COURSES
Starting Autumn 2026
3 Day Introduction
Join us on the far south coast of NSW for our 3 day introductory course covering all of the basics required to begin your journey. Students will work in groups led by one of our Traditional framers to layout and handcut sections of our Heartwood Cabin. This course is designed to accommodate all experience levels and provide a relaxed learning environment for students to learn and work at their own pace.
Starting our process with an understanding of the basic frame design and joinery details. This will include several variations of the mortice & tenon used within our Heartwood cabin design. Working our way through the plans to understand the role of each piece, why particular joints are selected and the proportions of critical elements.
Joinery & Design Fundamentals
Being creative with design requires extensive knowledge of timber. We will cover common species, selection, milling options and how to best utilize the timber you have at hand.
Timber selection and processing
Heartwood follows the traditional French scribe method “Le Piquage”. A visual practice, utilising universal section planes (Level & Plumb) to locate and layout joinery. This technique allows for the use of round and bent timbers without the need for complicated math.
Layout of Joinery
Use a selection of traditonal carpenters hand tools to hand cut your joinery. Students will be shown the most efficient method first, but are free to experiment with any tool they like to experience what it was like to work as a carpenter before machines replaced our hands. Framing chisels, slicks, axes, adze, augers, boring machines, draw knives, shaving horse and more.
Handcut Joinery
Split peg stock from a billet of hardwood using a froe. Shape with a drawknife on the shaving horse. Ready to be used in the assembly of our Heartwood cabin once completed.
Timber Pegs
Test fit & Pre- assembly process
Once you have finished your section of frame as a team, the frame will be pre assembled to check for accuracy and identify any adjustments necessary before the erection.
Dates & Pricing
Autumn 3 day Course
April 2026
Dates to be announced later this year. Join our courses mailing list to register your interest and help us organise enough courses to meet demand.
Price:
$ 1350
Per Person Age 16+
Spring 3 day Course
October 2026
Dates to be announced later this year. Join our courses mailing list to register your interest and help us organise enough courses to meet demand.
$ 1350
Price:
Per Person Age 16+
Sign up to our course mailing list
Stay in the loop and be the first to know when dates are released for our courses. Signing up helps us know demand and how many courses are needed.