TFG Blog

By Mack Magee

Day Two:  More of the Same

After a hearty breakfast prepared by Tom (Hartzell) and Emily, the second day of the workshop got underway.

The square rule gang (headed by Rene and Scott) were finishing up the layout on their braces and the posts while the scarfed wall plate brace mortises were being laid out and cut.

Jean McKern and Connor Wilson wrangling post timbers.

Craig Hampton confirming scarf dimensions. 

Andy Rice and Joe Darby find the reference surfaces (L). And Andy lays out the post (R).

While Matt Hunter smooths the post bottoms after cutting them to length. 

Mortise and housing prepared for the chisel work (L). Todd Christiansen drilled the peg holes through the mortise cheeks.

Late afternoon discussion among instructor Rene, Craig Hampton, Joe Darby, and Will Denton on next steps as Matt Hunter looked on.

Meanwhile, the Scribe Rule clan (Whitehorse Park pavilion) finished and assembled the posts and plates before lofting the braces.

Here we see Ben Ewald using a chain mortiser on wall plate brace mortise (above), while Julie checks her tie mortise (below).  

Patrick Shunney provides some input to Andrew Nejman on using a chain mortiser on complicated post top tenon fabrication.  

Detail showing a completed scarf join on wall plate. 

The scarfed wall plates with the posts, by Mike Westgard and Isaac McCoy-Sulentic (right). 

All under the watchful supervision of Mike's shadow and the team mascot, Porter.

Next step: lofting the braces and scribing the timbers (transferring layout points and lines). We start with Matt Zimbalist and Ben Ewald locating the braces in their loft position. 

Then we see Paige, Matt, Chris, and Jim using plumb lines and plumb sticks to transfer layout. 

At dinner, Megan and Cassandra organized a raffle to benefit the Guild's scholarship fund.

Will Denton, on behalf of Trillium Dell Timberworks, donated two Barr chisels, which were the final items raffled, along with hats, t-shirts, and a book. The quick raffle netted the scholarship fund over $500, proving once again that you can bring a bunch of people together to volunteer their time and share their generosity with their community.

Megan did her best to keep the raffle moving along, but whether it was from being tired or sated, the winners were a bit slow in announcing themselves!

Scott McClain, of Songdal, Norway, was assisted by two of our youngest volunteers in the selection of which chisel they should claim. The younger of the two darlings stepped up to help Megan select the final winner, although the gravity of the responsibility seemed to dawn on her as she did. Of course it all worked out, and Matt Hunter was pleased with the result! 

We closed Day Two with a demonstration by Chris Kates on lofting and scribe rule layout. Despite putting in a long day with an early start (after a long night of ping-pong and camaraderie in the Hunter & Taylor shed, where those two fellows were camping alongside the table), Chris expertly stepped through the process, demonstrating and explaining as he went.   

As far as workshops go, this might be the most diverse and educational workshop in recent memory given we are fabricating one Douglas fir pavilion using square rule, a second using scribe rule, and cutting a modest stage out of yellow cedar!

It was a good day. Not sure how it happened in Washington state in May, or why we deserved it, but as the aphorism notes: "Red sky at night, sailor's delight..." It would certainly prove to be true in this instance!

Click on a photo to enlarge.

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Posted May 24, 2019 5:35 PM PST. Edited on May 24, 2019 6:07 PM.report