Summer 2025
August 18-22

Timber Framing: Women and LGBTQ+ Students

6 Days, Open to all

Humans built huge, complex structures before nails and hardware were invented using just the trees growing in their region. Some of those building techniques have developed into different timber framing methods around the world. Timber frames are structures constructed using mortise and tenon joinery fastened with wooden pegs.  This six-day Women and LGBTQ+ course covers the fundamentals of a New England style of timber frame construction using the square rule method.

Woodworking spaces are historically and presently male-dominated spaces. Our intention here is to provide training and support for people who, through long-enduring and systemic inequalities, have been excluded due to gender or identity. This class welcomes cis women, trans women and trans men, gay men, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, genderqueer, and any woman-identifying people. This distinction is less about who we do not let in the door and more about who this space is intended for. As such, we ask that you thoughtfully determine your eligibility. The PFLAG glossary of terms is a helpful resource for the ever-evolving vocabulary around gender.

In this six-day course, you will learn and practice the basics of timber frame design, plan reading, layout techniques, tool use and sharpening, and cutting structural mortise and tenon joinery. This introductory course is designed to prepare you to confidently explore timber framing tools and techniques. During the six days, we work together, our goal is to build your skillset so that you can apply these methods to your own projects and studies.

Though this course focuses on traditional hand-cut joinery and tools, we will include some modern timber framing power tool demonstrations and use. On the sixth day, we will raise the small timber frame as a team off-site from the PTSW campus. This site will be within Jefferson County. 

Tools

There are many options when it comes to timber framing tools. Some of the questions to ask yourself are: what scale of work will you do after the course, do you want to stick with only Western tools, only Japanese tools, or a mix of the two, and what kind of budget are you working with? We put together this list that will be useful for a wide range of applications. During the course, students will have the opportunity to try out Western and Japanese tools. If you have any questions please email info@ptwoodschool.org.

Required Tools

• 1 ½’’ framing chisel (if this is a barrier, the school has some loaners available) 

• Mallet 

• 25’ tape measure

• Framing Square

• Utility Knife

• Sun and weather protection (we will be working outside)

Recommended Tools:

• Personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, and ear protection

• Notepad and writing implement

Prerequisites

Open to all. Students should be aware of the physical demands of the course; we are lifting heavy timbers and heavy tools all day long. That being said, we will learn and practice techniques and strategies to use basic physics principles and teamwork to manipulate mass and gravity. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns about this at info@ptwoodschool.org. PTSW is committed to access and making reasonable accommodations for all types of learners.

Course Information and Registration

Class runs from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Saturday in Building 304 at Fort Worden. Map
Please read our What to Expect page for general information about the school.
Please also read our Registration Policy.

Class size: 12
Tuition: $1,075
Materials: $0