Posts Tagged with historic timber framing

Georgia based timber framers make "historic" television debut

Posted on April 11, 2008 by Ansley Holder

WHERE do two timber framers from Georgia make their television debut discussing a hand tool commonly used to build historic reproduction timber frames and repair historic timber frames? You guessed it--on the History Channel. ("Historic timber frames" was a pretty good hint--I made it really easy for ya'll!) An upcoming episode of the wildly popular television program Modern Marvels will feature Holder Bros. Timber Frames co-owners Whit and Gabel Holder demonstrating the axes and hand-hewing techniques they use in their timber framing work.

WHO attracted the attention of the Modern Marvels producers? Gabel Holder wrote a timber frame blog about one of his favorite tools, the axe, and the producers found Gabel's blog post on the Holder Bros. Timber Frames web site while doing research for the upcoming episode.

WHAT will the timber framers demonstrate or talk about on the Modern Marvels program? Whit and Gabel will demonstrate converting a round log into a hand-hewn beam for a timber frame using only axes. They will show their collection of axes and describe the various different uses for each one.

WHY is the axe important to hand hewing and building timber frames? The axe has been crucial to humans for building shelter for thousands of years. Before sawmills, square timbers to build with were hand-hewn from round logs using a felling axe and a broad axe. The axe and its proper use allow Holder Bros. to create accurate reproductions of historic timber frames and repair historic timber frames. Using the proper techniques and tools to create hand-hewn timbers makes a night and day difference from the faux hand-hewn effect accomplished with electric machines. If you want something to look hand-hewn, it should really be hewn by hand.

WHEN will the episode air? The episode featuring timber framers Whit and Gabel Holder is scheduled to air on the History Channel on May 7th.

Tagged: timber frame, timber framing, historic timber framing, modern marvels, hand hewn timber frame, traditional timber framing, hand hewn timbers, timber frame georgia, timber frame restoration  |  0 comments

Tools of the Trade--Axes

Posted on January 07, 2008 by Gabel Holder

Axes are the subject of this installment of tools of the trade -- where I choose one tool or family of tools that we use in our timber framing work and talk a little about it. I am excited to write about this in particular, as I have a real soft spot for axes (as you can see).

Axes come in all shapes and sizes, from small 1 1/2 pound hatchets to large broadaxes with a 14" edge. While we don't use every one of the axes pictured, we do use many of them regularly in our work of building and restoring traditional timber frames. While we also use a few modern tools (I'll talk about them in a later blog), the foundation of our craftsmanship is our skill with the tools that were traditionally used to make timber frames. These traditional tools still work just as well today as they did when Master Hugh Herland built Westminster Hall, provided the carpenter has the training and skill to efficiently and accurately put them to use.

As for axes, we reach for some of these when we're cutting timber frames to rough out joinery such as housings, reductions, or tenons. You can remove a lot of wood in a hurry with a sharp axe if you know what you're doing. Hand axes and hatchets are often used for various trimming tasks, such as pointing pegs. We use some of the larger axes when we're working on a job that calls for hand hewn timbers. For that process, a felling axe is used to score the logs (removing the bulk of the waste wood) and then a broad axe is used to "take it to the line", smoothing the timber and creating the distinctive pattern of a (correctly) hand-hewn timber. That texture cannot be duplicated by modern techniques - if you want it to look right, you have to do it the right way.

In the photo, clockwise from top left, is an American Jersey pattern felling axe, goosewing broad axe from Austria, 12" American broad axe, Gransfors Bruks broad axe, Gransfors carving axe, Gransfors mortise axe, American broad hatchet, small American broad hatchet, competition throwing axe, bearded axe based on ancient Scandinavian pattern, Gransfors forest axe, American Hudson Bay axe, American half wedge felling axe.

These are some of our favorite tools to use here at Holder Brothers Timber Frames. Stay tuned for more Tools of the Timber Framing Trade ....

Tagged: timber frame preservation, timber frame restoration, timber frame, historic timber frame, hand hewn timber frame, heavy timber construction, hand hewn trusses, historic timber framing, timber frame georgia  |  0 comments

A visit to Old Salem Village

Posted on June 27, 2007 by Gabel Holder

I recently attended the annual symposium of the Traditional Timber Frame Research and Advisory Group (TTRAG) held at Old Salem Village in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Salem was founded in 1763 by Moravian settlers, who came down from Pennsylvania. Old Salem Village is an incredible place to visit, with extremely well-preserved 18th century buildings everywhere. The conference attendees were allowed to crawl around in the attics of several of the oldest buildings and see some nice Germanic timber framing. It was a great chance to see some dusty old historic timber frames!

For me the highlight of the attic tour was the Home Moravian Church, built in 1800. The timber framing in the roof is impressive and the view from the bell tower was great. Another great old timber framed building is the Single Brother's House. It was built in 1769, and is a half-timbered building with brick infill between exposed hand hewn timbers. An all brick expansion was built in 1786. The entire building has a nice Germanic roof system built with mostly hand hewn timber and sash sawn timber, with a few pit sawn members.

In addition to the well-preserved architecture, there are many museums, shops and artisans to visit. If you are ever in central North Carolina, Old Salem Village is definitely worth a visit.

Tagged: timber frame church, hand hewn, north carolina, timber frame, historic timber framing, ttrag, traditional timber framing, colonial timber frame  |  0 comments