Star Hill Timberworks

06/07/2026

if you've ever picked up a makita chain mortiser and thought, “okay, now what?” this video is for you.

i put together a walkthrough of the machine itself, including the main parts, setup, positioning, plunge sequence, and basic workflow for cutting a timber frame mortise.

this is not a polished sales video. it's more of a practical guide for someone who is considering a chain mortiser, just bought one, or wants to understand how the machine actually works before using it on a timber.

walkthrough:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96_xFIWAj8A

there’s also a link to the machine in the video description.

curious how many folks here are using a chain mortiser versus drilling and cleaning mortises by hand.

build · remember · repeat

from the joinery — cutting a timber frame mortise with a chain mort...

06/07/2026

there's something satisfying about a sharp edge tool doing exactly what it's supposed to do.

a sharp chisel doesn't just cut better. it makes the work more enjoyable, more accurate, and less tiring.

this clip comes from our forged forward edge system overview where i walk through the four edge tools i use most often in timber framing.

watch the full video:
https://youtu.be/cb8S4wk4cy4

build · remember · repeat

06/07/2026

most people see a pile of logs.

we see a future cabin.

every cabin starts somewhere, and for the ferry cabin project it starts here.

follow along as we transform these logs into a traditional dovetail cabin and document every step along the way.

watch the full ferry cabin build playlist:
https://youtu.be/oJWsBruqcac?si=7r55P882RiFIpkzi

what do you see when you look at this pile of logs?

build · remember · repeat

06/07/2026

before the raise

raising a timber frame starts long before anyone picks up a rope.

in this video we walk through the process of preparing a 16x30 pergola frame for raising at snow hill. there are a lot of small details that happen before the actual lift, and many of them determine whether the raising goes smoothly or becomes a problem.

we cover:

• fitting and aligning joints
• pulling assemblies together
• checking dimensions
• drilling peg holes
• organizing the crew
• preparing for the raise
• lessons learned from timber frame projects

even if you never plan to raise a timber frame, there are a lot of practical lessons here about planning, teamwork, sequencing, and problem solving.

one thing i've learned over the years is that successful raisings are usually the result of good preparation, not good luck.

watch the video here:

https://youtu.be/1AdBUdLJihI?si=48XeI_B5vaLdk69X

if you'd like to follow the entire project from layout and joinery through raising and completion, check out the complete snow hill build playlist.

build · remember · repeat

most people never get to see a timber frame raised.after days of ...

06/06/2026

every cabin starts somewhere.

for the fairy cabin, it starts with a pile of logs, a vision, and a patch of ground in the woods.

over the coming months we'll turn these logs into a 10x12 dovetail cabin for my daughter addie and granddaughter amy jo.

this is the beginning of the journey.

follow along as we go from logs to legacy.

watch the full fairy cabin build playlist:
https://youtu.be/oJWsBruqcac?si=W5bQLH9yI85Qt6X_

build · remember · repeat

06/05/2026

hot take: the council tools pack axe is really just a chisel on a stick.
i’ve been using it for cutting mortise housings, tenons, and old-school joinery where i don’t always want to round up power tools.

on an edge-referenced knee brace housing, it’s especially handy.

layout the housing, score the shoulders, and the pack axe lets you remove material fast with controlled cuts. by the time i’d gather a saw, cord, and clean-up tools, the housing is already roughed in.
it’s not replacing a framing chisel, slick, or power tools for production work. but for traditional housings, fitting, repairs, and one-off cuts, it’s a surprisingly useful tool.

video here:
[https://youtube.com/shorts/eqrYQ10Phgo?si=daHc6V549MsiieBw]

tool i’m using — council tools pack axe:
[https://amzn.to/4e68SiQ](https://amzn.to/4e68SiQ)

that’s an affiliate link, which helps support the shop.

anyone else using a pack axe this way?


— jon at star hill timberworks See less

06/04/2026

finding the perfect site

before we dig a footing, clear a tree, or stack the first log, we have to answer one important question:

where should the cabin go?

this episode of the ferry cabin build focuses on site selection, access, land clearing, and the early planning that will shape the entire project.

this cabin is being built for my daughter, addie, and my granddaughter, amy jo. every project needs a reason, and they're ours.

watch the full ferry cabin build series:
https://youtu.be/ZSNqYzHiyjw?si=TM46eVJGjKVptXPs

06/04/2026

20 braces. 20 chances to get it wrong.

every bent in the sno hill frame needed two knee braces. before we could think about raising timbers, every brace had to be cut, fitted, and ready to go.

it's easy to focus on raising day, but most of the work happens long before the first timber leaves the ground.

this clip shows part of the process of cutting the knee braces that helped bring the frame together.

watch the full sno hill build series:
https://youtu.be/47ktLorw4d4?si=MUkS5YYfmkbFtkpF

06/04/2026

available now:

* layout system
* forged forward edge system
* cutting system
* star hill red marking knife
* star hill limited marking knife
* poly manual

tools:
starhilltimberworks.com/tools

1 seat remains in our june class.
starhilltimberworks.com/classes

september class details coming soon.