Hi All,
I’ve been working(burnt out) for corporate America all my life and need a career change…I’ve been thinking about possible becoming a finish carpenter…Finish carpentry seems like something that I would enjoy doing until retirement—if I live long enough—smile..My concern is that I’m 52 and was wondering if I’m too old physically…If not does anyone out there know of any schools that offer finish carpentry at nights in Massachusetts. I’m located in Norwood which is approximately 14 miles South West of Boston…Also, what is the average payrate in Mass…And hows the job market these days with the economy the way it is… Especially for someone that has no experience…I would be willing to work part-time for free to acquire the knowledge and experience….Any info would be appreciated…
Replies
Wow, seems like a simple question. I don't know that I have a simple answer. Have you done anything at all like this as a hobby? Finish work sounds simple and some assume it's cost to get started is reasonable. You might think structural knowledge isn't necessary, but I'm not so sure. There's quite alot of different areas in finish-maybe you could pick up something specialized with moderate investment of money and time.
You got me-
And as far as in this economy with alot of us scrambling for what available work there is?
wow.
But here's something easy. Welcome to Breaktime.
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Welcome to Break Time Tony,
I understand and appreciate your new aspiration. I dropped out of sales work in my mid-twenties, to follow my spiritual inclinations and to find a simpler, more honest way of life.
Carpentry work, framing houses in particular, appealed to me and seemed to offer a decent living, while giving me the skills needed to build my own home.
It didn't take me long to discover that while I'd managed to escape from one undesireable job, the new one had quite a few drawbacks as well.
The main problem with almost any job in the trades is earning a steady income. Work which seems abundant suddenly dries up.
Only those who are well established can expect to make it through slow times and even they often find themselves without work, for months.
The options are to go where the work is or to learn a new skill set, usually one that is far from what you had in mind when you said, "I wanna be a finish carpenter". I've had to do both, numerous times.
In fact, the amount of time I've spent building and/or trimming new homes only accounts for about one quarter of the time I've been in the trades. The rest of the work has been much more physically demanding and tedious, some of it dangerous as well.
When talking with friends who are also experienced carpenters/contractors, about what we'd really like to do as we grow older, we almost all say that we'd like to find a successful home building company or carpentry contractor to work for as a trim/finish carpenter. Most of us have the skills too but the work just isn't there, not enough of it to be steady and pay a good living wage.
There is a small percentage of carpenters who manage to do trim exclusively and make a good living at it but they are the exception. And they work smart and fast, using knowledge and skills learned over many years.
So I'm afraid that you're in the classic "grass is greener" situation, just like most of the rest of us usually are.
Edited 11/28/2008 5:37 pm by Hudson Valley Carpenter
You should save the above unless you are good at typing from memory. Good words, well ordered and right on.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
It occurs to me that there are probably a lot of men who watch Norm Abram or Tom Silva and crew on TV, see the pleasure they get from their work and start to dream about dropping out of the rat race, putting on their comfortable work clothes and begining life anew.
Great aspiration. If only if the work was there and the people were always as friendly.
It's hard, finding a way to divorce oneself from the difficult side of capitalism. It can be cold and exploitive, as many of us are re-discovering right now.
Edited 11/28/2008 12:57 pm by Hudson Valley Carpenter
You, as alot of us probably think too much.
But then again, maybe it's what will keep us working in the sour situation that we find ourselves in now.
Talent and success comes from alot more than a good mitre.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
You, as alot of us probably think too much.
That's undoubtedly true. Sitting here at this keyboard, watching my thoughts appear on the screen, they seem more important than they really are.
Time to put thoughts and good intentions into action.
Thanks, Peter
Try volunteering at a local Habitat for Humanity project house. You can learn skills from AtoZ.
You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.
Marv
You're not too old to do finish carpentry. I'm almost 54, been doing it for 30 years and I intend to keep refining my finish carpentry skills for another 20 if possible.
There are probably many roads to take to learn the craft. One of the best is to get with a person of experience and act as a helper for a couple of years. You won't learn everything, but you will pick up the basics and get to practice.
If you do go out on your own, start simple. Don't get over your head into what you can't do. If you do, have a network of other carpenters you can call on. That's important.
Start collecting tools as you go....and you don't need the top of the line stuff. It gets very expensive. Collecting affords you a certain pleasure.
Job market is another thing. If you're outside a major metro area like Boston, there is always room for someone who is creative. Don't listen to the woes of others. Maybe you could be a handyman for a while and work your way into the finish end.
