Timber Frame

[Richard Wolf]

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This is my progress on my timber frame workshop. I apologize for the bad photo, I thought the high contrast would help, it didn't. Completed built by myself, no help with any of it. The large beams are 6x10, roof beams are 6x8. Taking a lot longer than I had hoped because of being busy with work, so I'm only getting a day or two each week.

[Todd Burch]

Looking good Richard! Are you doing it yourself or hiring it out? What type of wood? What size? Looks like a pier and beam foundation? Tell more!

Todd

[Richard Wolf]

Todd, you saw it while I was still adding. It's 30x 34 and built on piers.

[David Gutierrez]

Looks great! Please keep posting progress photos.

[Al Launier]

That's an adventurous project. Anxious to watch the build.

[Jim Andrew]

Richard, do you have a crane, or a telehandler? Those beams look heavy. Cool way to build a building.

[Scott T Smith]

Richard, that looks great! Did you mill your own beams or have them done by someone local?

[Richard Wolf]

The timbers are all white pine, keeps the cost down and the weight as low as possible. I purchased the timbers from Twin Creeks log supply in Gray, Tenn. Great service and good prices. I also purchased a used lifting scaffold that I used to lift the beams. I also rented a cherry picker from Home depot for one day to lift the roof beams into place. I did have a friend operate the cherry picker while I was up in the beams setting the roof beams in place.

It is difficult working alone, a lot of up and dpwn ladders and rigging things in place. You would be surprised at how much wieght you can move by yourself.

I also didn't realize that at 66 my comfort with hieghts is not the same as when I was 36. It never looks high when you are on the ground, but up on the purlins it looks completely different.

[Phil Stone]

That's a beautiful structure, Richard, and very inspiring. Can you speak about the joinery at all? Did you have to do all the M & T work, and if so, how did you do it?

[Richard Wolf]

With the popularity of timber frame and post and beam structures, the industry has made a lot of progress in making the whole process easier for the normal person to experience. Steel plate joinery, speacial conectors and new hardware are avaible. The plans I used, from Barngeek.com called for steel plate contectors at most joints. The woodworker in me just would not allow be to butt joint beams and bolt a plate on, so, all joints are mortised and bolted and steel plates on all main joints. I am sorry for the lack of pictures, I will post more as I go along, but I'm going to visit my son for a few days.