Working with big hardwood Timbers! It’s not every day a carpenter gets to build a structure with all large milled hardwoods like 8×8 maple, yellow birch, red oak, and ash. For this project, we are learning to use the tools and practice the techniques of timber building. Big saws and carefully laying out and shaping pieces of a puzzle that will showcase the properties of a well-built structure. We are going all out because… why not? Mortised joists, mortised band around the legs, and mortise and tenon 45° braces give us so much opportunity that we will not soon forget. And next, homemade maple dowels on the lathe to plug our tenons. Why does this structure need to be so strong? Well… the plan is that NRF will be putting a 300-gallon tank up there to elevate and gravity feed to the sugar shack. Filled with sap, we were estimating over 2,500 lbs! So.. we are overbuilding for the future. Please make sure to come out in the spring when the Forestry crew is producing their unique high-quality maple syrup, hear why it’s so special, and get some for yourself! Oh yeah.. don’t forget to admire our work too 😎