Good luck.
I would like to be a finish carpenter too...
but after close to 30 years in this bizness I find there is a ton of other stuff you will need to do to get to the finish stage.
these days a PURE finish man is a guy who can hang+trim 3-4 doors an hour.
run 2 miles of 6" crown a day
slap together a poorly designed kitchen in 6 hours.
and make all the cuts to base-board a second floor on ONE trip to the saw...
and...
you have to be willing to work on houses that have wheels...
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"After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion"
-Neil deGrasse Tyson
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If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
I made a change similar to what you are contemplating, about a year ago. I'm in my mid 40s. My goal was and is to be a carpenter and general contractor, and I'm getting to do that with some very fine people in a small but so far successful company. And while I do not regret it at all, I would suggest you be very wary and skeptical about this career change. Hudson Valley Carpenter probably said it best. I'll try to add a few things:
For building in general, as MisterT said, there is lots of hard dirty stuff in between the times you get to actually do some fun building with wood, whether rough or finish carpentry. While this work can be satisfying, because of its contribution to the finished result, it is not necessarily very fun, to put it gently.
Physically it can be tough. Even assuming you could specialize in and stay busy with finish work, and therefore aren't lifting and carrying heavy stuff, or digging, etc. just the constant up and down, bending, and being on your feet is rougher on the body than you might think.
IMO the economic times are terrible for such a change, and I'm not optimistic about a widespread turnaround for several years at least.
And then there's things like health insurance,etc. . .
Best of luck to you!
Do you have any experience? Some of the other responses may seem like bubble bursters, but they do reflect reality. It takes time and talent to become good enough at trim carpentry to make a living doing that exclusively.
I don't want to be overly discouraging, but maybe you can approach carpentry as a "hobby." As another poster pointed out, there are opportunities to give a try with organizations like Habitat for Humanity. I took the path opposite what you are suggesting; that is, out of carpentry and into another career in my mid-30s, for several reasons.
Now I classify myself as just a diy, but I find a lot of opportunities to work for myself, for friends and neighbors, and H for H. I don't make money at it, but it does combat the stress that builds up on my paying job. And I don't have the stress of the occasional cranky paying customer.
It might not work for you, but it is something to consider. You can read, volunteer, and hang out on this website to learn. [Warning: this site can be somewhat addictive!]
i have to agree with hudson valley and add that in my market people are much more concerned with price then workmanship and allthough they may want some thing nice they dont want to pay for it . it seems in this trade people feel free to question the price as opposed to electricians plumbers or automechanics but thats just my 2 cents
In this economy there are a lot of experienced finish carpenters looking for work, including myself. I don;t mean to burst your bubble,but now is not the time to make the switch. I live on the South Coast of MA and the pickings are pretty slim. Builders and millwork installers are cutting their bids to the bare bones trying to survive.They may hire you to lump doors,cabinets, and maybe run some base board for cheap money.You will need tools,most finish carpenters are finicky people and do not like lending out their tools.On the other hand you may find some one who will take under their wing and train you to their system,no bad habits to break.
Good luck, hope we don't bump heads looking for work.
"Shawdow boxing the appoclipse and wandering the land"
Wier/Barlow
Tony,
I work in corporate world as well. (sales professional) I am tired of all the back biting and kiss #### that occurs as people use your back to climb to the top..
I've spent the last 17 1/2 years selling to the contruction trade because by and large it's occupied by nice decent folks.. People who build stuff with their own hands and have an appreciation for the work.
That's the appeal..
the down side is now is a terrible time to enter the industry.. experianced and great trim carpenters are desperate for work so entry will be near impossible at any meaningful way.
Instead work on your own home. or friends homes do it nights and weekends .. build up a resume and maybe locals will have you do their work and you can back door it..
Another words don't quit your day job!
There is a lot of truth to what everyone's said so far. If carpentry is a true calling and you are passionate about the trade, you won't be phased by all the struggles. If you have the time and the financing, the North Bennett Street school in the north end of Boston has some great programs for carpentry and preservation carpentry. Good luck.
Do you have experience doing this? Do you love it more than any other thing you can imagine doing for a living? Do you have a way into the trade? I f you can't say yes to most of that, iyt's going to be a hard go. It takes four years give or take to make a decent entry level carpenter or cabinetmeker....longer, maybe a lot longer, to make the trim carpenter you probably have in your mind. At twenty four or so years in, I think my work is pretty good, but I'd like to be a lot faster.
