If you’ve ever imagined building a rustic cabin, workshop, or studio with your own hands, "Learn to Timber Frame" by Will Beemer is an excellent place to start. This guide provides a comprehensive introduction to the time-honored craft of timber framing, making it accessible to anyone with an interest in woodworking, regardless of experience.

The book’s centerpiece is a step-by-step guide to constructing a simple 12ʹ x 16ʹ timber frame structure. Beemer carefully walks you through the process, from selecting timber and cutting joints to assembling the frame and finishing the building. Alongside the detailed instructions, the book includes full-color photographs, diagrams, and drawings that make the concepts easy to grasp. The design is flexible, too—you’ll find tips on modifying the structure by adding a loft, adjusting the roof pitch, or resizing the frame to fit your specific needs.

The book also touches on the engineering and science behind timber framing, helping readers appreciate the durability and ingenuity of this construction method. It’s clear that Beemer is passionate about preserving and sharing this craft, and his enthusiasm shines through every page.

If you’re expecting a gallery of finished projects, you won’t find that here. Instead, this is a hands-on guide that focuses on the process. It’s ideal for beginners and intermediate woodworkers looking for a project that’s both challenging and rewarding. Even if you’re not ready to take on a build, the book offers a fascinating look into the art and science of timber framing.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

If you’ve ever had any interest in how timber framing works and is done, this is the book to pick up. I’ve always loved the look of timber frames and have dreamed about having a home built this way. There aren’t many finished results pictures here, it’s not a look book. There are lots of diagrams, instructions, etc for basic building. It covers what timber framing is and isn’t, types of wood to use, tools and how to use them, step by step detailed instructions for building a small frame, and possible variations and finishing. I enjoyed reading the book, but I know I won’t be trying my hand at it anytime soon.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

Fantastic instructional for beginners and intermediate woodworkers.
In depth steps and useful pictures. With well explained projects. A lot of time has gone into creating this book.
Brilliant book will be buying this for I have a copy for the shelf.

Learn to Timber Frame is a very well organized and understandable tutorial guide for planning and building timber framed structures written by Will Beemer. Originally released in 2016, this reformat and re-release is due out 21st Jan 2025 from Hachette on their Storey imprint. It's 192 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. (Other earlier edition available in hardcover).

Especially during and after covid, given the frenetic pace under which most of us are forced to live our lives, reconnecting with handwork and having something tangible to show for our efforts is a huge and important source of mental and physical health. This author really *gets* that, and does a great job of making the theory and process of timber framing a basic structure accessible to most readers. It's full of information and people with some "handy" experience should be able to create a small timber framed structure with the information and illustrations contained in the book.

The author does a good job of presenting the basics: design, tools, safety, layout systems, cutting and layout, a *full* step by step tutorial to a small build, variations on the design, raising a frame, and foundations & enclosing the building frame.

The author and publisher have also included an abbreviated resources and links list (slanted toward readers in North America), as well as a glossary, bibliography, and cross referenced index. The book is beautifully photographed in color throughout.

Five stars. It would make an excellent choice for public or secondary school library acquisition, for a handyperson's reference library, or possibly for activity or community gardening/self sufficiency groups.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

If you’ve ever dreamed of building your own cozy cabin or workshop, *Learn to Timber Frame* by Will Beemer is your perfect guide. With straightforward steps, clear illustrations, and plenty of pro tips, this book walks you through creating a small timber frame structure from start to finish. Plus, it shows you how to customize the design to fit your vision. Build your dream cabin—and gain skills you can use forever! 🛠️🏡

I have always been fascinated by the process of "timber framing". For those that don't know timber framing is the use of wood members that are 5 inches by 5 inches or greater. As opposed to normal house framing, done with lumber with dimensions of 2x4, or 2x6. Timber framing is also different in that it doesn't use nails, but instead makes joints (like a mortise and tenon) that are joined with wooden pins. You could dismantle a timber frame house and put it up in a different location. Many of you may have seen timber framing done by the traditional Amish.
Beemer does a good job of explaining what timber framing is, the process of how it is done, the tools used, and the costs. He starts at the beginning and proceeds in a logical and clear format. He even gets into the engineering and science of the practice.
Loved the illustrated joint details and the construction of them. Very well done.
Beemer even constructs a 12' x 16' timber frame shed/house as a project for the book. He goes into great detail about how it is done. And it's an impressive sight when it is done!
I'm not sure, at my age, that I could do this anymore, but it sure was fun living vicariously through the author as he built the structure. It's rapidly becoming a lost art, and I'm happy that people like Beemer are keeping the craft alive.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, in return for a honest review. BUT....even though I will (probably) never build a timber frame structure, I will be ordering a hard copy of the book for days when I want to daydream!