The Complete Timber Framer

The Complete Timber Framer

A Complete Guide To Traditional Post-And-Beam Work

 rated 4.8/5 by 14,000+ Builders & Homesteaders

The practical, illustrated guide to building your own durable, economical timber-frame structures - by hand.

check_circle Covers joinery, tools, timber selection, assembly and raising

check_circle Complete step-by-step plans for a 12 × 16 garden toolshed

check_circle Dozens of clear hand-drawn illustrations and photographs

check_circle Built for beginners and experienced carpenters alike

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Beginner-friendly guide Step-by-step guide Post & beam basics basics Complete toolshed plans Traditional joinery Hand-tool techniques

See It In Action

A Look Inside The Book

Real spreads from the 208 pages - clear, hand-drawn illustrations that make every step easy to follow. Tap any image to enlarge.

The finished garden toolshed
A complete frame you can build, on a dry-laid stone foundation
Inside a raised frame
How rafters, collar ties and queen posts work together
Building in bents
Sections assembled flat, ready to be raised
The parts of a timber frame
Every member clearly labelled — post to plate to sill
Scarf and tying joints, explained
Detailed drawings paired with the real finished joinery
Joinery drawn to size
Exploded views with real timber dimensions on every piece

A Glimpse Of What You'll Learn

Clear lessons on timber selection, joinery, assembly, raising, and closing in - from the forest to the finished frame.

How to choose the right species and sizes, read grain, spot defects, and work with green (unseasoned) timber - plus hand-hewing and chainsaw milling if you're starting from the log.

Mortise-and-tenon, lap joints, dovetails, scarf joints and more - where each one belongs, how it carries load, and how to cut it accurately.

Understand the loads and stresses on a frame - compression, tension, bending and shear - so you can size timbers and place joints with confidence.

Combine modern power tools with time-tested hand tools - broadaxe, slick, framing chisel, boring machine - and learn how to keep them sharp and true.

Build in bents, draw-bore your pegs, and raise the frame safely - by hand or with a gin pole - the way it's been done for centuries.

Complete, dimensioned plans and a full materials list for a garden toolshed - the ideal first build to learn every core skill before tackling a house or barn.

The Author

Practical guidance from master timber framer & craft writer Jack D. Sabo.

Jack D. Sabo is an architect, builder, writer, and retired English teacher who has devoted his life to the art and instruction of traditional timber framing. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, he is a founding director of the Timber Framers Guild of North America as well as the founding editor of Woodcarving Illustrated. This unique combination of formal design training, practical trade experience, and educational expertise defines his comprehensive approach to the craft.

As a builder, Sabo has framed and erected over 50 structures using exclusively traditional hand tools, often beginning the process directly in the forest. As a prolific author, he has written and co-authored dozens of woodworking titles - including Build a Classic Timber-Framed House and Hand Hewn - translating complex timber trades into clear, highly approachable instruction for everyday builders.

Sabo brings a hands-on, no-mystery philosophy to every project and publication. He demystifies the traditional building process, guiding woodworkers step-by-step through selecting timber, cutting precise joinery, and raising handcrafted frames designed to stand for centuries.

Most building books skim the hard parts. This one walks you through every joint, step by step.

  Others
Complete step-by-step build project
Traditional joinery explained clearly
Design-for-strength engineering made simple
Hand-tool methods & timber sourcing

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Trustpilot reviews

Excellent 4.8 / 5

by 14,000+ Builders & Homesteaders

  • First class book

    This is a great book by Jack D. Sabo. Drawings/sketches are well done too and very illuminating.
    Tremendous insights and craft learnt through real experience. Amazing book, just what I needed.

    Jack B.

  • The Bible

    I've reviewed this tome once before, but it's so good. I'm happy to do it again. This book is all you'll ever need for timber framing. There are others, costilier, but unless you're moving to Paris to rebuild notre dame, you'll never need them.

    Doug D.

  • Strong book of information

    This book is awesome! I have had it a couple weeks now and I can’t stop reading it. I am looking into building a timber frame project and this book covers all the ins and outs of timber framing. Great book for anyone interested in diy projects or an interest in historical construction.

    Jesse F.

  • Worth Every Penny ! ! !

    This is NOT a Coffee Table Book. It contains Valuable information of the History of Timber Framing and includes many pictures of Historical Construction, Building Designs, and the Important Types of Joinery used ages ago that apply to Modern Timber framing!!!

    Stephen F.

  • Excellent resource

    Awesome book about old school craft. I look forward to building a house and barn using these methods.

    Robert W.

  • This Book Didn’t Just Teach Me Timber Framing : It Rebuilt My Soul

    Let me start by saying: I bought this book thinking I’d casually learn how to build a quaint little garden shed. What I didn’t expect was to be spiritually awakened by mortise and tenon joints.
    It’s not just a manual. It’s a lifestyle. A philosophy. A wooden revolution.
    10/10. Would buy again if I hadn’t already memorized every glorious page.

    Kelley D.

  • HE WAS STOKED

    I got this book for my hubby as a birthday gift and he loves it. He reads it just about every night before going to bed. Just like someone would read a novel. He is getting into timber framing so this book has really helped him understand the process more.

    Tina F.

  • Best purchase

    I've had this book since the nineties when I built my oak framed barn. I bought it for Christmas for my son in law who is building a timber framed house behind us. Need I say More?

    Sean B.

  • A Must-Have for Timber Frame Construction Enthusiasts

    Absolutely AMAZING book about timber frame construction. It's actually the second time I've purchased this, we misplaced the first one and needed another to help with the planning of a new building. If you are interested in timber frame construction, you'll want to own a copy of this book.

    Julieanne S.

  • Worth Every Cent

    This is an excellent book especially if you are new to Timber framing, you’ll find as handy as any of the tools in your tool box. Definitely recommend.

    Frank S.

  • Best gift idea

    Bought this as a gift for hubby. He was so stoked and said was the best surprise ever.

    Stephanie B.

  • Great fundamentals

    Good book. Very informative and well illustrated. Learned the basics of timber framing.

    Heron L.

  • Excellent gift

    I don’t remember how I came across this book many years ago. It’s an excellent book, I just bought one for a friend who wants to learn about residential wood frame structures.

    Lily N.

  • I was hooked

    This was a great read. The book gives great historical background as well as modern reasoning behind building timber frame structures. My family built a balloon frame home a couple of years ago and I am now looking forward to giving timber framing a shot. The shed outlined in this text seems very doable with the techniques then applicable to larger structures. I would definitely, and have, recommend this book to a friend.

    Manna L.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Find answers to common questions about our products.

    Yes. It's written for both first-time builders and experienced carpenters. The authors deliberately keep it simple and start you on a small, achievable garden-toolshed project so you learn every core skill before tackling anything larger.