I train people for the trade....I believe strongly in training and trade schools. Every year though I see people signing up without any real experience of what it means to work in the trade day after day, and whether they are a good fit to the reality of it. My best advice is , if you don't know what it's like....it's not clear from your original post if you do or don't....do what you have to to see what it is before you make a big jump. Consider it job shadowing or whatever, but get some hours in before you make the leap.
Second the suggestion about North Bennet St, although I don't really know the school....I know they have carpentry programs, and I hear good things. Or maybe there are eally good trade schools in your area. I do find older, mature, smart guys can jump up the learning curve, but you need teachers. Good luck.
Around here you do not need any experience.
Just a small truck, some tools, some homemade business card and being layed off from one of the major factories.
Take out a small add and you are a remodeler, framer, or finish carpenter or what ever you want to be in the trades.
All said tongue in cheek but not far from the truth.
Russell
PS. Almost forgot you need to lowball all the real builder, remodelers and carpenters.
I'm in the Metro Detroit area, would you please explain which part of that was tongue-in-cheek?
Licensed? Insured? Permits? Come on, why bother with all that overhead.
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
MSA1
:) :) :)
Russell
It is the same way around here. I say a 4' level on the gun rack in your truck and an Estwing does'nt make you a carpenter.
I train people for the trade....I believe strongly in training and trade schools.
I believe in on the job training. Learn to move and work while you learn the skills. Keep the energy and the interest high so that what is learned each day stays with the you.
You also gain confidence that you're able to hang with the journeymen, even if all you do in the beginning is hump work.
No guarantee that you'll be employed next week if you don't produce right now. It's a lot more immediate and realistic to learn that way.
If a guy/gal can hack that kind of work load and pressure, she/he's more likely to be successful in the trade and as a business person.
Formal training is fine if the person is self motivated and brave enough to ask questions whenever necessary.
In my experience, working occasionally with young people who were products of training programs, they had no idea about what kind of sustained effort is required and they resented being pushed to produce, even when techniques were demonstrated and their importance explained.
tony, it is permissable and encouraged to respond to some of the above-you don't have to thank everyone in individual posts, but if you respond to someone here we know you have at least read some of this. This is more of a discussion board rather than a question and answer scenario.
So, what's your thinking on some of this? What's your trade background?A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
do you go to the zoo and encourage people to stick their hands in the Piranha Tank???with open wounds??actually it took a lot of guts(relatively, online guts are rather discounted) to ask that Q here.and also, most of the fiercer piranhas have been flushed down the pooper...;).
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"After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
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If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
I'm sorry, did that come across a bit harsh? I certainly didn't mean it that way.
Just noticed "read" and didn't see any response-concerned he already took to the bottle like many of us "finish guys".
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
I was just thinking it's Eric's turn to write something sarcastic about responding to the posts and you turn up!
Good thread.
See, getting closer to my republican rightwing grumpy old dude - feelings.
And it is a good thread. I know I fell into this trade. My personality must be to do things to excess-strive for perfection and all that-so I just proceeded down the learning street till now-36 years later..................wondering what the hell I did.
For a guy to get into it in his 50's would be a monumental effort but if the "future" was financially taken care of at least on paper, what the heck. I'd love to do this as a part time thing rather than a must do career. But that won't happen anytime soon.
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Your post to the op was not grumpy. It IS nice to hear back once in a while.
I'd love to do this as a part time thing rather than a must do career. But that won't happen anytime soon.
Yeah, I've been thinking lately I could hang a kitchen or so a month, in between renovating some rentals or flips, in between day trading some stock, in between PM a nice remodel or new house and reading BT.
Life is good!
Eric
Yeah, I've been thinking lately I could hang a kitchen or so a month, in between renovating some rentals or flips, in between day trading some stock, in between PM a nice remodel or new house and reading BT.
Splash of cold water on the face. Bills are due. Get back to work Eric. LOL
That Beach Boys song is going thru my head "Wouldn't be nice if we could"
We don't care what the OPs answer is, just reply and say whatever. "Thanks O wise Ones" or "your a bunch of jerks." We can handle it, we've been there.
Rich
"your a bunch of jerks."
LOL, yeah, we've heard that just a couple of times!!
calvin
Time and time again I have seen new posters who get excellent answers to work or life questions and yet they seem to disappear without ever a reply.
