For those of us who have been posting and lurking for awhile. Hypothetically speaking, for whom would you most or least like to work and why.
For example: Piffin? . . . I don’t know, he’s a smart guy but it gets cold in Maine.
Boss Hog? . . . might be hard to keep up with him.
Sphere? . . . he’d have your head spinning with all his ideas.
Frenchy? . . . you wouldn’t get a say in which type of finish to use.
The economy is in the toilet, people are hurting so let’s have a little respectful fun with this. Any takers?
Replies
SeeYou - hands down.
And maybe Stan - if he could be patient through my imprecision.
Forrest
I wouldn't mind a chance to work with grant for a while to learn some new stufff.I think being around you would be invigorating too.Probably couldn't work FOR anybody for long though.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I'd work for Cargin, he seems like a good man. But I hate roofing.
I would DEFINITELY want to work with Stephen Hazlett! I enjoy reading each of his posts as its almost like he works but gains alot more value from it than just a living. I would enjoy a day riding shotgun with him on his jobs.
Jeff Buck would be fun too.
I've worked for sledgehammer before and would gladly do it again tomorrow.
"Jeff Buck would be fun too."
Work with Jeff?
I'd rather party with him.
Rock on, dude!
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
I've done both-
working with him is definitely easier on your constitution...No Tag
There are so many here who's work I admire it's hard to pick. Since Basswood posts a lot of pics, I'll choose him. He seems to work on some very interesting projects and the quality of his work is outstanding.
I wouldn't be able to work for Huck (when he does his mural painting side jobs) because I don't have a shred of artistic ability.
Gofer for The Slatesman
Piffin
Mike Smith
Jeff Buck (might have to bring my extra-witty hat to work that day)
Stan Foster
Armin
DougU
Gunner (he would keep me laughing, but I would be afraid of compromising situations that could result in future black mail)
Diesel Pig (if I could keep up)
Junkhound (the pay's not great, but the education would be interesting)
CapN Mac
4Lorn (wherever he is)
I could keep going. There is certainly myriad experience represented here.
Honestly, I would probably gravitate towards the guys who do more light commercial work. I want to get more exposure to that market but there are some significant differences from residential.
Jon Blakemore
RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Anyone taking applications?
I'll switch it up a bit. I wouldn't mind Bill Hartmann to ride with me. We've had some heated debates on the meaning of the NEC, but I would give anything to have a helper as passionate about the trade as he is.
P.S. don't tell him I said anything good about him.
Sphere...because of his renowned herb garden.
I bet he is growing more than basil, mint and oregano.........just a hunch. =)Naive but refreshing !
Mike Smith
DieselPig (if I were 20 years younger)
SeeYou
Shep
Jim Blodgett
I couldn't work with Gunner; we just wouldn't get anything done. Would be fun though.
You would have a ball. I actually get a lot of work done. I've been commuting four and a half hours each way to work (I think that's done for awhile.) But that's where the fun is. I always have a good time or I don't go. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbqIyeed4g&feature=related
He lives!!!!
And side stepped the big #### kickin.
Been pretty busy. And couldn't take the scene around here with all the political spamming. Since it seems like all the problem children have been booted from the tavern I'm gonna see about getting myself back in there. Sounds like it might be fun again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbqIyeed4g&feature=related
It's dull. The broom took some of the innocents as well.
And you can't even write a zee zee anymore it get's censored.
I might get the boot too now who knows.
Unfortunatley that's the reprecussion of allowing jerks to run wild for so long. You have to take it all the way back to zero and build it back up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbqIyeed4g&feature=related
i'd like to work for pete dragannic... i have no idea what he doesMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
That makes two of us.............who don't know what he does.
There's one other here as well, but I ain't starting no trouble!
I'd work for you, and with you working for Pete that would make me the assistant to the assistant of the guv'nah.I'd love to learn slate from Walter and copper from Grant and Duane.Edit: Had to add I think Mike has dome the best for me. He's the one that through his posts I learned how to run a business successfully through planning and protocol instead of stumbling upon positive cash flow through happenstance.I owe you one sir.
Edited 11/10/2008 9:51 pm ET by Mongo
I'm not quite sure I know either... lol
My biggest problem is that everything interests me so I find myself getting into a lot of things all the time. I especially love to wheel and deal.
However, my main money is made in light commercial work these days. Most of that is for major restaurant chains.
<!----><!----><!---->
I refuse to accept that there are limitations to what we can accomplish. Pete Draganic
Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day. Matt Garcia
Armin would be an interesting person to work for. He is at a level all to himself.
