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Why are all the trim carpenters in the Bay Area hacks? I just came from a complex of condos on Russian Hill where ten carpenters share one chop saw, install MDO for base (!), leave miters a full 1/4″ open (let the painter spackle!!), and screw this garbage into metal studs with no adhesive. Even reputable contractors never seem to have the material or equipment necessary to do a job right, and will tell carpenters to take all kind of hacker shortcuts (beveling crown and base instead of coping, supposedly to save time, not scribing to a wavy hardwood floor, using the same blade for a week on overworked saws.)
I stood around today telling an enraptured 50 year old carpenter who’d been in the trade a full 20 years how to flatten and hone a chisel or plane iron! I don’t know if it has to do with the union, the boom in the industry, or if any of these chuckleheads actually give a rat’s ass about their work.
Does anyone on this list work for a SFBA contractor who does a job right, has the proper material and equipment to install it with, and allows his carpenters the time to do it right? At this point, it seems like I’ve learned all I can from the people I work with, which is unfortunate.
-RK
PS. I hope I haven’t offended anyone, but I hate working with these neanderthals. One would never imagine that the knowledge shared on this list is about the same trade as the people I work with.
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Rob, check out the thread in the Woodshed Tavern, "CAN ANYONE FIND GOOD HELP?!?!?
*Rob fear not,There out there, just not easy to find. I am a bi-product of union training. Even the union has hack contractors who butcher one job after another, and before you know it, this form of amatuer carpentry becomes the norm. Let's face it, I worked around plenty of hacks, what it came down to was a true desire to always want to do better. Reading, working for practically free, what ever it took in my apprenticeship to gain the knowledge and experience to make those airtight joints you "couldn't drive a bus through", as a former foreman would put it. I was fortunate to be surrounded by very skilled finish carpenters, some of whom were originally Italian furniture carpenters. I showed a level of competence and desire which allowed me to be placed with these individuals even thought the bulk of my work was concrete form construction.So take heart, I'm not sure if your looking for employees or simply disgusted with the work you come across from time to time, but with the booming economy, no doubt those skilled hands are being kept busy by someone.
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Rob- I live in Michigan. I did a job this summer in Pleasanton CA with a guy from the local union. He was a bit of a shock to my midwestern idea of social norms, (more to follow, check out his side job!!), but he does the kind of work I think will interest you. (In his regular work, at least) Check out his web page @ dungeonbuilders.com and you'll see what I mean.
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Why are all the trim carpenters in the Bay Area hacks? I just came from a complex of condos on Russian Hill where ten carpenters share one chop saw, install MDO for base (!), leave miters a full 1/4" open (let the painter spackle!!), and screw this garbage into metal studs with no adhesive. Even reputable contractors never seem to have the material or equipment necessary to do a job right, and will tell carpenters to take all kind of hacker shortcuts (beveling crown and base instead of coping, supposedly to save time, not scribing to a wavy hardwood floor, using the same blade for a week on overworked saws.) I stood around today telling an enraptured 50 year old carpenter who'd been in the trade a full 20 years how to flatten and hone a chisel or plane iron! I don't know if it has to do with the union, the boom in the industry, or if any of these chuckleheads actually give a rat's ass about their work. Does anyone on this list work for a SFBA contractor who does a job right, has the proper material and equipment to install it with, and allows his carpenters the time to do it right? At this point, it seems like I've learned all I can from the people I work with, which is unfortunate. -RK PS. I hope I haven't offended anyone, but I hate working with these neanderthals. One would never imagine that the knowledge shared on this list is about the same trade as the people I work with.