This is where the "real" timber framing takes place. Here, using a combination of modern power tools and hand tools of antique design, we take joinery that up until now has been merely marks on paper or wood and make it come to life in three dimensions.
Each mortise is first "roughed out" using another of our back from scrap iron machines, which we affectionately call Mr. Mortise. It is an old metal milling machine that we have reconfigured somewhat to become a very large articulated router. With it we can mill mortises of whatever depth and length to machine shop tolerances. By using Mr. Mortise, we can also accurately place a mortise at any angle to a timbers face simply by rotating the timber.
We then take out our chisels and carefully clean out all corners and add whatever chase angles are necessary in a matter of minutes. The finish of these joints far exceeds the finish of joints done with chain mortiser. or other portable machines.
To fabricate each tenon, we start by removing the waste with a combination of handheld circular saws, some surprisingly large. We then use hand planes and chisels to pare each joint surface back to the lines drawn on the timbers. This attention to detail by skilled crafts people insures a fit and finish that is very nearly perfect.
Once all joinery is completed, each timber is marked on its ends with a letter number code that describes its location in the frame for easy identification at the job site. The timber then makes its way to our Layout Barn for storage until we are ready to apply the final finish and ship it to the job site for raising. Please visit our Raisings Gallery and Joinery Gallery.

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Timber Shop

Working in the shop

Shop floor

Mr. Mortise

Richard operating Mr. Mortise