Hands-on introduction to Timber Framing

A seven day timber framing course in Tasmania.

Skills you’ll learn to create your own timber frame project.

• Timber basics - what to look for and avoid, timber species and uses, setting up a workspace, planning your project.

• Joinery - square rule mark up, how to locate and cut housings, what joinery goes where and why.

• Tools - from framing chisels & squares to chain mortisers you’ll learn how to use them and how to keep them sharp.

• Construction - how to safely erect your timber frame.

Over the 7 day course we’ll start with rough-sawn timber posts and beams and end the week with a complete timber frame made by the group.

What do I need to bring?

• A smile and a willingness to learn are the most important things.

• Everyone to have the following:
  A sharp, good quality framing chisel with a minimum blade length of 125mm, and either 38mm, 40mm or 50mm wide

  • A solid wooden mallet

  • A combination square

  • Tape measure

  • PPE- earmuffs and sturdy shoes a minimum, safety glasses, gloves, a decent hat and dust mask also recommended.

• Those that have carpentry experience and/or a comprehensive toolkit the following are by no means necessary but would be nice to have a few extra onsite

  • good framing square (make sure it IS square!)

  • decent handsaws

  • ink or chalkline

  • favourite hand plane

  • favourite circular saw and any special tool that you feel you can’t be without

• On a personal level whatever you need for a weeks camping - tent, sleeping bag, toiletries and adequate clothing to deal with the variability of Tasmanian weather and sufficiently sturdy to withstand a weeks carpentry.  

• From cold, windy and wet to savaging extreme UV in the sunshine you to be prepared for pretty much every weather situation, even in summer.

Accommodation

Free camping is available 200m up the road from the sawmill in a nicely shaded glade by a small creek.  There are toilets, a picnic shelter and a couple of fireplaces with BBQ.  

The creek has a small weir and a pool deep enough to splash the dust of the day off.

If camping is not your style there are dorms available another few hundred metres further up the road at the Gowrie Park wilderness lodge for $50/person/night with hot showers, shared kitchen etc.  They also have self contained cabins which book out fast.

Fully catered

Its fully catered with three nutritious meals per day for the entire seven day course. BYO wine or beer to accompany your meal.

The lovely Klara from just down the road has agreed to feed us very well for the duration of the course with 3 delicious meals a day all produced with fine local produce.

At the moment the menu is diverse and omnivorous.  If any one has any special dietary needs could you please let us know.  

Klara has also offered to cater for any significant others that might like a weeks holiday from cooking whilst their partners play in sawdust.  

Catering only service will be $70/person/day.