I finally saw a massive timber frame barn being raised upstate.
The joinery was all traditional mortise and tenon, no metal fasteners. It made me rethink how I approach cabinet carcass construction. Wondering if anyone has incorporated timber framing methods into casework. Looking for resources or workshops on this blend.
That part about whacking wedges home really sticks with me. It's cool for a forever piece, but what happens if you ever need to move it or fix a shelf? Timber framing locks everything in for good. I mean, @phoenix366 has a point about speed, but also about being able to tweak things later. Maybe that's the trade-off we don't talk about much, the total commitment versus being able to adjust.
That "rethink how I approach cabinet carcass construction" hits hard. A buddy of mine built a massive oak bookcase using wedge tenons for all the shelves, no screws at all. It was basically a piece of furniture scaled timber frame. Watching him whack those wedges home with a mallet was wild. The thing is overbuilt as hell and will outlive his house. It really makes you question why we default to pockets screws and glue for everything.