Starting with an overview on how to determine the forces and loads a traditional timber frame structure (or really any structure) will see over the course of its lifetime, the course focus will transition into sizing of beams, as well as a primer on basic joinery and connection design. In order to break up the class room portion, we will design a basic timber frame joint, calculate its allowable design strength, and then fabricate it out of timber. After the joints are fabricated, we will “bust” them by pulling them apart using a hydraulic load frame, with friendly bragging rights awarded for the best prediction of strength and best capacity.

This course focuses on timber frames. Students will learn about material science of wood, what makes a timber frame appealing, and why timber frames are more environmentally friendly, sustainable, and energy-efficient than traditional stick frame structures.

Proper drying is the key to turning freshly milled urban wood into high-value, marketable lumber. This comprehensive workshop equips participants with the knowledge and resources to understand what is happening to their wood as it dries. Participants will understand how to control the processes and the strategies and tools available to improve their drying operation.

Have you ever wanted to build a door, a barn door for your family room, a whimsical door for a garden shed, maybe a craftsman style screen door? While a door can give an entrance a magical charm there is no magic in building one.

The Basic Carpentry class will be hands on learning. The students will actively learn safe and proper use of carpentry tools, floor framing, wall framing, rafter layout and stair construction. The week long class will be centered around the construction of a whimsical garden house.

Stop making compromises with your router. Use the most abundant moulding planes of the past to get the exact details you are after now. Learn how to use hollows and rounds! Hollows and rounds do not make specific profiles. They make specific arcs. Transform these few arcs into scores of varying profiles with a set strategy acquired in this class. Learn how to use hollow and round planes with Matthew Sheldon Bickford.

Designing and building custom curved staircases offers a unique set of challenges in drafting, woodworking, and the application of trigonometry. In this class, students will focus on one of the most beautiful parts of a curved staircase, the climbing volute and pedestal. The methods learned by this class are among the rarest known in the building trades today.

This course focuses on timber frames. Students will learn about material science of wood, what makes a timber frame appealing, and why timber frames are more environmentally friendly, sustainable, and energy-efficient than traditional stick frame structures.

The Spiral Staircase Workshop is an immersive workshop tailored for architects, designers, and woodworking enthusiasts seeking to deepen their understanding of curved staircase design, stereotomy principles, and practical construction techniques. This workshop combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience, providing participants with the necessary tools and skills to confidently design, layout, and construct various types of curved staircases.