I am a great admirer of Larry Haun,I ‘ve read his books,bought his video’s seen most of his articles in FHB. just wondering if he ever goes on-line??
Edited 3/28/2002 10:16:30 PM ET by SCOTCLARKE
I am a great admirer of Larry Haun,I ‘ve read his books,bought his video’s seen most of his articles in FHB. just wondering if he ever goes on-line??
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Replies
Scot- Never seen him here. You might try a search (including the archives) to see if he's ever posted..............I've seen John Carrol here. I have his Taunton books 'Measuring, Marking, and Layout', and 'Working Alone'.
Ken Hill
This was discussed at the first fest. General though was....most of the big names have dropped by at one time or another....but under assumed names. Jeff
* Jeff J. Buck/ Buck Construction/ Pittsburgh, PA *
2nd Generation Buck Const, 3rd generation Craftsman
Yes larry does post here. Under his own name. Not very often unfortunately. John Carrol also, though he is not an admirer of this format.
I vaguely recall Andy mentioning that Larry had posted here and got bushwacked by some posters. A man like that is not likely to want to waste his time in a pointless confrontation on the internet. I work in Coos Bay OR a few days a year and would love to meet Larry someday. I worked there last month so I probably won't be back there for almost another year.
joe d
Larry did post here(there) a few years back and came under attack by people that can only be referred to as bozos. Larry is a great carpenter and never deserved the treatment he received here. After that I didn't see him post again and that was a great loss to this forum. . .
They say lightning dosen't strike twice. . .
Let's hope so. . .
Edited 3/29/2002 7:26:33 AM ET by J Fusco
I remember that too. Totally agree with Joe, and would also like to see Larry here....I have a great deal of respect for the man.cabinetmaker/college instructor. Cape Breton, N.S
Hey Guys,
I check out Breaktime several times a week and I've found it to be a great source of information. I've stored a few dozen links to manufacturers and trade associations on my computer that I picked up here. And I've printed and filed several posts for future reference. I occasionally post a message but this is the first one since the change in format, which to me has been disorienting and frustrating. I really dislike looking at the split screen.
I met Larry Haun in 1996 at a workshop for first-time authors hosted by Taunton. The budding writers in attendance were Sarah Susanka, me and Larry--although he had already published The Very Efficient Carpenter. It says something that he came to that workshop after having already published a successful book. Larry is a nice, down to earth guy, without a pretentious bone in his body. When I met him, he was 65 and incredibly spry. I bet today he could still outwork most guys in their twenties.
John Carroll
Scot,
Thanks for the positive comments about my book. I've subscribed to FHB since the mid 80s (issue # 36) and I still learn at least one thing from every issue. Even when I disagree with an article, I usually learn something because it makes me think about the reasons I disagree. John
Hey Joe:
You said:
>>Larry did post here(there) a few years back and came under attack by people that can only be referred to as bozos. << I remember that. Kinda POed me.
Ya gotta have a thick skin to survive around here, Eh? I've been mostly gone froom here for a year or more but I bet that hasn't changed!
Matt G.
Edited 3/29/2002 4:54:27 PM ET by DIRISHINME
Hi
I'm here now, and They say I'm a Nut!...
PeaceNewf
Carpenter, woodworker, gardener, fool...
As I recall, the thing that really ticked me off was that he was simply asking for some historical building information from people who'd worked in the housing tracts in the 50's and 60's at the time when he got those attacking responses. How the heck do you get attacked for seeking information? I enjoyed both his book and videos.
JonC
Edited 3/29/2002 6:07:31 PM ET by JonC
Larry did get bushwhacked here a few years ago, but I think he's too classy a guy to worry about it. I remember the incident, although not the bushwhackers. I've broken bread in his house, and working with him on an article was a dream come true for me. What John Carroll said is right; Larry's down to earth and although he's got 30 years on me, I'm pretty sure I couldn't keep up to him framing.
Andy Engel, Forum moderator
Hi,
Thanks for inquiring about larry. Andy Engel sent me a message that some folks were wondering about me. I am here in Coos Bay. OR.
I do log on to breaktime now and then---usually for information and using a different name. I have just finished another book: Habitat for Humanity: How to Build a House. They tell me it will be out this coming Sept. People on line helped me with information about house painting, vapor barriers, and radon mitigation. What does an old framer know about these subjects anyhow?
