Total Stranger Educates Me About Timber Framing
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- čas přidán 22. 11. 2022
- Getting a look at real timber frame construction has always been on my bucket list. Well, it happened in a big way on our trip to Maine in October. This video is about our visit to John Sweet's place and our tour of his timber frame construction business. He's been doing this for over 30 years and believe me when I tell you, he knows what he's doing!
sweettimberframes.com/
Sweet Timber Frames
John Sweet
Mt. Desert Island, Maine
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Thank you Mr. Sweet! Hope you end up watching this beautiful video. We really appreciate you letting us see a lifetime of hard, honest work. I've always wanted one of those gasification boilers, glad to hear it's working out. Thanks Essential Craftsman
Thanks Nelagmor, we heat that shop with 4 cords of wood per winter. You do the math, $265 per cord.
Awesome video. Thanks for opening your home to Scott, Kelly and all of us.
@@asweetframe you should make videos too, I just subscribed to your channel in case you do.
@@dbporter thanks more coming soon
@@stevenpressley5956 ,d,zw$:
Awesome book that gives you step-by-step photos czcams.com/users/postUgkxTNB_zFBSnTo_O1PqfVUwgi7ityw0JlKt and directions to make every day project. I can see myself making a few of these projects and giving them as housewarming and holiday gifts!
Guys like this will soon be just a memory. This level of skill, knowledge and drive is disappearing at an alarming rate. Thanks for sharing your time Mr. Sweet.
American College of the Building Arts in Charleston SC is keeping a ton of these old world trades alive. Two of my friends went to this College and helped coach me through cutting my first frame which is soon to be my home. Love timber framing and as long as there is interest in frames the trade will be alive. My friend Walker owns a company Teton Timber Frame and is a true master of his craft.
Thanks to the internet the knowledge of proper timber framing techniques has never been more readily available than they are now. As a percentage of the total population the number of masters may drop, but the knowledge isn't being lost anymore and countless people in future generations will be able to relearn traditional techniques from this one individual potentially for centuries to come possibly even allowing for work that exceeds the old masters.
i want to be a framer for my career im not sure where to begin though
I can’t wait to START a craftsman’s journey after I am able to retire from my current one.
Not quite yet, I'm about to start my first timber frame to house my family at 25, hoping to make it one of many more
What a gracious person to let someone walk up the driveway and an hour later start an interview.
real recognizes real
Nah He knew who essential craftsman was..he didnt just stop and walk up blindly..
Thats just maine for ya
My whole family's from Maine that's how they do it there some of the friendliest people on the planet second to only maybe Canada lol
I wish I had a quarter of this gentleman's skills. A joy to watch!
I think you might already know this but John Sweet has been a legend in timber framing for decades. I'm 64 and completed my first big frame (56'x 60' modified saltbox 2 levels) in 1982. Then a 48x 96 the next year.
We were all re-learning the "Wisdom of the Ancients!" Sweet and Ted Benson and many others were leaders of reviving timber framing and modernizing to work with modern needs and tools.
Old School Guru you just saw! THANK YOU John Sweet for your contribution to sustainability, survival of an ancient art and the inspiration you have given the world of high level Timber Framing!😎😉
Ted Benson, Jack Sobon and Steve Chappell on the bookshelf next to me. I'm 35. Thanks to your generation for holding down the fort!
@@christiannelson1180 Be brave and stand your ground on quality. The work will come.😉
Scribe rule is matching the pieces to each other according to where they fit in a frame.
Square rule fits pieces together using imaginary lines and dimensions inside a piece. Pieces are interchangeable.
Mills rule cuts pieces to precise dimensions like regular dimensional lumber.
My first visit in Maine was marked by being welcomed into a home by a man who had built the frame himself. Here i am after living and working her for 15 years, building my own timber frame house on penobscot bay. Great video, great people.
I was born and raised just south Penobscot bay on muscongus bay. Glad to have you located close by. Best wishes on your new home.
Been watching your channel for years now Scott, I'm 31 now, coming from a HVAC background you have helped me become such a good hand in all around aspects being framing, sheathing etc...I especially loved the fact that I used your string tricks to people that were a lot more experienced than myself on a job and they could not do that themselves. Thank you sir!!! Keep up the wonderful work and God bless!!!!
Well if you ever need an idea for some content, a video series with Mr Sweet building a small post and beam building, maybe a shop or outbuilding, and showing a detailed look at the joinery and how how it all fits together. Just a thought. You sure seem to find some really interesting craftsman to call friends, thanks for sharing them with us!