Stan
Hey, man!
nice to see you around again.
4-1/2 hours each way?
Yikes!
Yea. GPS navigation and Satelite radio make it nicer though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbqIyeed4g&feature=related
Sometimes when I'm in a boring meeting at work, in my mind, I work for Mike Smith. I have made a deal where I have agreed to work for him and eventually buy him out. I retain Chuck and Roy and the red truck. I live out my working years in Rhode Island drinking Narragansett beer.
Piffin
Mike Smith
Stan Foster
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
Stan is another. Seeing his end product is inspiring, and the other night while looking at his entry photos of progress, I often though, I'd love to know how he does this, or what technique he uses to do that alone.The kind of work he does demonstrates one of the primary attributes of a good carpenter - patience.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I could see me working for, and learning, from just about everyone here. But I'd really like to spend some time with Sphere and Jer. Their style seems pretty compatible with mine.
Some guys I wouldn't want to work with- DieselPig & Framer, 'cause I'm too old to work that hard all day.
CO and Hazlett- 'cause I'm too old to work that high up anymore.
I'd be a pretty good observer for any of those guys, tho.
Sorry guys don't want to hurt anyones feelings but I wouldn't give up what I've got going to work for any of you! :) although Stan does some cool stuff and Mcdesign and seeyou and theslateman and davidhawk and stevent and and and and you know what i mean
I wouldn't work "for" anyone.
I would love to work with;
Ponytl
Sphere
Buck
Cal would be like working with myself, but I'd still like to.
Mcdesign, But on the weekend, if we could just wing it.
Brown bagg - just to make his day hard - I'd go out of my way to f up his day 'til he couldn't take no more. Just to see if he laughs or cries when it gets tough. Either way, I learn that mud is more than a slab - concrete amazes me.
Definitely Sphere & Shep. Both because of their experience in more the artisan side of things, Shep 'cause of his tools, and Sphere because of his ability to think sideways. That's important for me.
Oddly enough, I think Jeff Buck & I would work well together.
I've worked alone now for over 20 yrs. On rare occasion I've partnered up with a couple of my old friends in the trade and that's more like a guest appearance-we enjoy the #### outta it. We started out together and still hardly need to ask or tell anything, things just happen naturally.
So to your question-probably would be fun. But as an answer I'd have to say I'd like to do anything BUT work with damn near all of you. I don't care what-fish, drink, whack the golf ball. Anything but work.
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
I would not work for anyone whose middle name is Hussein.
View Image
"A stripe is just as real as a dadgummed flower."
Gene Davis 1920-1985
I would only if his first name was Mike and his last Smith.
He's an awesome guy.
Gonna respond then read the answers.
Stan Foster - Diesel Pig - Mike Smith
I am fascinated by different parts of all three of these guys jobs. Hope to at least get to meet them some day.
I have learned much from all three of them.
October 17th, 2009
Jeremy and Lisa
Was there ever any doubt?
Always wanted to play doctor. I'd go with etherhuffer.
Never wanted to "play doctor" with another dude........but hey.........whatever blows your hair back.....
NTTAWWT.
=)
Naive but refreshing !
Edited 11/11/2008 12:15 am ET by woody1777
I 've worked for Aaron Rosenthal....I work for myself now...my boss is a jerk!
Stan ...yup. most of all of ya, I'd probably like to work WITH. whoever said that first got it right...
"If 'tis to be,'twil be done by me."
Nobody would want to "work" with me.,,, because I refuse to call it "work", ha.
Anyway, I would love to "work" with each and everyone on this forum. There is such a varied and diverse accumulation of talent and knowledge here. Everyone can teach each one of us something. I had a complete non-woodworker helping me set a stairway yesterday, just a hired back so to speak. He had an insight on something setting my stairways, as far as ease of lifting.
I am always open to learning.
Stan
I had to think about this a long time. I had to separate who I'd like to hang out with from who I think would teach me some new licks. Theslateman is the obvious choice for the technical stuff, but I like the way McDesign thinks outside the box. There's about 50 more that would be a hoot to work with.
http://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
Yer all a bunch of drunks....I aint workin' with a one of ya!
Love to get together for some beers though.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
Junkhound...cuz we are both scavengers of the cast off cool stuff. And he is an out there engineer.
out there engineer
Nice of you to say that -
seems that nobody wants to work for me though <G>,
last 2 new hire engineers I was mentoring at the company left after about 3 years to work for NG at 50% salary increases (from about a $60k base) - insane housing prices in Seattle area (still) helped their decision somewhat.