New OPs, if you want a thread to keep going reply once in a while.
Rich
Rich, the ones that frost me are those asking for an answer, get several, promise to try one and THEN don't come back with the answer-and I check in every day so it's not like I might have missed it. I even use the "discussion" preference-whatever it's called- that keeps track automatically of new posts to that discussion.
I'm still learning and if I could get an answer to something I haven't seen first hand-might help in my education.
Realizing you have to temper an answer here due to the potential "background" of the responder.
Still, no info is no info. Common sense or analytical thinking weeds out the chaf.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
There is a certain S U guru here that is famous for that. I don't get it. Good posts and interesting questions and then.........................nothing!
Boy, there's an understatement. Don't know why it gets under our skin so much.
Reminds me too of this scenario.
Back in commercial worked for a company (small) and we'd pair up carpenters on various tasks. Since I was from day one-ended up doing most of the one guy jobs. Occasionally at break I'd get asked by one particular guy-"how would you do this".............
I'd lay it all out in detail and then he'd say something like-"well, I'm going to............".
Every damn time. Got to the point where I didn't even think he was listening to my answer. Just wanted a point to jump in with "well, I'm going to............"
Thought it funny and it qualified his reponses when I went to a store we were fitting out down the mall a ways and happened to notice all the slatwall he had put up that day was running grooves up and down.
Be damn hard to hang the displays on that stuff.
So, I went in the store-mentioned to him that I "think" he had made a minor faux pax installing 50 sheets that day and of course, his reply:
"oh, we always do it that way........."
Got to love screws and 2' centers.
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Edited 11/29/2008 10:58 am ET by calvin
Cal,Nothing wrong with your tone, just thought it might be daunting for a newbie or lurker to ask or folly-up a Qbut this Tony guy came BACK.he could be a natural at the stupid carpenter thing!!:o)as for the questions on the job.back when I worked for someone else It ALWAYS seemed that if someone asked you a question it was either to hear you agree with them or to show you that you didn't know something.or the Boss wanting his butt kissed...It is really great when someone actually takes your advice and then acknowledges that it worked!!!simple things....trap Joyce under the mistletoe for me...;o)happy happy and merry merry!!.
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"After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
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If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
you know, after hobbling around for the last week, that'd taste good!
You in the Christmas exchange? Looking for gift victims.
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
No, that would require planning and memory capabilities that are in short supply...thanx anyhoo.
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"After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
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If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
Hi Calvin,
Hope you ALL had a nice thanksgiving...I want to thank everyone for their honest
opinion...Though, it was a little disheartening to hear how tuf it'll be for me to make it in this industry...I guess I won't be quitting my day time job not too soon.... : (.... However, I did post an AD on Craigslist about offering my labor services for free---- no bites yet...I guess you all were right ....as they say "It's the economy stupid"...Hopefully things will turn around...Gee..I wonder if Paris Hilton is looking for a 52 year old husband...hey we can all dream....smile.....
Happy Holidays
Tonyc56
Edited 11/29/2008 9:52 am ET by tonyc56
Edited 11/29/2008 9:58 am ET by tonyc56
Tony, good to hear from you.
Now, lets get back to your question. How bout some background relating to the trade? Does it just look interesting to you to be a finish carpenter or have you done some things and you are excited about continuing? Either way, no problem. I fell into doing what I do. Then it got interesting and really hooked me. That I didn't take one business class didn't help in growing the career-I just remained interested in the work.
If you do pursue this, I highly recommend a business course so you get an education on that end-a bitch to learn that trial and error.
Happy Holidays right back at you. Hope the new year is exciting and rewarding.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Hey Calvin,
How are you...I do have a construction background...In my younger years I would help my father with his stonemasonry business...for some reason i was never interested in pursuing the trade ...maybe because it was really heavy back breaking work...though my brother ended up taking over the business...and he's still doing OK in this economy...As for me I'm pretty handy...Ive built my own home and really enjoyed hanging doors and doing the trim work...though I will admit I didnt do the greatest job in the world---"jack of all trades master of none"... So thats my background in nutshell...If I may ask Calvin are you builder...where are you located...dont worry not asking for a job...smile
Tonyc56
Edited 11/29/2008 10:14 am ET by tonyc56
Edited 11/29/2008 10:17 am ET by tonyc56
Edited 11/29/2008 10:18 am ET by tonyc56
Tony, for the last 20 yrs I've been a remodeling contractor here in the Toledo, Ohio area. Prior to that much remodel, commercial framing and finish, concrete pouring and finishing, new home construction, historic reno and mall work employed by contractors. I am the entire company now. At 59 I've stopped doing additions myself anymore. This pretty much ends up meaning repairs/windows and doors/kitchens and baths/whole house remodels/........and fill in the blanks. I sub plumbing, electric, and larger drywall jobs.
