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Northern Lights Timber Framing is committed to the craft of timber frame
construction. We offer many educational opportunities to both
professionals and non-professionals. All classes are taught by our owner,
Clark Bremer, at a variety of locations
across the country. Here is a list of upcoming classes and seminars and
DIY Services:
DIY (Do It Yourself) Services
Courses for Non-professionals (DIY and Professional tradesfolk new to Timber
Framing)
Courses for Professional Timber Framers
Timber Frame Joinery Design using Google Sketchup
October 28-31, 2010 (tentative)
Timber Framers Guild
Eastern Conference, Montebello, Quebec.
This is a full-day preconference workshop.
Cost is $175.
Register
with the Guild
Workshop Overview:
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This is a hands-on workshop. Students
should bring their laptop computers to follow along step-by-step.
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In addition to the instructor, a proctor will
be roaming the classroom to assist you. |
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Teaser Example. The presentation will open
with a demonstration: the creation of a set complex shop drawings from an
existing model, to show how easy it is if you've laid the proper groundwork
beforehand. |
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We will then install the Ruby plugins on your
computer to customize Sketchup for timber framing.
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Finally, we will go through a detailed
example of how to create a timber frame model that can be used for creating
shop drawings. The following broad points will be covered:
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Timber Component Libraries. Discuss and
demonstrate the use of component libraries to quickly assemble a frame from
pre-defined timber components. |
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Joinery Libraries. Discuss and demonstrate
how to create new timber components using pre-defined joinery components,
which are used to expand the timber component library. |
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Joinery Creation. Discuss and demonstrate
how to create new joinery components for expanding the joinery library.
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Shop Drawings. Discuss and demonstrate how
to create precise, four-sided shop drawings automatically. We will then
polish them off with dimensions, and shop notes. |
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Material Lists: Export a list of
timbers to Excel. |
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Participants will leave the seminar with a
list of resources, including:
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Where to find general tutorials for using
Sketchup |
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Where to get the latest timber frame ruby
scripts |
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Where to get joinery and timber libraries
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Where to share their timber and joinery
components with the rest of us |
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Timber Frame Joinery Design using Google Sketchup
October 28-31, 2010 (tentative)
Timber Framers Guild
Eastern Conference,
Montebello, Quebec
This 90-minute presentation is part of the Guild's Eastern Conference.
There is no additional cost for conference
attendees. Register for the conference
directly with the Guild.
Presentation Overview:
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This will not be a hands-on workshop.
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Teaser Example. The presentation will open
with a demonstration: the creation of a set complex shop drawings from an
existing model, to show how easy it is if you've laid the proper groundwork
beforehand. |
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We will then discuss how to customize
Sketchup for timber framing using Ruby plugins (developed by the instructor).
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Finally, we will go through a detailed
example of how to create a timber frame model that can be used for creating
shop drawings. The following broad points will be covered:
|
Timber Component Libraries. Discuss and
demonstrate the use of component libraries to quickly assemble a frame from
pre-defined timber components. |
|
Joinery Libraries. Discuss and demonstrate
how to create new timber components using pre-defined joinery components,
which are used to expand the timber component library. |
|
Joinery Creation. Discuss and demonstrate
how to create new joinery components for expanding the joinery library.
|
|
Shop Drawings. Discuss and demonstrate how
to create precise, four-sided shop drawings automatically. We will then
polish them off with dimensions, and shop notes. |
|
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Participants will leave the seminar with a
list of resources, including:
|
Where to find general tutorials for using
Sketchup |
|
Where to get the latest timber frame ruby
scripts |
|
Where to get joinery and timber libraries
|
|
Where to share their timber and joinery
components with the rest of us |
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Compound Joinery Design using Google Sketchup
October 28-31, 2010 (tentative)
Timber Framers Guild
Eastern Conference, Montebello, Quebec.
This 90-minute presentation is part of the Guild's Eastern Conference.
There is no additional cost for conference
attendees. Register for the conference
directly with the Guild.
Presentation Overview:
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This is a follow-on presentation to Timber Frame Joinery
Design and Shop Drawings with Google Sketchup. We will further explore the
capabilities of Google Sketchup for joinery design to include compound
joinery. Compound joinery can be designed in situ, without using
trigonometry. |
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The target audience consists of timber framing
professionals who are responsible for timber frame design, joinery design, and
creating shop drawings. The presentation will be of particular interest to
those who currently draw shop drawings by hand, or use a drawing program that
is not integrated with their whole-frame design program.
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Participants will learn how to design compound joinery
in situ without using any math.
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Participants will be able to create dimensioned shop
drawings of compound timbers using the TF Rubies, which are custom
extensions to Sketchup developed by the presenter. |
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We will begin the session by reviewing several examples
of compound joinery designed using this system. We will then step through a
detailed example of how to create a compound timber and it’s joinery in an
existing model. The existing model will be a simple common purlin design, to
which we will add a third gable bumpout. This will involve adding valleys and
jack purlins. If time permits, we’ll look at some other examples. Due to the
limited amount of time, this will not be a hands-on workshop. |
Private Lessons
Private lessons on using Google Sketchup for Timber Framing are also
available by special arrangement with the instructor, either in our Minneapolis
office, or at your site. The private consulting rate is $60/hr, and need
not occur in solid blocks of time.
Contact us for more details. 612-216-2205.
Hosting a workshop
Contact us if you are interested in hosting a workshop in your area.
612-216-2205.
