Timber Framers Guild Forums General General Forum Questions New Books 2009-10

Hi,

Its that time of year again when I feel the need to buy / receive some new reading materials.

Last year my son gave me a copy of Dr. Olga Popovic's book on reciprocal timber frames and this relatively minor event led to her being invited to be a guest speaker at the UK Carpenters Fellowship annual conference - FRAME 2009. I also note with interest Don P's pictures posted over the weekend about a mini built reciprocal frame which can withstand both his dead load and intermittant applied loading (Christmas Cookies).

So what is this year's "must have" addition to the bookshelf ?

Regards

Ken Hume

One on my list is Oak: The Frame of Civilization.
It was featured in a recent issue of Timber Framing.

I just received in the mail, English Historic Carpentry, by Cecil Hewett. I can hardly put it down.

Tim

Hi Tim,

This title would be one of my 3 essential reading books for every timber framer to buy.

A number of years back a group of us met Cecil at Cressing Temple. He brought all of his original Historic Carpentry illustrations with him in a folder and when he opened the folder inside the very draughty wheat bearn the illustrations promtly blew away. We all had to make a mad dash to recover the airbourne paper.

Cecil's text style can make for difficult reading at times but the content is extremely useful as a reference work which over time really should be updated especially as and when dendro dates are established for many of his buildings.

Regards

Ken Hume

Does Cecil Hewett have any other books?
his drawings are inspiring

Hi Mark,

The other books in the series are "English Cathedral and Monastic Carpentry first published in 1981 and then "Church Carpentry" in 1982.

He also published many "papers" as well as books too numerous to list here.

If you are on a limited budget my recommendation is to buy "English Historic Carpentry" first published in 1980 since this book contains a fairly complete compendium of traditional and classic joint illustrations.

Regards

Ken Hume

I have one that you all might be interested in. It is not strictly timber joinery but has a wealth of info. Price is steep but in my opinion worth it.

Detail: Timber Construction Manual

Detail has a great stuff with diagrams and how you build it.

That looks like a great resource book, mo. I have been interested in this book called " Oak-Framed Buildings " by Rupert Newman. Anyone else know of it? tb

Rupert's book is well worth the price. For us North Americans, it's a good glimpse into a different way of doing things. It has a good chapter on scribing frames.

Hi Gabel,

I have taken this book off the shelf in the Weald and Downland bookstore 3 times and 3 times I have put it back without making a purchase.

Regards

Ken Hume