Learning developed drawing techniques will be one of the goals of this course, enabling the student to simplify complicated carpentry problems through the use of this traditional drafting method.

The skill of drawing complex shapes in a form that enables the carpenter to directly measure working angles and scale dimensions has been taught for centuries by (but not limited to) the French and Japanese carpenter. The importance of developed drawing as a key to understanding the trigonometry of complex roof intersections is certain. The combination of developed drawings and basic roof math empowers the builder with a far wider variety of building shapes.

Complex roof geometry is a challenge that most framers must face eventually. These problems can be solved either mathematically or visually, but the complete carpenter will have a variety of skills to call upon, including geometry, trigonometry and traditional scribing techniques.

In this course we'll demonstrate various methods of laying out and cutting hip and valley systems using lofting, framing square, calculator and visualization. Students will work in pairs to layout and cut models which will include a hip and jack rafter system, a dormer valley and jack purlin system and an irregular valley.