I have always loved timber frame structures.
Strong, elegant, proud to show what it is, resilient (can easily last several centuries) because the structure is always kept dry and away from the elements.
and actually remarkably easy to insulate you can get a full exterior insulation for high efficiency.
Gorgeous style of building.
Thank you. I find this video helpful in three ways …
1. Finally a conversation between a man from the northwest and a man from the northeast about their respective timber. Being from the Deep South, I’ve heard interesting monologues and read articles from the northeast and the northwest about the relative merits of the woodlands of each. So, this was helpful. I would love to hear a deeper EC2 interview on this topic.
I might suggest including a southerner, but I fear s/he would only be able to discuss pine trees. 😂
2. Timberframing - this is a natural topic for your channel and would love to see and hear more. And maybe … a series of videos where EC tries his hand at a simple Timber-frame structure. Would not have to be much - a shed or a gazebo. Would love to see something like that.
3. Years ago you mentioned that you needed a trip back east to see George W. Burdick’s grave - an anvil in granite. I’ve rewatched that video 100 times, and even prayed quietly that you would both make that trip and even maybe make a brief video about the visit. I hope that at the least you get the chance to visit that beautiful grave that has encouraged and inspired so many.
Again, thank you.
Your comments are excellent sir. I was thinking precisely the same and have nothing further to add. I thank you.
I’d watch that video!
timber frames are just timeless and always look good from workshop all the way to a minimalist modern house
Here in Kentucky most old Timber frames were oak. My "This Old Barn Shop" is a prime example of a big timber frame. Usually they were built on boxed wood sills so the whole structure was like one piece and it just sat on some piles of rocks. When the buildings were new you could easily lift one and relocate it and the smaller buildings like chicken coops or corn cribs often were relocated several times in their life as farm needs changed.
I have to say, you always make wonderful videos. You present subjects that show the beauty of skilled craftsmanship. Almost lost arts that few even know about.
This video is truly among your best, showcasing the art this gentleman continues to use in crafting beautiful, functional buildings. Thank you for bringing Mr. Sweet to our attention!
What a surprise to see you came to Maine!!! We are blessed to be surrounded by a timber frame culture here in Maine and New England!! We are used to folks popping in our shops and projects. It's a thing!
Love this episode, I'm actually feeling a little emotional right now. I am I not surprised that @Scott is able find like minded souls wherever he goes :-)
Over in Europe, timberframing (joinery) is a core skill in every apprentice's first few years.
It is hard work. The math involved to do it successfully, also having exceptional spatial skills to plan it properly.
There's something so timeless and "sound" feeling about this kind of thick, squared timber in a building.
Absolutely excellent content.
I would think that on paper a stick frame is usually the stronger structure (2x6 16" on center is A LOT of wood), but a timber frame or post frame really rub the brain a certain way.
@@cm01 2x6 is smaller than that and it’s all junk. Timber frame is 10x stronger.
What a "sweet" conversation with Mr. Sweet,... Just two men with tremendous knowledge of things and the tools they use in their everyday life. This is soo sweet indeed!!! How I wish I was there,... Thanks for sharing with us!
Thank you Scott for taking us to Sweets shop & Thank mister Sweet for allowing us a view into your timber frame world. Early in the video you spoke about the door where mister sweets mentions it is a Simpson door , I worked in the Simpson Door factory for a total of 38 Years it was a great place to work.
Scott had to get that little dig in there about big trees that is hilarious.... Mr sweet thank you for sharing your love of craft with us.
Barr Quarton from Idaho is a blacksmith timber frame tool& Knife making legend.
I have to say. After watching this video i felt inspired, Nostalgic,happy, and inspired thanks for sharing 👍
The shelter institute is up there in Maine if you are still there. They specialize in teaching other people how to construct timber frame houses with prefab paneling on their own properties
I’m going to be taking their class this coming June and I’m super pumped!
This is the type of craftsmenship that that seperates the master craftsmen from very seasoned finish carpenters.
Reminds myself of the lineage of old world crafsmen i am fortunate to be the grandson of.
At almost 50 and retired I find more and more things like this I want to learn and do. Even if just for around my house or for friends and family.
Wow, feels like a small world. I met you, Scott, at the open house for the spec house. I told you I was a home designer, and we chatted a bit about certain design choices you made. Now I currently work as the designer at a timber frame company in Oregon and you're here talking to an expert in the craft. It really amazes me how differently John Sweet approaches timber framing compared to myself and my coworkers. This video helped open my eyes to an entirely different attitude towards timber framing.