Too old and slow now to be able to keep up with anyone here in the trades now though.
I'd work with/for anyone who has a sense of humour, has integrity, and treats their clients with respect (even when they are not around). Not starting arguments in the Tavern helps too.
I haven't been around here long enough to know everyone's personaility or what they do but based on what I've seen so far...
Basswood and Stan
There are many others as well but trim and finish carpentry would be my preferences.
I want to work with BOB, I want to be on BOB team.
Travel the bucolic country lanes, touch and hold exotic building materials (copper, slate, D-mix), work and mix with masters of the trades and whackos.
There is Eco-travel, Historical vacations... now Jouneyman Junkets.
Someone not mentioned yet is Mitch Rockwell, based on some pics of his work I saw at Peachfest (finely crafted furniture, built-ins, etc.)... he would be good to learn from too. I'm sure there are many talented lurkers who, for some reason, don't feel comfortable posting their work.
Mike Roop also impressed me as a young guy with great energy and talent and a wide ranging skill set (like a younger Mike Smith).
I would like to learn about hand tools from Sphere and Mathewson.
Armin, Stan, Walter, Grant, MS, DP... the list is mostly obvious and would be long. What a great group we have here.
Good success,
Brian
I'd love to work for anyone here for awhile. People who pursue excellence in their work are fascinating. They also have some pretty strong personalities. I'd probably get fired in short order.
It'd be nice to have a "student exchange" program. Follow someone around for a day or two.
Jim Allen no matter what it would be an education.
It wasn't deleted, it was moved to the tavern:
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=112745.1
ohh ok..I can't get into the hallowed room nomo......My Blog
I don't know of any timberframers so I'd be reluctant to work for anybody plus I'm bound to be highly opinionated so I doubt people would want to work for me. (except all the people who have worked for me thus far seem to have enjoyed it tremendously) except they don't know any better.. None had ever done any work like this..
Lots of highly talented folks here that I'd love to have the opportunity to work with and learn from.
See You and Dieselpig are two outstanding craftsmen who I'd love to spend a week with.
Mike Smith is a mentor for all kinds of business topics.
McDesign , Basswood ,David Dowd , Sphere,David Hawks, Chuck Stevenson are all folks that I could learn a lot from.
There are many more too , but my mind is not recalling everyone at this moment.
"There are many more too , but my mind is not recalling everyone at this moment."Want to borrow my mind?
It's not doing much more than keeping my skull from collapsing at the moment.;)
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
First 2 to pop in my mind...Mike Smith and Paul(piffin).
I've been reading on this site since '99 under 2 or 3 logins (zapped computer then zapped by the naz..er mods)...they (mike and paul) have always come across as the type of guys I would love to learn from (and have, through cyberspace).
Sonny would have been educational and fun to work with as well...at least in my mind.
Alright, enough brown nosing..everybody...screw off!
Jay
Well I actually do work for someone here. Mmoogie He's very gracious and keeps it on a "we work together" basis
but he's the boss.
- Steve not allowed to read further- He's a great guy and a better boss. Puts up with my wackiness
with a calm cool that amazes me every time.
I've been with him going on two years now and have learned more then in the previous ten.
But mostly he brings an enthusiasm and honest love of building back
into it that I thought for me was gone forever.
Edited 11/11/2008 5:34 pm ET by Henley
steve has always come across to me as pretty mellow and stable. And he seems to know WHY he does what he does.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Splintergroupie would be fun too. We could B.S. all day about living the self sufficient lifestyle.
Are you kidding?
She'd work you into the ground!
Then you'd have to figure out how to shred newspaper with a riding mower.
I'd like to work with (not for) Splintie, too. Maybe pick up a few tricks on fine woodworking.
Plus maybe she'd tell me the secret of looking good in bib overalls.<G>
I'd like to work for anyone within a short distance of a big mountain ski resort. (Ground is still mostly brown here, and I'm itchin')
That said: Stan, Armin (could do he's close), Piffin, Mike Smith, Diesel Pig, Grant, Dave M, Slateman, Tim Uhler........... most anyone here from a northern climate (can't take the heat).
Anyone but the Brudog, I'm tired of that @#%^*! I noticed my name didn't come up, my reputation as a boss must really proceed me!! :)
Brudoggie
Slateman and diesal pig. One of these days a road trip is in order to meet these guys, and while in maine I will look up piffen!!
