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Everyone here has such great ideas, I thought I would tap into some.
I am looking for ideas for real world projects that can be built in a class room / lab environment to be used in the real world.
I teach a 8000 hour, four year apprenticeship / journeymen carpenter course in Portland Oregon, where the students are already in the construction industry working 40 plus hours a week for local commercial GC’s and then put in an additional 4 hour per week in the class room / lab.
I am looking for projects that can be used in the real world, so that the students are not building something to be taken down and rebuild over and over again. I would like ideas for project that will challenge the men and women in the program that people or businesses outside the program can benefit from. As all of you know, it is one mind set to build something that is going to be taken apart later and put on a shelf and reused, then again when someone builds something that is going to be used by someone else, there is a total different mind set again. I generally have my students and employees sign and date their work in areas that will not be seen, such as the inside face of a stud. Signing your work leaves a little bit of you there and it is nice to have a GC call you up in reference to a project you built 20 years ago to let you know it was a good job.
I am not looking for project to profit from, but it would be a good thing if the proceeds could pay for more materials to start another project.
So give me your ideas, non to small or to big, I want them all.
Currently talking with our local chapters of Habitat for Humanity. With the understanding that our 55 plus students can build homes, but we just can not do it as a typical construction project due to the time restrictions on the students (only 4 hours per week 36 weeks per year). All this may or may not happen, I still need more ideas.
Thank You All
Charlie Morrison
Replies
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Charlie, probably one of the most interesting things I did during my apprenticeship was to construct a set of stairs.We did several diffrent 'mock ups' in the classroom with diffrent situations...straight,L shaped ,etc.As you may already know you could probably spend weeks on the framing square and it's uses.Maybe you can contact a local social service organization that can get you in touch with someone needing handicapped ramps,etc installed.How about your local animal shelter...they're always needing to repair or add on.Contact your school P.T.A. about playground equipment...local bussiness are usually a good money source for these types of projects ...especially if they think there might be some media coverage.Good Luck!
*With only 4 hours a week and part of that in "class work" it will be hard to get much done.Two throughs. If you can find storage/work space build a Habitat home inside. Make it pannelized so that it can be disassembled and placed on a lot.The other thing is storage sheds.
*consider going over tool maintence and upkeep. how to change brushes on a motor. go over tool amps/ext cords. Tools and equipment set-up ideas etc.telling people why something is done goes longer then telling them "just because"
*A little off the beaten path: traditional carpenters' tool boxes (you know, the ones about the size of a saw-horse and one side is cut and hinged at about half-way down and opens up to make a tray and the saws were mounted inside the back). Made out of plywood. It's good to use some fine skills now and then for a break.
*CharlesI really appreciate what you do. I can't think of any projects, but I'd offer some of my time to talk to your class about being a construcion worker or business owner. This probably isn't feasible since I'm in Colorado, but I bet others like me in your area would love to share their experiences. Let me know if I can help via email.I did like the earlier post talking about teaching apprentices how to maintain and repair tools. The best craftsmen I know can fix anything.Terry
*I like Jerry's idea about stairs. Could you build some stairs for houses that are going up in your area? If you could get a GC to go along with it, you could have the students go out and measure the height and opening size, figure out the tread and riser dimensions, and cut and build everything. Would be a good time to discuss the "feel" of a set of stairs using a real world situation. I'm sure the GC would be happy to pay for the materials plus something for the labor. But hauling them might be a problem, as they might be 18' long or so.
*How about a real pretty small gazebo that you can transport? Make em nice enuff, they will sell and you can use the money you made for the next one.
*Charles,I might have a idea for you, how about having a student pick a personal project from left over material and make it so that could be sold. Then have the same student also do a detailed drawing of this project that could be sold too. I have a few idea for several project that rebate to this subject home building that might be helpful.Larry
*Charles, I thought maybe because you are a teacher, I would very much like ask your opinion and other about about a different subject under this discussion. Just recently I received my second contract for training with a stair company. And I'm not trying and change the subject at all, because I think it is a very important one. But because I'm fairly new at training, I was wondering if you and other would possibly help me when the time is right? Thanks Larry
*Charlie MorrisonTo all that provided information, I would like to thank each one of you for your input and ideas. You are giving me the very things I needed, DO NOT STOP HERE PLEASE GIVE SOME MORE. One rule of business I have found out the hard way is that sometimes our own ideas are not always the best ones. So now that I am a bit older and have learned this lesson over a few times, I now take the time to ask. In addition I thought I would also provide a list of the classes the carpenter apprentice students take to make up the 8000 hours, of OJT and 155 hours of class each year or 620 hours plus of total class / lab hours to be come a Journeymen Carpenter which is then good in all US States and 25 other countries, this might give you more idea of the types of projects you can come up with to help us out. By doing this you are helping your own industry, and at some time one of these people may be working for or with you.The following is a list of subjects / items that the students cover in the AGC program:1st Year Carpenter 00101-00 Basic Safety, 00102-00 Introduction to Construction Math, 00103-00 Introduction to Hand Tools, 00104-00 Introduction to Power Tools, 00105-00 Introduction to Blueprints, 00106-00 Basic Rigging, 27101 Orientation to the Trade, 27102 Wood Building Materials, Fasteners, and Adhesives, 27103 Hand and Power Tools, 27104 Floor Systems, 27105 Wall and