What a tremendous man Mr. Sweet is. Maybe a little uncomfortable on camera at first, but as soon as the discussion turned to work and creating what he loves, he focused in like a laser beam. Incredible man! Thank you for sharing E C.
Country folks are the best. Lots of craftsmanship and love in that family and yours. Truely enjoyed so thanks for filming.
I was trying to remember that book. I have it and spent countless hours looking at it. What I liked about that book was that he explained why timber frame was an economical way to build in the beginning. In that book I think he talked about how people at the time he published that book were staying in a house for I think it was something like 7 to 12 years. When timber framing was the norm people stayed in the house for not only their life but also the life of generations to come. I will have to get that book back out. Thanks for the memories.
Many thanks Mr. Sweet! I’ve wanted to learn about timber framing, but was intimidated not knowing where to start.
Because of your kindness to a stranger, I now do.
This made me so nostalgic. Maine is a beautiful place full of master craftsmen/artisans and their works… some of the most humbly beautiful and sturdy boats and framed structures in world made in little barns at the end of dirt roads like this. Live out west now, but grew up there and go back each year. Glad you could appreciate it and captured some to share.
Scott, it says a lot about your character that you can just roll up some strangers driveway and end up getting a tour of their shop like that. Great video, thanks.
I'm impressed.. wish millennials could grasp this :-) I'd never roll up on someone's house out of the blue
The door closing when you said “Listen to that, ladies and gentlemen.” had the most modest handle. For the obvious weight of the door and super tight fit, I think I’d need to use a handle I can fit my whole hand into. Cool, I have that book! So helpful hearing Mr Sweet pointing out what to pay closer attention to.
successful people are usually understated in their demeanor, this is the case with both these fine men! Thank you for your knowledge
It was always my dream to build a timber frame house. As a young man in the 90s I bought all the books and did my research then life got complicated and I left my lucrative but demanding factory job. Nowadays my dream is just that, a dream, and unless I win the lottery it will go unfulfilled along with many other young man dreams but it sure brings back a lot of good memories watching this video. What a fantastic shop this man has it would have been great working for him, he doesnt scrimp on tools and that tells a lot about a guy.
Start with a tiny backyard shed for garden tools it will allow you to scratch the itch without breaking the bank, and if it doesn't suit you it won't be a massive long and costly project that you drag you feet about.
Hit a single. At least you'll be in the game. Build a timber frame storage building. You don't need to hit a home run first swing. Sweet built a 12x16 from the book description as his first. I could live in a 12x16.
A wood workers dream shop. A master wood jointer and home builder. Total respect.
Absolutely loved this! He was probably pretty humbled to have such a good GC to look at his shop
This is the most wholesome thing I've watched in a month! I wish my days were free enough to welcome the stranger.
Love the look of this style of timber framing. We are currently trying it out in a very small way on a big gazebo. My dream shop would look a lot like that, with those big windows in it. What a life.
That is one helluva shop !!! I lived on MDI for 8. Yrs . There are some amazing craftsmen there , boat builders , carpenters ,wood turners ......
Probably the best Ryan's Shed Plans on building a shed is hardly found ever . czcams.com/users/postUgkxcLVQopTIucrxiVRQA0khLGQEnDVKCSMG And Ryan's takes the mystery out of different types of foundation options, etc. He even shows how to build shed with different designs. Very comprehensive, covering different roofing materials, siding, etc.
Thank you John Sweet for sharing your time and impressive work. It is fair to say the Northwest's temperate rainforests will ultimately produce much larger trees than the Northeast with its long, cold winters. Anyone in the East who gets a chance to walk through a mature forest ought to do so. It is estimated that only one tenth of one percent of the East's old growth forests remain intact.
I wish I could have seen a one of the massive old growth chestnuts
@@wgoode97 I learned recently that the stumps of old Chestnuts still send up new shoots which can live 10 to 20 years before being killed by the fungus that wiped out the species. People with a lot more expertise than I have are optimistic that some day the Chestnut will rebound. The New England Forests CZcams channel is an incredible resource for learning about the past and future of Eastern forests.
There is only one word for this whole video....beautiful. People getting together and a love of craftsmanship. Thank you.
Outstanding! Love the content. Thank you Mr. Sweet for Preserving a remarkable method of craftsmanship.
Still in Maine, Scott? Get over to Gorham, quick, and talk with Thomas Johnson, furniture restorer! He’s awesome and has an awesome dog.
