I have spent the last year looking into different trades that interest me as possible carrers. Just recently Timberframing has taken the cake. It incorparates everything that i'm interested in. I have been researching schools and apprenticeship programs in the timberframing trade. I'm trying to find more sources for information in the Northwest area, specifically Oregon. Any info on schools, workshops, tools, contacts, books, or just plan suggestions would be appreciated.

Cole

Hi Cole --I see that you are looking ofr information on timberframing, and related topics such as the use of historic tools. I might be able to help you out I have many years of experience using the historic tools to construct period timberames in this area of Canada.NH

Cole,
Welcome aboard, it is nice to see a choice which incorporates so much room for personal satisfaction.
I would strongly suggest you contact Will Beemer at the TFG schoolhouse about the apprentice program there.
Good luck

Thanks

I'll be sure to contact Will. Also, I am interested in the use of traditional tools in this trade. Any suggestions on tool choices would be appriciated. Economical is good but I'm willing to spend the money if it's what is going to be best.

to cut joinery with older hand tools i highly recommend the adze(a carpenter's adze)... used for roughing out, for me it is the best combination of accuracy and speed, although it will feel awkward in the beginning.
-Mark.

Thank you Mark. After looking at your website I emailed you with some questions.
-Cole

Hi Cole

You may already have noticed that we'll be holding our next Western Conference at Mt Hood in Oregon from April 13-17. There's also a TFG workshop coming up in Salem Oregon from April 18-30 and you can view the details online at: http://www.tfguild.org/rendezvous/salem2005/index.html

Here are a couple of other links that you might want to check out:

Heartwood http://www.heartwoodschool.com/apprent.html

Fox-Maple
http://www.foxmaple.com/workshops.html

College of the Rockies http://www.cotr.bc.ca/timber-framing/

Palomar College http://www.palomar.edu/woodworking/HTML/CFT197_timber.html

Happy hunting!

Thanks for all of the suggestions everyone. I really appriciate the help.

Cole