Ceiling Framing, 27106 Roof Framing, 27107 Windows and Exterior Doors2nd Year Carpenter27201 Reading Plans and Elevations, 27202 Site Layout 1 – Distance Measurement and Leveling, 27203 Introduction to Concrete and Reinforcing Materials, 27204 Foundations and Flatwork, 27205 Concrete Forms, 27206 Reinforcing Concrete, 27207 Handling and Placing Concrete, 27208 Patented Forms, 27209 Tilt-Up Wall Systems3rd Year Carpenter27301 Exterior Finish, 27302 Roofing Applications, 27303 Thermal and Moisture Protection, 27304 Stairs, 27305 Framing with Metal Studs, 27306 Drywall 1 – Installation, 27307 Drywall 2 – Finishing, 27308 Interior Finish 1 – Doors, 27309 Interior Finish 2 – Suspended Ceilings, 27310 Interior Finish 3 – Window, Door, Floor, and Ceiling Trim, 27311 Interior Finish 4 – Cabinet Installation4th Year Carpenter27401 Site Layout 2 – Angular Measurement, 27402 Advanced Roof Systems, 27403 Advanced Floor Systems, 27404 Advanced Wall Systems, 27405 Advanced Stair Systems, 27406 Light Equipment, 27407 Welding, 27408 Metal Building, 27409 Introduction to Project Management and Supervision, 1st Year Laborer00101-00 Basic Safety, 00102-00 Introduction to Construction Math, 00103-00 Introduction to Hand Tools, 00104-00 Introduction to Power Tools, 00105-00 Introduction to Blueprints, 00106-00 Basic Rigging, 27101 Orientation to the Trade, 27102 Wood Building Materials, Fasteners, and Adhesives, 27202 Site Layout 1 – Distance Measurement and Leveling, 27203 Introduction to Concrete and Reinforcing Materials, 27204 Foundations and Flatwork, 27206 Reinforcing Concrete, 27207 Handling and Placing Concrete2nd Year Laborer11303 Forklifts, 21101 Orientation to the Trade, 26101 Electrical Safety, 27205 Concrete Forms, 27208 Patented Forms, 28207 Elevated Work, 28301 Masonry in High-Rise Construction, 29101 Oxyfuel Cutting, 30101 Introduction to the TradeJerry HillWe go into a lot of detail on different stairs, and I agree this is one area we all can always use more time in. Thank you for the other ideas.Bill HartmannOur AGC is blessed using the facilities of a local community college with a worm / powered / lights / totally enclosed structure.Your idea was one I was working on, if you have more detailed thoughts on the subject please provide.WmPhelpsGood in put, as you can see from the list of classes we do cover these items. I agree with you, that it is very important to explain the WHY something is done.Phill GilesYou gave me a good idea, after I went over your note an idea for a more modern version came to mind. I will need to CADD it up and once I have it in a rough draft form I will post the drawing here to get every ones points on it to make it better.Terry SmileyWe are always open to speakers, let me know if your are ever in the area. We came from Colorado Springs, where we had a design / development for 12 years.Boss HogThe stairs idea is a good one. I told Habitat for Humanity that stairs would be a great project for us, as long as we had a long lead-time. As far as building stairs for others, it might work if it was a production builder that repeated the same model over and over again.I belive project that can repeat each year would be best to work around.Peter KoskiGreat idea on the gazebo, I might be able to contact some of the spa companies and home improvement companies around here to see if they have any interest.OrloGood idea on personal projects but I think it would make more work for me. Currently I have 55 students that would be 55 personal projects that I would have to over see, between my business and college I average around 125 hours per week. I am not saying it is not a good idea, it is just the first thing that hit me was the time. The type of project I am looking for are ones that are repeatable each year. So within the classroom you can keep polishing the time so you know that the student will finish it in the time given. Remember these students are already working in the construction industry, 40 plus hours per week plus the classroom time.
*Jerry, I do agree with about stair for a project, it always theme that no two carpenters will ever sit the stair the same.If the same carpenter who set the stair also was the one to install the rail it might make a different. But this is not how we do it any more. Understanding whats happening with sitting a stair with a landing, being to far over center line or back and how this can affect the handrail in my opinion is very important. If your the one sitting the stair and knowing what the next person will had to do, can make the job easier for everyone. Larry
*Jerry,How about having studnet/s go into the field with the best Carpentry sub's from your area (Framers, Handrail guys, Commercial Millwork installers etc.)to learn some of the best tricks of the trades, then create a forum to share & demonstrate these ideas and applications in class. We have a great Carpentry program here with lots of information but those really interesting time saving ways are always appreciated
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Everyone here has such great ideas, I thought I would tap into some.
I am looking for ideas for real world projects that can be built in a class room / lab environment to be used in the real world.
I teach a 8000 hour, four year apprenticeship / journeymen carpenter course in Portland Oregon, where the students are already in the construction industry working 40 plus hours a week for local commercial GC's and then put in an additional 4 hour per week in the class room / lab.
I am looking for projects that can be used in the real world, so that the students are not building something to be taken down and rebuild over and over again. I would like ideas for project that will challenge the men and women in the program that people or businesses outside the program can benefit from. As all of you know, it is one mind set to build something that is going to be taken apart later and put on a shelf and reused, then again when someone builds something that is going to be used by someone else, there is a total different mind set again. I generally have my students and employees sign and date their work in areas that will not be seen, such as the inside face of a stud. Signing your work leaves a little bit of you there and it is nice to have a GC call you up in reference to a project you built 20 years ago to let you know it was a good job.
I am not looking for project to profit from, but it would be a good thing if the proceeds could pay for more materials to start another project.
So give me your ideas, non to small or to big, I want them all.
Currently talking with our local chapters of Habitat for Humanity. With the understanding that our 55 plus students can build homes, but we just can not do it as a typical construction project due to the time restrictions on the students (only 4 hours per week 36 weeks per year). All this may or may not happen, I still need more ideas.
Thank You All
Charlie Morrison