I do have in mind to write a sort of "History of Carpentry" book one day. The revolution in carpentry, where we went from building one house at a time to building 500 at a time, happened in the late 40s and early 50s. Over a period of about five years, everything in home construction changed---materials, methods, tools. I was framing houses during those times so I do have first hand information on what went on. They were interesting times.
These days I am working on an article for Fine Homebuilding with Roe Osborn. The title is: building a small greenhouse from recycled materials. It will be printed in issue 150 so I am told. Also doing a couple of tool reviews with Chris Green.
I do still frame -- we are finishing up another Habitat house that will de dedicated and turned over to the new family tomorrow. I garden---raise vegetables and flowers. I have been running 10 ks for many years. I hear that Kevin Ireton is learning Tai Chi. You can tell him I am studying beginning ballet and yoga three times a week.
Best to John Carroll. I recall being with him in '66. Greetings to all. larry haun
Larry,
They say lightning dosen't strike twice. . .
Let's hope so. . .
Larry, thanks so much for the Very Efficient Framer! It is a great manual with some really cool tips! Wish you the best!
From a great fan!
Sam
Thank you very much for your books and articles. They helped to motivate me to become a better carp. and got me looking into other areas of specialty, where good, efficient, effective quality work is required and respected.
I claim to be a self taught framer, but the truth is most of it came from your books and articles,...thanks again,cheers,Phil.If it is to be, 'twil be done by me..
Larry, Your book and videos (the very efficient carpenter) have been extremely helpful. Great explanations, easy to understand. Tremendous tips. Wish you the best.
Pete
I look down my nose at people who dare to look down their nose at people.
Larry, Great to hear that you still check out this site. thanks for the great information in your books and videos.i've learned a great deal and picked up a great deal of speed in the process.keep the articles and books comming.
larry, i'd like to pitch in too with how much your book meant to me. i also learned a lot from watching you work in your videos, especially because the guy i worked with didn't share much. my skilsaw work comes right from those tapes. thanks again.
-kit
Larry, Another thanks for some great written words ........... I'm still not efficient but I'm a lot better than I was.
Larry and John:
Thanks to both of you!!
Mark
> I do have in mind to write a sort of "History of Carpentry" book one day. The revolution in carpentry, where we went from building one house at a time to building 500 at a time, happened in the late 40s and early 50s
I'd be very interested in reading that book. My place was on the early edge of that change, it's the middle one of three that were built in 1926 to the same basic plan, with little decorative differences in the roofs and porches. I thought at first from all the wild ends I see that this was long before temporary electric power was used on the job site. But now that I'm digging in the crawl space, I'm finding a region where there's a layer of sawdust an inch thick, two or three inches below the final surface. Could it be that they set up a single centrally located table saw for the project? I don't think they had anything like a chop saw, but they might have used a table saw for the same jobs. They certainly didn't have skil saws yet, they were invented in 1924, but not yet in wide use. The subfloor was laid with wild ends, which appear to have been trimmed off with a hatchet. I remember seeing an old newsreel or something from WWII showing the use of skil saws, which were considered revolutionary at the time. It seems that every other guy was walking around with one.
Most of the walls are wood lath and plaster, but some of them are plaster over gypsum board with holes in it to form keys. I know that this stuff is original, because where I've taken some of it down, there are no nail holes in the studs other than the ones that held the gyp board.
The place also has wall sconce lights all over. It dawned on me that this is an idea that came from the gas light days, when you had to be able to get your hands on the fixture to light it with a match.
What makes construction history so interesting is that, if they're built well, houses remain in use for a long time. Therefore, we have to be very careful about adopting new ideas that may turn out in the long run to be mistakes, like aluminum wire.
-- J.S.
John, your speculation about one centrally located saw on early jobsites is well founded.They're still used here in New Zealand! They're called McKenzie saws.It's a 10" blade mounted in a steel table that looks like one of todays industrial table saws.The saw has 2 modes,it is moveable in an upward arc that has the blade passing up through the table and toward the operator,controlled by a foot pedal for crosscutting and in the stationary mode like todays table saws for ripping. Any big job the firm gets,has a McKenzie saw set up on it.The big users are the hammer hands who don't own a skilly,or the apprentices who haven't bought one yet. The saw comes with 2 seven or eight foot heavy duty(and heavy)roller tables,one for each side of the saw and are bolted to it.The saw alone takes 3 men and a boy to get it on a truck.It's moved around the jobsite(very infrequently) by placing a 2x4 in a recess at the base and then lifting and dragging it on its 2 steel wheels.I looked at that saw when I first saw it and could see myself losing a hand!But I reckon it sure beats handsawing!
