
Virginia Military Institute Timber Frame FTX 2016
It is springtime in Lexington, Virginia. That means chilly mornings and sunburns by evening, green grass and blooming bushes and of course the smell of fresh cut wood and the sounds of timber framing at the Mullen compound.
This April I returned to Rockbridge county for my third time instructing at this great event that brings together beginner and expert timber framers to build a structure for the community. All the while enjoying the community that has grown around this 20 year tradition.
This year’s edition of the Timber Framing Field Training Exercise for VMI cadets had plans to build two frames at the same time and using all hand tools.

Timbers are spread out on horses all the way to the blacksmith tent
Braces that connect from post to sill allow for easy low tech raising of all four posts on to the floor system.

Ridge and rafters fit beautifully

The cruck has been assembled and is ready for raising.

Cruck blade to plate connection by an interrupted tie beam. Half dovetail connection.
Freshly joined timbers in the afternoon light rank among the prettiest things to see in Virginia in the spring.
Thank you cadets, volunteers, fellow instructors and gracoius hard working hosts Cindy and Grigg Mullen.
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