Greetings!
Lets keep it simple, shall we. Got Carpentry? Join us.
I’m looking for interested people to join my company which builds Traditional Timber Frame structures. My Shop is in Gilbertsville PA. we start with the raw materials and create the frames. Mortise & tenon joints, pegs, great projects…Whoo Hoo!
You don’t need “special knowledge” as I consider Timber Framing “Good Carpentry”. We’ll teach you the details—or learn them together. You do need a good attitude, a desire to work and grow with a small group of craftspeople and have lots of love for learning.
The more I learn, the more I don’t know.
Replies
Hi Jack,
Tell me,
Is it possible to go to Pennsylvania and start a new life as a timber framer?
I've am a restoration mason, have been for 24 years, but I've found over the years that I liked to work on timber frames more than masonry. But, masonry pays the bills.
I've worked on dismantling, repairing, putting frames back together, to new frames for barns and outbuildings. I've been lucky enough to know some contractors who do this type of work, and have been willing to pay me to help. I don't have enough experience to take on a full sized job myself, though. Yet.
Just came back from the Timber Framers Guild conference in Burlington, Vt. Good food, good people, and lots of new determination to find my way into doing more timberwork.
I've been working on timber frames for around 16 years. A couple weeks here/there over the years. Got lots of books and a good assortment of tools.
How's the cost of living in Pennsylvania?
A guy up at the conference said that he felt there weren't enough timber framers to cut all the frames that seem to be coming up.
My wife said she wanted to go to Pennsylvania for vacation this coming summer. Hmmmmm??????
Long vacation??????????????????
Good luck to you. Rod
Ok Rod,
(I never left)... Yes You Can!
If you were paying atention at the conference, Joel, our Dinner MC, asked the crowd to buy me a beer for helping aquire the time-Laps of the Northfield raising....I don't remeber drinking one from you??? Send me an e-mail or look me up in the guild directory and give a call....I'll bet there are lots of ways we could get into trouble togehter...And Get paid! I can surely tell you...life is alot cheaper here than CT.
Hey, we eat every night.
The summer works too. Do you....
Fish? Drink good Beer? Enjoy Great Hot Sauce?.....That's life everyday!
Jack
Hi Jack/peghead,
Damn! I'm sorry I missed you there. The time-lapse pictures were great. It was my first TFG conference and I kinda wandered around in awe of everything. It was an eye opening experience to say the least. The frame that Josh was working on was pretty cool. I'm waiting for some timbers to come in so I can play a bit this winter.
I got a chuckle outa that Japanese guy who bought the posters from Maffell. I think he thought it was 175 for all 4, because I heard him yell "EACH!". His buddies were all laughing with/at him. Of course those guys were always laughing. What talent they have.
Are you anywhere near Dutch Springs? I'll have to pull out a map. I scuba dive, prefering to catch my fish thataway. And Blackened Cajin chicken is the best, boneless hot wings a close second.
I'll definetely be in touch with you. I understand there is going to be another frame reaising in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, (for the Forest Service?), and I'd like to be involved with that. I went to the Scottish Highland Festival in Lincoln N.H. in September. Right at the end of the exit I saw the frame that the TFG just built the previous few days. It was all done, just a few trucks still there, nobody around. I had just sent in for my membership, didn't even know it was being built, so it was quite a surprise to see it.
I've got to stay in this area, (S E CT), for one more year, (so my daughter can graduate with her friends that she's grown up with), and then we are free to go where we would like.
But maybe summer of '03. Room and board, OTJ training? Talk to you soon.
Rod
Rod,
I have no idea where Gilbertsville is.......I'm in Pittsburgh.
You don't saw where you're from, but I can tell ya the cost of living in most of PA fares real well against the cost of living in most other places. I've moved around a bit and have lived in a few different places. Here in Pgh, the housing market to buy in is one of the best I've seen.
Most of PA also provides the choice of a decent priced new const home......good deals on existing move in condition homes....and great deals on older/fixer upper homes. Pa's an older state....makes for more older homes to pick from.
PA's a state with major cities at each end...Pgh and Philly...and tons of greenery in between. Pgh actually has tons of greenery in all but the city center. I live within city limits and see deer and turkey most days as I drive to the highway.
If you like the outdoors.....most of PA would suit ya. Take a look at the state website.
http://www.state.pa.us they might have some tourism info there.
If you have any Q's I might be able to answer....just email me.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
Any of you timber framers have one of the large hand held planers? When I first saw them I thought wow, what a great tool with beau coup uses, and then I saw the price! 15 to 25 hundred dollars. ouch More then most good quality shop machines.
Don
Don,
Any of those 15-25, hundred dollar ones...You just send right over. The 12+" Maffel is close to 4000$.
You know what. It doesn't matter what it costs....It's what it can do(earn) for you.
I'd appreciate any thoughts on finding good help. Not just here, but locally. I suspect the paper won't yeild the good guys.
Hey dinner's ready...Gotta Go.
Sorry Peg Head, this is not something I can help you with. The extent of my experience is watching the process on TV. I did post on knots though about the big handhelds, and they is expensive!
Don
Jack,
any extra applicants you get from Minnesota have them give me a call. I'm in the midst of my own timber frame from scratch.....
Hello Jack
I wish I was a little closer to Gilbertsville. I'm on the other side of the state
in Clarion county. I have all the necessary tools and I have been out to
Tillers International Helping with there Timber Frame in Charlevoix,Mich.
When are you starting a frame? Maybe if things are slow around here then
I can come down and help.
Thanks
T.E. Henry