Hi,
The table saw we used on jobsites in the early 50s was just a regular table saw....no guard, of course. It was a heavy duty saw, but nothing like the one you describe. I have seen those type of saws in lumber yards---one push of a switch and a dozen blades come up and cut a board into 14 1/2 in. blocks or whatever.
Anyway, the table saw was the only power tool on the site so it got used quite a bit. Of course, you couldn't cut a rafter with it. Though I have worked on sites where a cutoff saw was used to cut the ridge and tail cut of rafters. The birds mouth was done by hand. larry haun
i also want to add my gratitiude and thanks to you for your articles and books. it is not often we get to say thanks to those that helped us on our way and i do not want to lose this opportunity. looking forward to the next books and articles,paul.
Love your books and articles, Larry.
It's not very often that we get a celebrity stopping by. Speaking of celebrity's is there any truth to the rumor that you are going to be on Celebrity Boxing Match with Bob Villa? :-)
My money's on you.
Dave
Larry: I've a couple old books on carpentry "Modern Carpentry" by Frd T Hodgson copyright 1906. kind of handy to have on hand as I renovate our 100 yr + house. Ever hear of him?
Larry... Great to hear you run.... I just starting dating a marathon runner... She will run soon at Stinson Beach... I was to go along but alas...we be getting waaay too busy! So... there is hope for us all as we age! I am an avid vball player and skier. Oh... and framing a house here and there be fun too. I am into creating my own methods and speed tricks... so I have not read your books... but do recommend them.
Keep writing... good luck .... and maybe we'll run a 10k together someday.Lakeside...On the mountain, near the stream,aj Builder of Fine Homes & Tennis CourtsAnd featuring; Great Camps of the Adirondacks
Hey,
I'll drop my two cents' in the can here, and I'm basically backing up what the rest of these guys are saying: Great books, great videos and I appreciate all the articles, too. I'm a carpenter, but my work is very rarely residential; even so, I've learned so much from you and I am glad to get the chance to tell you so. I can't count how many times I've wished to meet you! Thanks for the tips and tricks!
As an aside, I'm a 7-year member of UBC Local #200, Columbus, OH, and am proud to consider you a Brother.
Best wishes, and looking forward to your new article(s) and book!
Tim Preece
Thanks to all of you. It is helpful to have a forum where information can be exchanged. I will get back to all of you in a month or two. I do need some updated information on a book I am working on. More on that later.
As I mentioned, I have a new book (288 pages) that will be published in Sept. It has to do with building the Habitat house---small and affordable. It is aimed, mainly, toward Habitat volunteers who are working on helping folks build their own home and for the many people who take on the process of building a house for themselves.
Joe d---if you come through Coos Bay again, give me a call. I am in the phone book.
John---you inquired about a pile of sawdust under the floor. You were right about jobs having a table saw on the job. The first job I worked on in Calif. (June 1950) was in the Pacific Palisades. The only power tool on the job was a table saw. We actually used it in the framing process, mainly to cut blocks. All other cuts---like cutting studs to length, laying 1x6 flooring, cutting rafters, was done with hand saws. But, as I mentioned, methods and tools were changing rapidly. By Oct. of that year, I owned a 2nd hand Skilsaw ($85.00), built pretty much like the ones we use today.
The use of plywood for subfloor came into general use in the 60s. Before that we used 1x6s (utility grade) that was resawn from 2x6s. Every end had to be cut to 45 degrees, of course, as this material was put down on the diagonal. We learned to do all of our cutting in place. In other words, we were able to sheathe an entire floor by overlapping the 1xs and then coming back and cutting them with a skilsaw over a joist. We did use a rigging axe (hatchet). Folks preferred the Plumb rigging axe--a good, well-balanced tool that many of us used as a general framing hammer. A sheather (me) worked on their knees, laying down the 1x boards. When we came to plumbing pipes (all rough plumbing was installed in the joists), we cut around the pipes with our sharp rigging axe.
I don't want to go on too long---one last item. The Plumb rigging axe was used to make the first framing hammer. Carpenters that I knew from Simi Valley (1950s)took the axe home, cut off the hatchet part, and welded on some straight claws. This has always been one of the most fascinating aspects of being a carpenter---whenever something is needed on a job to make things go better, people just figure it out. Lots of ingenuity in working carpenters.