Young Eastern Canadian here, that's the hospitality in north east ;) the folks down in maine are quite similar in many ways. I love seeing true craftsmanship that i dont get to work at on modern commercial site. I hope one day to have my own scribed or timber frame buildings
Scotty my husband uses my account, he has always admired your intelligence & your ability to articulate subjects which would normally be a puzzle and maze to ones mind. He is a woodsman meaning he works with wood from forest to fine finished furniture. Husband does not like accolades and compliments, not comfortable with that. The reason is when he watches folks like you, buckin billy and now this gentleman a timber framerand such craftesmen, he says this: " when you see men such as these, know where you stand in life, you will know that the best isnt me,us or I... Those other folks that you see are truly the heroes of wood working, farming ranching etc. Never ever put oneself in a position of high regard there is always someone thats better.
Carpentry is so damn cool lol. I'm a steel guy but I also do some carpentry at the shop I work at and it's just so cool what you can do with a piece of wood or a piece of steel. At 25 years old I'm so glad I decided to get into a skilled trade at 19 instead of going to college because right now I would probably be sitting in a cubicle instead of building cool stuff for Broadway! Love the videos!!
25 years retired Ironworker local 7 Boston
Keep at it, brother! I'm a journeyman carpenter, ironworker, pipe and structural welder, but my true passion is timberframing. I've built quite a few structures, but the log cabins and timberframes are my favorite.
@@billywalker9223 thanks keep up the good work
@@asweetframe We have all of the tools to build timberframe and log cabins, even the nonpowered ones. I'm hand planing tongue and groove flooring for my son's log cabin. I've made all of the hardware for the doors and cabinets in the blacksmith shop. The steel for the Suffolk latches and the rat tail hinges was about $60, so we saved several thousands of dollars by making them here.
One of the nice things about a cubicle job is you can usually find jobs where you choose your hours instead of having to get up at 5am everyday and don't have to deal with nasty weather conditions. I love working with my hands but enjoy staying inside throughout the cold long dark winters of the northeast. The winters are downright miserable and make you want to stay in bed all day.
Down East is beautiful-----!"Great shop John.i wish my shop was half of John's w a twelve foot ceiling! I have 16' x 18' with a 7' ceiling.
What a wonderful, heartwarming story. Craftsmen from thousands of miles away can appreciate each other’s work.
Genuine people committed to their craft. Beautiful
Lived in Oregon for 25 years (outside Eugene/Springfield) but never built a home there. In Pennsylvania however we built two -- one where the entire structural strength was the timber frame back in the 1980s and recently one hybrid home (the walls are super-insulated double stud but there posts and beams to support the 2nd floor and part of the roof). Used antique chisels for the most part for cutting the mortises and tenons. The modern chisels at the hardware stores just don't cut it (literally). The old guys knew how to make chisels, my favorite being a corner chisel with two 1" edges at right angles. Did all the drilling on site with hand-held electric drills. Used a Skilsaw to help hog out material when cutting tenons. For the hybrid house I also for the first time used a router on some mortises to hog out the material. Tip -- make sure to test all joints for fit prior to assembly. You don't want to have heavy timbers in the air and you can't get the pieces to go together. Our 2nd floor is tongue and groove 2" yellow pine. Quite beautiful and I wouldn't build it any other way. Would have cost a lot to hire someone.
Yes, here in PA the Douglas Fir is quite expensive. For books, I like both Jack Sobon and Ted Benson. I'll never forget a quote from Benson that "beauty is enhanced by function." So true for timber frames, the beauty of timber, not just for the sake of the timber but because it also performs a practical function.
The Essential Craftsman can come visit us in Lancaster County, PA any time. We'll put you up in our hybrid home.
A true craftsman. Outstanding, beautiful work. Mr. Sweet has built himself quite a legacy. I've had that book going on 20 years now at least. First time I've ever seen a plug for them. Love it, just love it all.
Thank you Sweet family for the tour and hospitality! Keep up the work and Happy Thanksgiving to you and family.
Thank you. =) Seeing videos like these is such a great reminder of all the busy work so many suffocate their lives with nowadays, so many of us will never experience or even know this kind of beauty. As much as I hate that the craft may die off a bit, I hope the beauty doesn't - just looking at that ceiling in a workshop puts so many homes to shame.
I remember as a child watching The Waltons on TV; this has a similar feel to that of plain good old fashioned wholesome decent people.
Beautiful work!