The usual suspects:
Chuck S. (BTDT)
Mike Smith love the "old-school" approach
Grant true craftsman
Sphere ditto
Walter ditto
Basswood never was formally taught how to properly trim out
Piffin sharpen my design skills
Brownbagg forgotten more about concrete than I'll ever know
Mooney forgotten more about RE than I'll ever know
Dieselpig maybe 15 years ago
Huck to learn the "left coast" way
MattSwanger just b/c he's a cool guy
...more to come
EDIT TO ADD:
Mike Maines and Mike Guertin to learn how to write excellent articles
Andyfew to remember what it's like to work w/out pressure for the pure enjoyment
The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
Edited 11/13/2008 8:10 pm ET by davidhawks
I think I could work with anybody but nobody wants to work with me.
A couple days with me and they want out.
I wouldn't want to offend anyone by omitting them, but limiting to folks that in my general realm, would be easier. Jer for sure( we've met IRL, and I know we would jam) , Andy C cuz his zen-ness kinda is attractive, Coleen, only cuz I've worked with a few women and actually prefer thier company most of the time, and she has extensive WW'ing exp.
Again, I'm not a framer anymore, but for sure, if I had the cajones to keep up..DP would be my choice, Smitty for his Biz Whiz..and I think Piff is as concerned with attn to detail as I am.
Forrest would be a hoot to be along side of for a day or two, Mongo is at least close to my size ( I can't often work with really short people, it just makes doing some stuff harder) and thats about all I can come up with at this moment, just got back from a sit down with an ongoing customer to MAYBE kick up a little more work, if that fails..I might actually be pestering those named above for work..LOL
My main big job is going belly up, and I haven't been trying to line anything up, so now I'm running scared.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
BRING BACK SPLINTY.
I want to work with somebody who know where the world best cheeseburger is.
Lynah's in Lexington, Ky. No kidding, they are the best. The Guido is 10oz and heaped with Provolone cheese..oh yeah, baby..the juice runs down your wrists and drips off your elbow.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
BRING BACK SPLINTY.
What kind of bun?
Very important!
A Kaiser roll, and the burger hangs out the edges by an inch all around.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
BRING BACK SPLINTY.
Yeah, I gotta go eat something now. Later
Lynah's in Lexington, Ky. No kidding, they are the best.
Beat me to it. http://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
It's been too long, I got myself Jones'n now that I went got thinking about it.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
BRING BACK SPLINTY.
Oh hey, Buckman turned me on to an El Salvadoran restraunt Can't quite get the name "El sonata's " or similar..Bryan Ave just a block inside New Circle..grey building, hand painted sign up top.
Man, they have a thing called "Papusas" and a drink of pure blendered pineapple..whoo-hee, it's some good eating. Try it if yer over that way and like that kinda of fare. Like good Mexican, but slightly different, not all that hot/spicy either. I think they go heavy on the lard tho', I felt more full than I would have thought 3 papusas would do. Like masa pancakes with filling, and rice and beans.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
BRING BACK SPLINTY.
I'll take you to the birthplace of the Cheese Burger. 20 minutes down the road.
http://www.kaelins.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbqIyeed4g&feature=related
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM25C1
3 different places in the US claim the Fame to Cheese Burgers, the others in Calif.
That's a hard one to actually pin down. I just know that I love them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbqIyeed4g&feature=related
Camellia Grill in New Orleans is pretty darn good, if they survived Katrina.
Forgot Brisketbean and Kirkpatrick, and still trying to think of others.
I may be wrong but it seems like I would enjoy working with and learning from any of the tradesmen who post here regularly. I've learned a lot on BT, without ever meeting anyone from here, and often been inspired too.
Any takers?
Sure, found out today that the boss can't pay me after Friday.
He'd like to not "lose me as a contact" but, I'm pretty sure that would not work out the way he'd like; I can't charge an hourly rate he can afford for his rush-job piecework.
Oh well.
Hmm, closest BTer would be bambam, and he's gone back to commercial work. I know I can't afford to move to DFW or Austin--but might just have to <grr>.
Jim Allen might be looking.....
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
Jim Allen might be looking
Would not impose on Blue. That, and he's 110-120 minutes' commute away (on good days).Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
I would work for Basswood for free, just to learn about all his little tricks, jigs and patience. The man does some pretty incredible work imo, not that many of the others don't do quality work, Jim Allen may be a close second for ingenuity and common sense construction.
just my 2 cents worth.
Ebe
i'd like to learn from frenchy too......for your principles (and your knowledge of where they come from)a man to learn fromJ