Thanks again...good to hear from all of you. larry haun
Thanks Larry,
joe d
Great to hear frpm you can't tell you how much the books and video's have helped. looking forward to reading your next book. thanks--Scott Clark
Thanks, Scot.
This new book is 288 pages. It looks good to me. Much more in it than framing. Hope it is useful to folks. larry
Dear Larry, just curious on how your brother Joe is doing ,are you still working together it's good to see brothers get along that well.(as from the videos) good talking to you. hope everything is well.
Hi Scot,
Joe is fine. His birthday is tomorrow---68th. He is the youngest in the family. They have been in Boise, Idaho for a few months with a daughter who gave birth to twins. Actually he will be back in Coos Bay on Friday.
I haven't been writing for Fine Homebuilding for some time as I have been finishing up a book on how to build a house. (Habitat for Humanity: How to Build a House..published this coming Sept.). I did write a recent article that will be printed in issue 150 on building a small greenhouse out of recycled materials. A photographer-editor will be coming from FH and we will build the greenhouse this coming Monday.
Have you used the Very Efficient Carpenter book? It has sold 50,000 copies so the publishers and me are interested in updating it. Wondering if you have any ideas as to what new information should be in the book.
Where do you live & what are you building these days? larry haun
larry
I want to thank you for your videos. When I was taking a building class at college the instructor used your videos. I think theyre great. Ive also read some of your articles in FHB and I refer to them alot. I got a question does Joe ever talk? :) ( it was a joke in the building class cuz you did all the talkingin the videos) Darkworksite4: When the job is to small for everyone else, Its just about right for me"
Hi Ron,
Joe does the working. I do the talking.
I just finished an article for Fine Homebuilding on building a small greenhouse from recycled materials (issue 150). An editor--photographer will be here from FH this Monday and we will build the greenhouse--me talking, Joe working.
Anyway. have you used the Eff. Carpenter book? We have plans to update it. It has sold around 50,000 copies---but needs to be updated. Is there anything you noted in the videos or book that needs more information? Any suggestions as to how to update this material?
Where do you live and what kind of carpentry work do you do? thanks, larry haun
Larry I live in Southern Calif. Im not a carp im a DIYer that really loves to do his own work and takes pride in it. Right now im remodeling my kitchen building the cabs, running electrical ect. i stay busy. I basically do it all but am smart enough to know my limitations and hire a pro . Your videos as I remember were right on the money. The instructor was a old framer and roof cutter who spoke highly of your work. He did mention that we do a few things a tad different here in So Calif. But I think in every region of the country they have the own methods same but different. But Ill check out the Eff Carp after you revise it. When is that going to be any idea. Darkworksite4: When the job is to small for everyone else, Its just about right for me"
Hi Ron,
Habitat--How to Build a House book will be out in Sept. I will list it on my web site soon or you can go to Amazon.com
http://www.carpentryforeveryone.com larry haun
Website you gotta website Im gonna check it out. Darkworksite4: When the job is to small for everyone else, Its just about right for me"
Larry,
I've enjoyed reading the Efficient Carpenter and watching your framing video; it has helped in my Habitat work. As a long time volunteer and former Executive Director of our local affiliate I'm glad to know you are going to share your expertise in a book with Habitat in mind.
Habitat has to bring many different elements together in order to build our simple decent homes. From less then desirable building lots, enthusiastic unskilled volunteers to donated materials. All of these elements come together wonderfully. It is a process that I truly enjoy being a part of.
Many times I've heard from professional carpenter, that they find Habitat work frustrating. Dealing with volunteers or working at a slower Habitat pace. Will your address these issues?
I'd love to hear more of your Habitat experiences.
In Peace and Partnership,
Martin
Um, "slower Habitat pace"? I thought they were supposed to be fast, building a house in a week by having everything well organized, and using large numbers of people, right?
-- J.S.
Hi Martin,
Good to hear from you. Where do you live?
Yes, the new HFH book that will be out in Sept. The title is: Habitat for Humanity: How to Build a House. It is actually about 6 books in one. Lots of material in it aimed at the volunteer. It has around 280 pages and we needed about 60 more, but they (the publishers) had to keep it under 300 pages. Most of the material I wrote about working with volunteers got cut. I will be interested in knowing what you think of the book. take care---wish you the best with your Habitat work. larry haun
cool larry ill have to pick me up a copy. Darkworksite4: When the job is to small for everyone else, Its just about right for me"