Hi folks
1st post here, been lurking awhile and just joined in over at knots forum
My background is 33 yrs carpenter and woodworker now specializing in trim and cabinets.
This is my quandry: My eldest son has started in on a rough in crew to work his way through college. Sounds like he’s getting along well with the crew and has become interested. I caught him looking at framing books in Lowes this afternoon and suggested better books were available on line. He found my old Audels manuals quaint but dated and would like to read something more modern.
Anyway I’m wondering if any of you could recommend some reading material for an enthusiastic young man.
Thanks
SJ
Replies
You should be looking for dieselpig, Framer, Joe Carolla.
If you do a search looking for threads with them posting you can drop them an email from the thread.
Or just sit back and wait for them or others to show up.
Taunton has a framing manual, can't recall the title though it's in my office. It's probably on their website though.
And welcome to BT.
Eric
[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
I have been a framing contractor for almost 26 years and I have found that, in general, on the job training works the best. It sure wouldn't hurt to pick up a few books on rough carpentry, I think Larry Haun wrote one or two and his writing style seemed good to me. Lots of good general information. However, reading and practical application in the field are two different things. See how he feels about this trade after a year. I wish your son good luck, we could use a lot more competent help in the fun packed field of construction.
Welcome.
Look for a Taunton Press book by carpenter/author Larry Haun - sorry, I can't recall the title right now.
(framerboy beat me to it.)
Edited 1/14/2006 8:59 pm ET by Pierre1
It's "The Very Efficient Carpenter" by Larry Haun.
A good read and reference.
Good luck to your boy...Buic
Rob Thallon's "Graphic Guide To Frame Construction," published by Taunton, is quite good, although it is meant to show details, not methods.
The Taunton books that are basically collections of magazine articles are interesting and a quick read. "Precision Framing," provides an introductory start to finish approach, although is short on the more demanding types of framing projects. Can't say I've seen many good framing books, although I'd second working with a good framer as being the best source of information.
Cheers,
Don
I'm not a framer and am certainly no expert but much of what little I know about framing came from a copy of a book I got at a university book store. It was used in a building construction course.
"Wood Frame House Construction"
Edited by Gerald E Sherwood, PE & Robert C. Stroh, Ph.D
Publication of the National Association of Home Builders.
Armonk Press
ISBN 0-87332-467-6 paperback.
Fairly inclusive and comprehensive it seems to cover most areas of design and construction at least in outline. Its only weakness is in detail.
Re: "He found my old Audels manuals quaint but dated"
Don't underestimate the value of the older books. If he ever gets into remodeling or repair work references giving some guidance of how the older buildings are put together. I have seen younger carpenters scratch their heads when faced by balloon framing, board sheathing, solid block or let-in bracing. All methods that are far less used today.
caught him looking at framing books in Lowes this afternoon and suggested better books were available on line.
Sorry to welcome you like this SJNKC, but you screwed up big time!
When the kid was leafing through that book at Lowes, you should have immediately offered to buy it for him instead of denigrating that book.
Most books will be good for one tidbit or another. If you think you're going to pick up one book that tells it all, you're only kidding yourself. There are a great many styles, systems and techniques and Junior will be much farther ahead if he indulges as many sources as possible in developing his knowledge base.
You shouldn't have butted in with such a negative comment.
Please accept my apologies for being so blunt.
blue
Thanks to all for your help. That Larry Haun book was the one I was thinking of.
I know working with a good framer and getting the OJT is absolutely the best teacher.I'm just trying to give him some help with the basics.As you know a new guy mostly packs lumber and the teaching comes in bits and pieces. He's shown a willingness to show up everyday and I can tell by the way he talks about work that he's fitting in with the crew. He's good with math and just wants to learn faster than what they're showing him.
This is BTW quite a humbling experience.My own kid, my own trade,I should have all the answers.I've helped a good many young folks by showing them what little I know but when it comes to my own kid I have difficulty.
Thanks Again
SJ
I cannot tell from your blank profile where you live, but if it is in a part of the country where most residential roof framing is done with sawn lumber, rather than with engineered trusses, he might be well advised to study roof cutting, with his math skills.
It can all be booklearned, and he can readily come by scraps for making practice cuts.
You probably know this, but a good roof cutter can lay out, cut, and stack every single roof member . . . rafters, ridges, hips, jackrafters, etc. . . . working while the walls are going up, to be ready when the top plates are up, lined, and leveled.
If he booklearns every aspect of roof parts layout and cutting, even the tough parts like polygon turret roofs, curved and filleted eyebrow dormers, bastard hips (lotta talk here about them, but no big deal IMHO), makes scale models at home, practices, and is permitted to work alongside a cutter to learn efficiency, he can become a very key part of any stickframe crew.
Any book is a learning tool even if he picks up one thing. If he really wants to learn more than they're teaching him, then he has to ask his boss a lot more questions and if his boss doesn't want to teach him then he has to look elsewhere. If it's a big company he works for and there is benefits, that is another story.One great thing you can do for him is to have him come here and join the forum and everyone here will welcome him with open arms.Joe Carola