Posts Tagged with traditional 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

The Whetting Bush

Posted on July 30, 2007 by Whit Holder

People often ask me why we place an evergreen bough on the peak of each frame when we finish. The short answer--tradition. But I'll take a stab at the long answer, since there isn't much information out there about this tradition.

"Topping off" a new frame is a practice that has been around for hundreds of years. It's the act of placing a bough on the highest peak of a newly completed frame. The bough is always an evergreen. We mostly use pine, but we've also used cedar, magnolia, and even a discarded Christmas tree.

Ask ten timber framers about topping off the frame and you'll get ten slightly different answers. But the common thread is that the whetting bush is placed as a symbol of thanksgiving. Some say it gives thanks to the forest for providing timber for a new home. Some say it gives thanks for a safe raising. A few simply say it's "good luck."

Whatever their beliefs are, topping off the frame is a special time for each person. For the owners starting life in a new home, it can be almost like a dedication ceremony. For the carpenters who built the frame, it's a chance to stand back and see the fruit of their labor. For everyone present, it's a moment of celebration.

For me personally, placing a whetting bush is a chance to stop and smell the roses. Finishing a job well done is satisfying on a basic human level. Then there's the appreciation I feel for my trade and my fellow carpenters, and the thankfulness I feel for a safe raising and for our renewable resource of timber.
Topping off a new frame is an ancient tradition and timber framers continue it today. It highlights a special time during the construction of a building when everyone pauses to appreciate the accomplishment of a new frame. If you have a chance to be present when a frame is topped off, you'll probably care more about enjoying the moment than about the specific meaning of the tradition.

Tagged: timber frame raising, whetting bush, traditional timber framing, timber frame, barn raising, post and beam  |  0 comments

The real meaning of "hand hewn"

Posted on July 17, 2007 by Gabel Holder

Hand hewn is a term that is widely misused today to refer to almost anything with a rustic appearance. The real meaning is actually quite limited in application. Hand hewn refers to a timber that has been converted from a log using only axes -- most commonly a felling axe and a broad axe.

A common misconception is that timbers were shaped with an adze. While adzes are wonderfully useful tools, they are pitiful at converting logs to timbers, and were not historically used for that purpose. This misconception may stem from the fact that hand hewn timbers have an interesting texture of undulating tool marks -- almost as if the wood were scooped out a little. This is the result of the shape of a broad axe. First off, the broad axe is sharpened on one side only (single beveled), unlike a felling axe which is sharpened on both sides (double-beveled). Also, the cutting edge of a properly adjusted and sharpened broad axe is curved in a couple of different ways. If you set this properly sharpened broad axe down on a table on its "flat" side, you will quickly see that the axe actually isn't flat on it's back --the axe should rock back and forth along its edge, with the mid-section acting as the fulcrum. You want the corners of the edge to be about 1/16" to 1/8" off the table -- that keeps the corners from digging in, which is very important. You also want a curve along the length of the edge, with the middle being quite proud of the corners. This curve helps create a slicing action, (rather than chopping) which is crucial to good clean work as well as efficiency. And the edge must be very sharp -- ideally razor sharp! A dull broad axe is worse than useless -- it is very dangerous. The effect of this razor sharp, curved and convex edge is that the wood is scooped out, leaving a subtle undulating texture similar to waves on the sea -- very different from what is often passed off as hand hewn today.

Most people who are "hewing" timbers today are using either a power planer to create a textured surface or are adzing sawn timbers -- both of these methods make an "interesting" texture, but are completely inappropriate for historic work, as the tool marks are completely different than what you see on authentically hewn timber. It is important to note that each hewer leaves behind subtle, tell-tale tool marks that allow an observant person to play detective and determine among other things whether the carpenter was left or right handed, which direction along the timber he was moving as he hewed, how high off the ground the log was, the size of the different axes used, whether one person hewed the entire timber or one man went up one side, while another man went down the other, whether two faces were hewed before the log was rolled, or whether one face was hewn and the log rolled each time.

I am sure that is much more information than most people care to know about how a carpenter swung his axe on a particular day a couple hundred years ago. Nevertheless, it is valuable information when it comes to understanding how a particular building was built; especially in terms of documenting existing timbers to better understand the original techniques or when we need to repair, restore, or replace damaged or missing timbers in a way that is consistent with the original means and methods. It is entirely possible when replacing a timber, to study other contemporary pieces from the same building and then hew the replacement the same way the original was done, reproducing the act of conversion as well as the product. Not only do I believe there is cultural value in this knowledge and skill--keeping alive and in some cases rediscovering the subtleties of a traditional building skill that mostly died--it is simply the most accurate process for reproducing a hewn timber. While I understand that such a level of detailed care is not appropriate for many projects, occasionally it probably is – when accurately replicating parts of the original process is an important part of the clients program. Or when close just doesn't cut it – such as work done on cultural treasures.

And even on the more everyday projects, I still think it is important to recognize authenticity and to value it enough to avoid cheap imitations. For more information about hand hewn timbers, give us a call.

Tagged: hand hewn, traditional timber framing, broad axe, historical timber framing, hand hewing, timber frame, hand hewn timber frame  |  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