So I think I wanna try out being a carpenter. What’s that like? What’s it take to get there?
How long do I need to go to a trade/technical school for?
What kind of skills are needed?
How many carpentry skills are useable in other fields?
If I were a carpenter, would I have to settle down or could I use it as a nomad, wandering the country and staying at a small town for a little bit before moving on?
I don’t know how old you are, but if young you could do worse than to enlist in the U.S. Navy Seabees in the Builder rating. They will teach you all the basic skills you need and then some. After the schooling, you will be assigned to a billet where you can put the skills to work and hone them.
Trade school is probably a couple of years, but that’s just a guess. Carpentry involves all different levels of expertise. There are rough carpenters (framers), finish carpenters, cabinetmakers, roofers, gypboard installers, floorers, etc. The list is quite extensive.
Is trade school even required? I thought it was still possible to just apprentice.
What kind of carpenter? Framing? Cabinets?
Hard seasonal work.
Spend all the money you make shagging (as in fetching or carrying) lumber to buy tools. as in fetching or carrying
You can start immediately by hiring on to a builder.
Hand and eye coordination. Math. Lift at least 50#s.
The carpentry skills themselves are not usable but the skills a carpenter uses are.
Yes.
I was a theatrical carpenter for a while- I built sets in college. I came in with a some knowledge from building sets in high school and a good understanding of shop safety, and they trained me on what I didn’t know.
It looks great on a job application when you are a 100lb girl.
The trades vary from state to state, as far as training and certification. Florida is a right-to-work state, which I think means, if you show up and you are qualified, you get the job. In the Chicago area it’s much different, if you are on a union site, you had better be a union man. Also, in Illinois you can walk in and take the test, no need for the training. But chances are if you haven’t had training, or been around carpenters for a long time, you won’t pass the test. Not sure how long the apprenticeship is, 3 years or so I would imagine. I believe apprentices go to school once a week too.
I haven’t decided yet. Now my next question is… which one should I go into? Is there a field which if I knew could help me the most in all the other fields of carpentry?
I have some experience through doing tech crew in high school theater, but so far I’ve never focused on a specific area.
I would say finish carpentry is the best IMHO. Less heavy lifting, more detailed intricate work.
Finish carpentry, aye? Sounds neat. Anything more you can tell me about it?
Well the finish carpenters I knew worked on houses. They installed the woodwork detailing, doors, and the cabinets.
That was fast. I didn’t know you were online, ccwaterback.
To the post: That sounds pretty neat. Thanks.
I worked as a rough carpenter for a few years. You could probably pick up all you need to know on the job in 3 years if you found a good company with patient carpenters wiling to teach you. Find one that builds custome houses and you’ll learn a lot. If you’re just building garage after garage all summer it’s pretty damn boring. The problem is it’s seasonal. Work your ass off when it’s warm then not much at all to do all winter (unless you go save your money and go to school).
Finish carpentry is a whole 'nother story. It takes a LONG time to master the skills necessary to be an accomplished finish carpenter.
Oooh. Long time, eh?
The more you want to get paid, the more tools you need to birng to the job site…
I really enjoyed my framing days. I was younger and I was in a beautiful area. It can be hard on a 12/12 pitch though.
I do some cabinetry and finish work these days. It’s easier on my knees. Take your pick.
I disagree with zoid on the amount of time needed to become proficient. It could be much shorter than that. I’ve never worked with a union, though, so maybe that’s different.
Go nuts. Framing is dead-nuts fun if you’re under thirty. I’d do it again in a second.