So wonderful- thank you for doing this!
Thank you Mr. Sweet
I have been waiting so long for content on timber framing from my favorite source of construction education. Thank you so much for taking the camera out!
Knowledge you can’t buy with all the money in the world with these 2 gentleman.
I live in timber frame home built out of East Texas PeckerWood. East Texas PeckerWood is hard as the day is long, rigid, and exceedingly durable, and long lasting. East Texas PeckerWood is the #1 choice for installation in moist regions.
I can smell that shop. A flood of memories of my grandfather’s cabinet workshop.
Thank you for the awesome video and great content!!
Awesome video. Thanks for opening up your home to Scott, Kelly and all of us.
Outstanding post!
Craftsmen around every corner!
Thanks for recognizing and sharing Scott!
And of course...
Thank you Mr Sweet!
What an awesome guy! Thanks for sharing 👍
Truly stunning. You can obviously see the quality, but you can also actually HEAR it too. These building will be standing long after I'm dead and gone. What a multigenerational gift, a true craftsman is to us all.
awesome craftsmanship!! great video. glad you took us a long to Maine.
Great video by a great man of a great man. Thank you.
What a great video and display of shared appreciation and respect for the craft.
Time lapse at the end was a nice touch to a great vid
What a treat from Mr Sweet. A old school form of craftsmanship that simply blows my mind.
Looks like we have an East Coast Essential Craftsman, he talks very passionate about his work. When he talks about his profession it’s like he’s telling an interesting story, just like that guy on the west coast.😀 Thanks for sharing another craftsman with us, it was very interesting.
Coming to a youtube near you soon enough. I'm still learning the intricate ways of my channel. thanks
@@asweetframe, Thanks, I’ll check it out.
I’m so glad you finally got a chance to see how we all loved and grew up on the east coast !!! Great video as usual and glad you got a taste of how wonderful folks from the North woods treat other folks !!! Nice Huh
That was a fabulous video and i am certainly appreciative that Mr Sweet took the time out of his day to share his expertise and for Scott for filming their interaction. The video of the timber frame building, being constructed at the end was awesome..
A beautiful story....thanks for sharing....this has been one of your best videos. I say that because the tools and trade take a step back in this video and you show case humanity responsible for those tools and trade. It's remarkable and significant that there are folks in our country willing and able to welcome strangers, and then humbly share their beautiful accomplishments.
Thanks!
Thanks Scott and Brooke
Thank YOU! You have a great operation there!
Thank you very much for excellent video! I was very impressed..
This is one of your best videos, thanks!
Great video! Thank you for sharing.
I raised my kids in Maine, having come from the west coast I fell in love with the Maine forest, I had the pleasure of working with craftsman who where part of the early days of Maine post & beam company which has deeply impacted my craft throughout my years in this trade. Now live on the big island of Hawaii & loving these exotic woods...
Aloha Mick
That was a great episode
Amazing shops. A pleasure to see.
I thoroughly enjoyed that!!!
Thank you both for a lovely video
Thank you, John & Ann
It's so nice of you to let us all into your home.
Wow, what a wonderful virtual field trip! It was a real Sweet treat! Thank you !
NEVER HAVE I WATCHED YOU AND COME AWAY " UNINSPIRED "... MAN!!.. GOT TO BE THE MOST INSPIRATIONAL SHOW ON CZcams!!... DONT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY!.. THANKYOU!!!!!
Wow this is awesome !
I have always wanted to build a true timber frame from scratch.
What a awesome guy to show you around his place.
Thank you to both you and Mr Sweet for this video!
As always great video nice to see folks anywhere being so helpful and nice loved it all
This was an absolute treat to watch gentleman! Love the scenery of the East coast woods in fall👌🌳🌲🙏
Outstanding video, EC. Really heartwarming. And we need a good heart warming right now. Welcome to the East coast! Hope you stay a while!
Great video as always
WOW what a great video. It is great to see the level of attention to detail being put into those timber frames. Thanks for sharing.
So interesting, I have the same book and built a scale model of a large shed that I wanted to build, but life got in the way. Thanks for sharing!!
Great video ! Beautiful workshops
I too have watched every one of your episodes. This one really hit home. I have lived my whole life on the east coast and my family has a long history in the lumber industry in Maine. I have a Great Great Uncle, Lore Rogers, who was a co-founder of the Lumberman's Museum in Patten Maine. If you get that far north you would love it. It is great to see you on the east coast.
Thank you to the Sweet family for letting us into their wonderful world!