So the boss hired some part-time help since we are pretty busy. Joe is The Tool Guy from our local building center/lumber yard. He’s a great guy but has almost no experience, so I am training him.
I figure, if I take some time to to explain the why’s of how we do stuff, (instead of just telling him what to do), he will be a more productive and useful employee. Also, he is very eager to learn and he has no issues with having a gal train him.
The funny thing is, he is the Tool Guy, but I think he is afraid to use the framing gun and the sawsall. So I have to be the one doing all the work that involves these tools.
What can I do to build his confidence?
Replies
Give him some scraps on his lunch break, and get him to mess around with them. Most people who are reluctant to use a new tool are just intimidated by it; make him use it a bit where it doesn't count, and he'll either maim himself or learn how to handle it..
Good idea! Thanks.
Yes, and it seems to me there is no better education for a guy that sells tools, to have hands-on experience with them.
To his credit does fine with the skill saw and the miter saw, but yesterday I had to tell (gently) him that when I ask for a 36 inch piece, not to cut it at 36 1/4. . .
As tenpenny suggested, I was going to say that you need to get the guy to play with the tools. Get more experience. Maybe have him use them to build a sawhorse with scrap at breaktime, or something. Tell him to make beagle size birdhouses at lunchtime.
I find it rather funny that the tool guy is afraid to use the tools.
; )
Somehow, I get the feeling that you make a very good teacher. Be patient. Of course, that's basically the point, isn't it ? Moot advice, I'm sure.
The approach of explaining why, and not just how, is most excelent. I have always learned the most from those willing to explain why and not just the details.
For the rest of the time that you're given
Why walk when you can fly
quittintime
Excellent post! Thank you.
I have to get to work now. . . I'll be back this eve to respond.
Is he wearing earplugs?
Loud noises can be unnerving if you're not used to them, or deaf.
It's amazing how a set of earplugs can make a difference.
Regards,
Tim Ruttan
I would like to be train by a gurl.
Johnny,
Get married.
KK
BB,
I bet you have a gurl robot, don't you? It's ok, you can tell us.
WAHD
that guy sounds pretty much worthless ...
can't read a tape to within 1/4"?
Hand him a broom ... point to the dust.
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
darcy,
I agree with what others have said....he just needs to get comfortable with the nail gun and the sawzall. But I wouldnt send him off at breaktime/ lunch to go practice. I see this as on-the-job-training, not on-the-break-training. I would hope that his pay rate incorpartes the fact that he is inexperienced and may not be that productive at first ( paying him as a beginner, not an experienced carpenter). If he wants to go practice after work/lunch time/ breaktime thats great, more power to him, but let that be his option.
For the nail gun, start him out on something that doesnt involve his non-gun hand being close to the gun ( nailing headers together, beams, etc.). Directly supervise for a bit ( if that doesnt make him more nervous), or show him how, leave him to it, then come back and critque ( what was good, what needs a little more work). When he's more comfortable with the gun, move him up framing walls.
For the sawzall, just let him go at it. He may be trying to make to nice a cut with the sawzall. I usually use the sawzall as demo tool, wacking stuff out of the way. But often have to remind myself to quite trying to make pretty cuts with it.
I think its great that your actually taking the time to teach him the why's of building.
Good luck and patience,
m2akita
Jeff thats pretty rough man. At least let him haul the lumber around.
Maybe setup the power cords and get the tools out in the morning. Put it all back at quittin time.
WAHD
I taught cabinetmaking and carpentry to never-done-it-before folks in a vocational program for quite a while. Someone who has not used a nail gun before will usually be very tentative with it. Easiest thing to start with is nailing off subfloor. If you make them hold a piece in place with the other hand, work on a ladder, toenail, anything like that will make it harder to start. People get the hang of it after a few days. As far as the measuring goes, tell him to cut exact measurements, and if he doesn't have him do it again. Lots of people will become very good at those basic things after a few weeks on the job.
We had a work party and built a small shed down on the dock for our fire department boat. Turns out the assistant chief was afraid of the nail gun (a guy who can carry you down a ladder over his shoulder). Someone was having him nail wall framing together where he was trying to position pieces and nail them at the same time. Too much to think about and he was fighting it. When we switched to nailing the subfloor he got a lot better.
Sounds like you have a good program going there. I always buy the best and keep everything maintained. Proper training and supervision is key. Some guys will say theres not enough time but its worth the extra time to train right. 5 mins now will save much more later.
Men do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing! Holmes Sr. Oliver Wendell
Let him watch you some and kind of casualy explain a few tips and things to watch for and then hand it to him and walk away. Nobody likes anyone hanging over their shoulder when they first start and he'll never learn anything watching someone else. Learning at work can be very intimidating. Especialy if you are "The tool man." That's the way I do it. If he makes a few mistakes, polite correction goes a long way.
Who Dares Wins.
That's a good list of nail gun safety rules. The main thing I'd add is to get in the habit of disconnecting the air hose. Always pull the hose off before clearing a jam, climbing a ladder, crawling through the crawl space, etc. When in doubt, hose off.
Are there any other additions to the nailer safety list?
-- J.S.
Darcy,
I don't know what kind of work you do so this may not apply. When I started out on a framing crew I was the cut man. My main job was to stand at the miter saw while the other guys wrote their orders on a piece of scrap and threw it at me. I would cut the order and deliver it. It turned out to be very efficient.
Afraid of the nail gun........have you nicknamed him "twinkie"?
WAHD
"while the other guys wrote their orders on a piece of scrap and threw it at me."
Hilarious! And yup, sounds about right.
So how's the tool guy doing?
Who Dares Wins.