So, if ever near the Glass City, give me a call.
With your background I understand your interest. It just might be something to pursue. Watch the "will work for nothing", you might learn just that. I would call local comm. colleges, perhaps a university or some other adult continuing education operation. A good place to learn the use of TOOLS, which is number one in my book. You can lose all sorts of pcs/parts not knowing the proper use of even what some think are safe tools. It's not just turn it on and cut. Knowing what can happen during that sequence will save you a trip to the E.R.
Best of luck man, we all need that.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Though, it was a little disheartening to hear how tuf it'll be for me to make it in this industry...
Tony, My experience, like anyone else's, is based on many factors. If you really love working with wood and have the the right connections or karma, you could be very successful.
My first post was meant as a reality check, not as a stop sign.
Thanks for beginning this good thread with a worthwhile question. You can be sure that it's been helpful to others who read this forum.
Best Wishes, Peter
I kept trying to not be a carpenter, thinking I would be wasting my college education... but I couldn't keep myself from it. The art of carpentry kept sucking me back in.Everyone should be so lucky, to do something you can't not do (if you can decode that message) ;o)
My introduction to woodworking came at the age of five, in kindergarten.
For some unknown reason children of that tender age were allowed, encouraged even, to work with sharp tools, including a child sized crosscut saw for boys and sewing needles for girls.
On that fateful day I was beginning a 45 degree angled cut, to create a sailboat's bow on a short piece of 1X4. No vise or clamp, just my hand gripping the workpiece against the desktop, my thumb acting as a guide for the edge of the saw to begin the cut.
That was how the teacher demonstrated the cut to me before walking away to help others.
Trying to get the saw started, I made one or two tentative strokes without much effect. On the third attempt I pressed a bit harder. The saw jumped out of the small grove, directly onto my nearby thumb, making a painful and bloody gash.
I suppose I should've taken that as a sign from above but, even though the memory has stayed with me, the implied message never stuck. ;-)
It's been a good, honest way to earn a living.
HVC you are right again and I agree. You refer to 'right connections' and I think this could be very important, at least it has been in my case.To the OP - I certainly understand the burnt out thing regarding the corporate world, and I have benefited greatly from getting out of that world, in spite of being financially poorer and feeling less secure. But it has been worth it. Good luck!
Starting out as a finish guy? Thats like dabbilling in brain surgery.
Not to say you couldnt do it but, do you have any carpentry experience? Might be a good idea to trim out your own house and see how it goes.
I think the biggest problem you'd have is that if you're inexperienced at trim, you'd have a hard time making enough money at it to make a go of it.
I really dont mean to discourage you, just something to consider.
Maybe try to score a few weekend jobs, at least get your name out there a little before jumping in all the way.
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
Just keep in mind that pay is based on performance and there are no age limits on either end. Finish work is often the trade older carps gravitate towards so there is significant competition.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
The way it seems to work ( as far as I have been able to figgure out anyway ) is, something you really enjoy and want to do will work out in the end.
Something you embark on and HAVE to make pay due to covering weekly outgoings etc...........is going to be an ongoing battle until the bumps smooth out. If they ever do.
Sometimes even all the desire in the world wont make up for harsh economic reality. I have done some sucky jobs for no other reason than bills gotta be paid and the bank doesnt care a bit where the money comes from.
Do it as a hobby to start with maybe and see how it flies. Take it from there.
Look into Wentworth Inst. of Tech,(Boston, MA) I took a couple of certificate programs and joined the union at 34yrs old, it worked for me. good luck
Isn't there a famous quote???Pay a man to be a carpenter and he will eat for a week.Teach a man to be a Carpenter and he will eat 'til his back goes out.Learn how to make $$ off of other carpenter's work and you eat steak!!.
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"After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
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If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
You is one smart fella T.........
All I gotta figgure out is how to get my back/elbows/thumbs sorted so I can gets to the steak part.People talk about insanity like its a bad thing........
