*
I’m a 43yo carpenter that has only been at it for 2 years. Prior to this I was in utility construction ie: sewer lines. drainage, waterlines,etc.. My question is that seeing as I’ve not had twenty years of experiance in homebuilding but do truely love this trade, how do I go about learning this trade well and in a way were I’m not learning half-a**ed methods and can be of value to a company or go off on my own with confdence. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Old masonry may look tough, but the wrong mortar can destroy it—here's how to choose the right mix for lasting repairs.
Highlights
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Fine Home Building
Follow
-
Fine Homebuilding
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial Now -
GBA Prime
Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
- Home Group
- Antique Trader
- Arts & Crafts Homes
- Bank Note Reporter
- Cabin Life
- Cuisine at Home
- Fine Gardening
- Fine Woodworking
- Green Building Advisor
- Garden Gate
- Horticulture
- Keep Craft Alive
- Log Home Living
- Military Trader/Vehicles
- Numismatic News
- Numismaster
- Old Cars Weekly
- Old House Journal
- Period Homes
- Popular Woodworking
- Script
- ShopNotes
- Sports Collectors Digest
- Threads
- Timber Home Living
- Traditional Building
- Woodsmith
- World Coin News
- Writer's Digest
Replies
*
Peter - I'd say the best thing would be to find a contactor in your area that does the type of work you aspire to do yourself, and apprentice with them. You might post an ad in the "Help/Work Wanted" section of this board or look in the want ads of your local paper. Ask around at your local lumber yard or hardware store about contractors with a good reputation.
When you do get a job, use your head. A younger person can get by with hustle until they learn the ropes, you will have to depend more on your brain and the life experiences you bring to the table. Be reliable, dependable and flexible. You'll do fine.
*Ditto to Tex Blodgett....Peter,Stop in the jobs you wished you were working on. This can be hard in a small town, but in a large city, they are everywhere. Ask someone on the job who the builder is and then call him/her. It's gonna take some doing.......but I bet you can talk yourself into a job if you're just straight with them. If you're willing to learn and work hard.......that's something I look for in a new employee.Good luck,Ed. Williams
*PETE, ADVICE IS ALL RIGHT, YOU'VE GOT THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL NEEDED, DESIRE TO LEARN AND LOVE FOR THE SKILL-PASSION- HAVEN'T MET A REAL CRAFTSMEN YET THAT DOESN'T WANT TO TEACH! ANYONE THATS RELUCTANT TO TEACH IS USUALLY THREATENED THAT THEIR APPRENTICE MIGHT END UP BETTER! THIS SHOWS LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THEIR OWN ABILITY! F.H.B. IS ONE OF MY BEST REFERRALS FOR INFO! I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR A GOOD STRETCH OF TIME NOW AND HAVE TO SAY THAT SOMETIMES I LEARNED FROM OTHERS SHOTTY WORK AND REALIZED THIS IS NOT THE WAY ITS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE AND RESEARCHED THE RIGHT WAYS! LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE DAY YOU THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING IS THE DAY YOU PUT AWAY YOUR TOOL BAG CAUSE YOU KNOW NOTHING! I LEARN EVERY DAY I GO TO WORK,EVEN ON THE SIMPLE THINGS THAT I'VE DOWN A MILLION TIMES! THOUSAND WAYS TO KILL A CAT! {NOT THAT I WOULD} LOVE ALL ANIMALS! STEVE