved it.

Re: woodworking class

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>I've taken two courses there and was overall very pleased. My only problem with Homestead is that they insist on teaching the student basic hand tool usage before taking a more advanced course. This didn't matter for the finishing course I took; but I had to arrange a one person tutorial on building rocking chairs instead of taking the standard course. This was of course much more expensive, and needlessly so as far as I was concerned.

Pam

timber framing?

frank shic (walnut ck, ca)

>jason, that looks like it would be a TON OF FUN! who hasn't fantasized about raising a house (or a shed since we're beginners!) since watching THE WITNESS? six days of HARDCORE carpentry... ahhh... if only such bliss were mine! for only $600?!? have you been to disney lately?

Re: woodworking class

Wendell @ Murphy, TX

>What skills are you looking to develop? I took the one day hand tool basics course at Homestead Heritage a couple years ago. I really enjoyed it. The focus of the class was really joinery with hand tools. Sharpening was demonstrated but I didn't feel like I could really tune up my own tools after the class which I think is a large part of the battle with hand tools. I would think over a six day class at some point you would have to get more hands-on experience with the sharpening side of things. I personally would jump at the chance to take the six day course.

If you're close to the Dallas area, the Dallas Woodcraft offers a hand tool basic course that is more focussed on tuning up your hand tools.

Wendell

Re: timber framing?

ThomD

>If you want to do the Witness thing, see if the Timber Framers Guild is throwing up a frame anywhere nearby.

Re: woodworking class

Tom Scott

>Jason,

I took the six day class from them about 4-5 years ago. I went in knowing only the basics of plane / hand tool use, and came away with enough knowledge to really build on. You won't come away a master, but you will learn the basics of what you need to know. The course is focused on joinery. The 3 projects done in the 6-day class will take you through dovetails, dados / grooves, and mortise & tenon joints...the basics for almost all projects.

In addition, they will go over sharpening, some sawing techniques, plane use, marking/measuring/layout, scraper planes, spokeshaves, etc. And, if you have any questions, Paul is great about entertaining anything you want to know about. In my class, there was someone asking about sharpening saws, so he took some time out to go through the process.

I saw them at the DFW Woodworking show and they have several new classes that don't yet show up on their website. I would like to attend the new windsor chair class at some point.

As Pam eluded to, this is primarily set up for beginners.

Let me know if you have any specific questions.

Tom

Thanks!

Jason

>Thanks for all the feedback and input. I live in Colorado so I've been trying to find something that's relatively close.

I'm just a beginner so this looks like a go for me!

Thanks again.

Jason

heigh ho! *LINK*

frank shic (walnut ck, ca)

>thom, great idea! looks like fun. thanks for the reference.


http://www.tfguild.org/

Re: woodworking class

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Sure, the first couple of classes are for beginners; but the more advanced are not. I sort of understand why they want you to have taken their first classes, but pragmatically I think it impractical. For example, I'd love to take a Windsor class there, but I'd want to use my Japanese tools and pay the standard tuition for the standard class.

Also, it's a delightful workshop they have, beautiful setting.

Pam

Re: timber framing?

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Hey, want to come to Austin in a month and help build a timber framed Japanese style workshop/studio? It's just an hour or two south of Homestead and I won't even charge you tuition. :)

Pam

Uh, Pam

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native now in Jax Fl.

>build a timber framed Japanese style workshop/studio

Sounds like a gloat to me. Drive-by, but gloat none-the-less ;~)

So, tell us more of this planned workshop/studio.

Todd O.

Not at all

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Not a gloat at all. Jack, a neighbor, and I are building this new shop and we know we'll need help to get it done. So far the foundation, sills, and floor joists are complete, but we have to pull some of it out due to a design change. Right now I'm learning Sketchup so I can get the design done, have to work out every detail ahead of time since it's timber framed and some things will be easier to do with the timbers on the ground.

So, I'm facing some hefty labor costs, and would gladly provide training in exchange for labor. Frank is making me think I should charge tuition, set up a class, and go at it. Not a bad idea. :)

Pam

Re: timber framing?

frank shic (walnut ck, ca)

>if only i lived in texas.. :).

the spirit of TOM SAWYER...

frank shic (walnut ck, ca)

>is alive and well!

Re: the spirit of TOM SAWYER...

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native now in Jax Fl.

>Pam,

If I was in your area I'd jump on this chance to do some Timberframing. I bet others would too. Perhaps you should put "the word out" and recruit some help. Just make it clear that there is no pay involved, just to good fellowship and opportunity to meet and make some new friends,an opportunity to teach and learn, and a chance to use tools! A big BBQ at the completion of the job would be a nice way to thank the volunteers.

Whats the wood of choice for the bents?

Yup, sounds like an opportunity for a real good ding-dang-do to me.

Good luck will aspects of the designing/construction of your new shop/studio and do document the process well. We demand pics! ;~)

Todd O.

Re: Not at all

Jack Guzman from Maine

>Pam,

When I was ready to build a second floor on my house and roof it we threw a keg and Lasagna party.We got the whole thing framed and sheathed in a day.---Jack

Re: the spirit of TOM SAWYER...

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Yes, indeed, we'll provide food and a dry place to put down a sleeping bag. I thank you and Frank for waking me up to the possibilities.

Pam

Re: Not at all

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>That's amazing, Jack, although don't think it's a great idea to offer the beer in the morning. :)

Pam

Mornings are for sake

Steve Kubien

>

You pay peanuts, you get monkeys.......

Cooper Suter

>You pay Pabst, you get........?

Re: You pay peanuts, you get monkeys.......

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Yeah, well I've always said that if you're lucky you get at least what you pay for.

In fact, several schools and seminars have opened their timber framed builds to students paying tuition. The results I've seen are extraordinarily good.

Anyhow, that's why we've hired (as in paying him the going rate) our neighbor to help, he knows and has worked in all sorts of construction jobs. So Paul will be our foreman, keeping us all in check. But he doesn't know timber framing, precious little of it happening in Texas; so we'll have to go through about a month of cross training before anyone else gets involved.

Pam

Re: timber framing?

Ernie Miller

>Do you have any sort of a date set yet? sounds kinda fun. What about my western tools are they allowed on the work site? There are some pretty complicated joints in timber frame buildings I tore down a barn in the 70's and it was stout woth out a nail in the frame.

Re: timber framing?

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>No, sure don't. Right now I'm learning Sketchup to produce a build map to get a building permit. We'll set the project dates after we get the permit. I expect to apply for the permit by 1/20.

It would be great if you were able to come here, western hand tools are more than welcome. I've been buying a few extra things like slicks, circular saws (one a 16-5/16" monster for cutting the timbers in one pass), ladders, etc., but no way is everything covered for multiple workers.

Pam

Re: Not at all

Jack Guzman from Maine

>Our "crew" was recruited from carpenters that frequented the bar my wife worked at.Besides myself,there was one other non-drinking carpenter.He was cut man.I did layout.All the rest had to do was carry lumber,pound nails and lift walls.It worked out nicely.---Jack