Tony,
Saw this before I left for a weekend in Boston and wanted to reply. Sorry it took so long.
I can only offer advice based on what I know, so take it for the two cents it's worth.
Happiness is seldom just about what you do, and more often about your whole life. I will tell you that there is much to be said for honest work that produces something tangible in the end.
Before you jump please do a few things for yourself:
1.) promise to be totally honest with yourself
2.) Take a long hard look at your current situation. What are your obligations to your family? What are your financial obligations? What do you make now? How much do you need to make? What contingencies do you have for retirement planning and health care? How long would you be able to carry your family at $15 an hour while you learn and chase your dream before enough is enough?
AND THE BIG ONE........How much sacrafice will your wife and/or family make while you chase the dream?
3.) Make an honest assessment of your business skills. I am a great carpenter. I can frame, trim, roof, side and build simple stairs and install just about any stair rail. I've done all of those both as an employee and as a business owner on everything from 1200 sqft Pulte tract homes to 10,000 sqft custom homes that have been on TV and in magazines.
BUT..................and it's a huge one..............I am a TERRIBLE businessman.
If you want to make a real living? Ya better be a pretty good businessman. ANd, not to be offensive because I don't know what it is you do.................a good manager at someone elses business isn't always the same as a good businessman.
4.) What type of work personality are you? I can do all the things I listed above......but the truth is that if I could only pick one.............I would frame. I'm good at it and it fits my personality.
SO what kind of finish carpenter do you want to be? The guy who can run around and hang 12 "Good enough" doors a day in a tract house and put $400 in his pocket?
The guy who can trim a custom house, doing a much better job than the guy in the 1200 sqft tract?
The creative guy who can help clients design, who can sell a vision and deliver it?
The guy who works in a shop building entertainment units and book cases who can pick up every imperfection in a piece of cherry and knows exactly how long between coats of finish?
Once you think you've answered these honestly?
I would encourage you to go find someone in your area who does the kind of work you want to do..........................Be honest about your intentions, maybe work out a deal to take some vacation time, work for that person and see what you think?
Get a small taste before you jump in with both feet.
No, you're nowhere near too old at your age. But I fear that after a year or two the romanticism of the lifestyle may wear off and you might not like the reality. If everyone here was honest, maybe 2 out of every 10 guys in the trades are really businessmen. I know I sure wasn't.
Things you take for granted now are almost non-existant in maybe 75% of the construction related businesses. Things like Paid vacations and holidays, Family health coverage, retirment planning options, direct deposit ect, ect...............
Lots of guys rely on the wife for health benefits and retirement. Most will be working well into their 60's.
If none of that scared you away? Were it mine to do over again? I would make friends with a whole bunch of designers, decorators and architects who would reccommend me for projects like coffered ceilings, wainscoating, raised panels, built up crown, mantles and built-ins.
Get good at servicing that market and the people who can afford such things and life won't be all bad.
IN case you're wondering? I went back in the Army to provide health care for a child who had a condition noone would cover when I was self employed.
I still miss the work every day, but in the long run my family is much better of.
Good answer by robert.
There are so many different kinds of carpenters, and many different types of trim-finish carpenters as well.Much of it for me had to do with history and style. I was always fascinated with how architecture would follow or lead with social, economic & political trends. The study of history through architecture is fascinating.There is much to study & understand in trim work. Style, ratio, proportion, materials, history and contextual flow are the biggies that come to mind.
Also, to be a good trimmer, it's good to learn & practice other related trades as well like electrics, plastering, finishes (paint, stain, clear etc, textures, colors etc), & woodcarving.
I made a career change when I was 27 y.o. It wasnt easy then and now that I'm 50 I dont know how I could make a change at my age and support myself and my family in the manner we are accustomed to
if you can see yourself past that or have a nice nest egg then what could stop you from making that career change?
finish carpentry is an art form, if you have a keen eye for detail and a good sense of proportion then it could be very lucrative. the better you become at it the more people will beat a path to your door
without any artistic talent you could find yourself working in the industry production trimming tract houses. (not that theres anything wrong with that) its an honest living. if you are happy with that kind of work then be prepared for some stiff competition and a sore back and knees
but if you can walk into a tract house and convince the homeowner to rip out all the newly installed trim and do a total upgrade with some raised panel wainscoting and a couple of coffered cielings with triple crown mouldings all around, then you will stand back at the end of every day and admire your work
thats when you can write your own ticket!