looking for quality work/instruction W. Mass

I am a carpenter with 4 years in the trade, but only 1 year cutting frames in CT. I love timberframing, and the prospect of leaving my job is depressing. Anyone know of any quality timberframing companies based in or around the Berkshires? I would love to make this my life work.

There are several timber framing companies in W.Mass, I tried all of 2006 to get hooked up with even the lower quality ones. No luck! Any of the ones that are any good seem to be at a comfortable employee level.

As for instruction, you can't beat a class with Jack Sobon and Dave Carlon, they have a course the last week of september at Hancock Shaker Village. They as well as many other great instructors teach at The Heartwood School, Washington MA.

Where are you in CT? And are you going to relocate to MA, or just nearby?


Dave

I am located in Marlborough, CT. As far as relocation is concerned, if my fiancee takes the job, we would be as near to Great Barrrington as possible, preferably in the southernmost portion of the state. Northern CT is a possibility. The bummer is that the company I currently work for is super high quality, wiht a real emphasis on detail and joinery. I would hate to move down the ladder to a pre-fab or machined company, thus cutting out a lot of new experiences. You mentioned a few timber framing companies... I know of berkshire timber frames, and cedar homes, but that is about it. There is also a gentleman that does restoration of antique barns based out of Barrington, though his name escapes me at the moment.

As far as the heartwood school goes, I found out about it yesterday! It looks pretty incredible, and also looks like it would be a great place to begin learning about japanese carpentry (daiku?), a goal of mine.

thanks for the help.

nat

I think there is a web page at the Timber framers Business council site where jobs are listed and you can list your resume when looking for a job....

Thanks for the website! I'll poke in from time to time to see if anything opens up.

hi there i was wondering were i could get more info on the class offered in september.

www.hancockshakervillage.org Go to programs and events. The workshop is September 26-30, and costs $475 for non-members. This is a very good course, when you are finished your group will have cut all the joinery and raised a 14'x16' Dutch style house frame. You will learn proper tool selection and maintenance and how to layout and cut square rule joinery.


Dave