Timber Sawhorse Trestles
Feb 19-21, 2010 (2011 classes not yet scheduled)
North House Folk School, Grand Marais, MN
This 2-1/2 day course is perfect for the beginner who just want to "dip their
toe in the water" Each student will bring home a set of sturdy sawhorses,
built timber-frame style. The North House campus is located right on the
harbor in Grand Marais, on the beautiful North Shore of Lake Superior. Our
long association with North House has been very rewarding for us, and we love
teaching classes there. Cost is $195 plus a $105 material fee.
Register directly with the school.
Click here to see photos
from past classes.
Here's the
course
description from the North House Catalog:
Whether they are built for the workshop or used to support a tabletop or
workbench, timbered sawhorse trestles are reliable, sturdy and reflective of
the craftsmanship that goes into timber framing. During this course, you'll
focus on the layout and cutting of the mortise and tenon joints needed to
create a timbered sawhorse. You will create a pair of trestles made of 6”x 6"
timbers (or larger if desired). This class is a great introduction to the
basic techniques used in traditional timber framing. Students will have the
opportunity to try out professional-grade timber framing tools, as well as
learn to use a variety of traditional hand tools.
Students may choose timbers up to 10"x10" for an additional cost. Please
inquire at the time of registration.
Introduction to Timber Framing (cabin project)
Feb 8-13 2010
Northern Lights Timber Framing, Minneapolis, MN
This 1 week course is held entirely indoors at the Northern Lights Timber
Framing shop in the historic NE Minneapolis Warehouse district. Cost
is $500 per person.
Contact Northern Lights Timber Framing to register, or for more information:
612-216-2205. Local students will be able to commute daily.
Call us for local lodging information if you're from out of town. There
are lots of great ethnic lunch spots in the neighborhood, but students should
feel free to brown-bag as well.
As a class, we will cut and assemble a small timber frame, which we will
raise indoors on the final day, using our overhead bridge crane! You'll
learn how to lay out and cut many types of joinery. You'll learn to
use traditional hand tools and professional power tools. We'll cover tool
sharpening, frame design, wood species, and much more. You'll leave the
course with enough skills to tackle your own small project, and who knows what
might happen after that! The raising will take place at noon on Saturday, and friends and family are invited to attend that part as well. The course is taught by Clark Bremer, and
will be assisted by his staff of professional timber framers.
Introduction to Timber Framing (bell tower
project)
Feb 23-27 2010
Northern Lights Timber Framing, Minneapolis, MN
This 1 week course is held entirely indoors at the Northern Lights Timber
Framing shop in the historic NE Minneapolis Warehouse district. Cost
is $500 per person.
Contact Northern Lights Timber Framing to register, or for more information:
612-216-2205. Local students will be able to commute daily.
Call us for local lodging information if you're from out of town. There
are lots of great ethnic lunch spots in the neighborhood, but students should
feel free to brown-bag as well.
As a class, we will cut a bell tower for a local church from white oak
timbers. The raising will take place sometime later in the spring, and
students will be invited to attend that event as well. You'll learn how to
lay out and cut many types of joinery. You'll learn to use traditional
hand tools and professional power tools. We'll cover tool sharpening,
frame design, wood species, and much more. You'll leave the course with
enough skills to tackle your own small project, and who knows what might happen
after that! The course is taught by Clark Bremer, and
will be assisted by his staff of professional timber framers.
DIY (Do It Yourself) Services
Northern Lights offers an extensive set of services to
assist those that wish to build their own timber frame:
| Design Service. We can design a frame for you, complete
with all joinery specified. We can also provide detailed shop drawings
for every timber in the frame. |
| Engineering Service. Depending on location, we can arrange
for the frame design to be certified by a licensed structural engineer. |
| Shop Rental. If your schedule is flexible, you can rent our
shop during slower periods. Our shop is equipped with an overhead
bridge crane, and all the hand and power tools necessary for cutting a
frame. And expert advice will always be just a few steps away. |
| Cutting Assistance. If you want to participate in the
cutting, but wish to have professional assistance at your side, we can
arrange that as well. |
| Raising Assistance. If you cut your own frame, you can
still hire us to help with a raising, schedule permitting. |
I started raising, but was burning through
crane time horrifically. After a conversation with Clark (owner of
Northern Lights Timberframing), he indicated that two of his crew
could come down and assist me in raising the frame my wife and I had
cut. Clark sent two of his crew (Lefty and Patrick) down. And here
is what they delivered:
- Professionalism
- Skill
- Organization
- Confidence in their craft
- Great to be around and work with and most importantly, a solution
to my dilemma (crane time and a frame to raise).
I'm in my mid 30's and my parents are still a large part of my life.
They spent a great deal of time at the raising, and they went on and
on (still are) about how impressed they were with Lefty and Patrick
as timber framers, and as people. They leave behind a very impressed
group and a very raised frame.
To the Northern Lights TF crew - thanks for a
job well done. The guys bent over backwards to see this job done. I
had contracted them for two days, but they stayed four days to see
this thing through. I told them they were not bound or expected to
go beyond the two day agreement - but they wouldn't have it. You
guys are true pros and we had a great time hanging with you fellas
on and off the job.
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Justin Nelson
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About the Instructor:
Clark Bremer is the owner of Northern Lights Timber Framing
in Minneapolis, and has been a professional timber framer since 2001. He has
been teaching timber framing at North House Folk School, in Grand Marais, MN,
since 2003. He has been a member of the Timber Framer's Guild since 1999.
His former career was as a computer designer and researcher for Bell Labs. He
enjoys inventing new tools for timber framing, both hardware and software.
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