Trade Background

Boogga

Do you have a trade background? Do you benefit from it (ie for you builders out there)? And why did you pick that trade over the others?

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"It's better to die on your feet than to live on your knees"

joasis

I grew up doing construction, did machine shop in vo tech because I hated pounding nails, was a machinist for a few years before going back to school to get my A&P License (aircraft mechanic), then to the Army, then to college, then to teaching, and back to construction....I don't know why I hated it when I was younger...maybe because I was too dumb to realize the satisfaction in building stuff.

I think my education has definately helped.

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MKamis

I have 8 years experience as a tool & die maker, and 4 years of die (machine tool) design.

It was not the right job for me, but it has served me well in the remodeling/construction industry. I can do my own CAD drawings, and I have a rock solid understanding of how to take raw materials and build whatever I want with them.

joasis

I think any solid trade experience is very helpfull...many fields cross over...like being a machinist. Of course, it kills me to have 1/2 an inch "play" or allowance when you really admire precision.

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WNYcarpenter

My helper was in the tool and die business. Everything has to be perfect!!! He wishes everything was built with metal an used to the precision. I have a hard time teaching him how to comprimise. He's difficult, but I'd rather work with someone who can't stand 1/16th in 4 feet than someone who sasy "can't see it form my house".

Metrojoebarbs

1/4" to a mason is quite different than a 1/4" to a framer. LOL

WNYcarpenter

Hey, 1/2" out in 40 feet over 12 courses is impressive to me! Give or take a 1/4" and building the rest is easy. That is, if you know where to hide it!

Metrojoebarbs

That block stretcher with the pearl and turquoise handle comes in handy now and then...

58hydraglide

I have a degree in automotive technology and turned wrenches in GM dealers for 8 years. I then got into management, figuring I didn't want to be a wrench my whole life. So I did the smart thing and decided to climb ladders and drive nails for the rest of it!

WNYcarpenter

I bought a gallon of "Lumber Lengthener" yesterday, worked wonders! Much of our success is owed to the masons which aren't always given their due. They're long gone by the time the roof structure is finished. Sometimes though, it's better they aren't around!

Back on topic, I started as a greenhorn laborer/carpenter. I went to school for graphic design but I like to work with my hands. For me, it was the gratification after a hard days work and looking back to say I built that.

What we do lasts for years, generations to come will witness what we've created. I choose homebuilding.

Some building trades aren't as obvious as finish carpentry, but when the next remodel inevitably comes a quality job previously done is respected.

Metrojoebarbs

[quote=WNYcarpenter;211443]I bought a gallon of "Lumber Lengthener" yesterday, worked wonders! Much of our success is owed to the masons which aren't always given their due. They're long gone by the time the roof structure is finished. Sometimes though, it's better they aren't around!

Back on topic, I started as a greenhorn laborer/carpenter. I went to school for graphic design but I like to work with my hands. For me, it was the gratification after a hard days work and looking back to say I built that.

What we do lasts for years, generations to come will witness what we've created. I choose homebuilding.

Some building trades aren't as obvious as finish carpentry, but when the next remodel inevitably comes a quality job previously done is respected.[/quot

WNY,
I always back my masons as reliable ones are hard to find up north. If the sill plate cant adjust to get square thats when you hear from my truck "Houston we have a problem"

WNYcarpenter

I guess the stressfull fun we have in all trades is problem solving. Our jobs are to solve problems, that's what makes it so much fun. Sure, it's frustrating, but when you solve the problem the high is amazing and addictive!

Carpentry takes a certain mindset, as does masonry, plumbing, drywall, electrical, roofing, etc...if you take someone with the proper mindset who has experience in another trade, they're going to offer techniques that aren't normally thought of in a given situation. I suppose that's why we all enjoy this forum.

Metrojoebarbs

WNY,
I see your in Jamestown. I'm in Albany. I actually came to this site looking for contractors and excavation company workers in the mid North Carolina region. I'll be headed down torwards the end of the month to set up for the development of smaller ground level residential structures (for the retired). Although, I've enjoyed reading the posts and kicking it around on this site for the past week or so. A friend suggested I would find quite a bit of contractors from the NC area here. Not so, but it's been fun.

dirt diggler

hey Joe ---


with things slow in general ... it can't be too hard to find someone ...





either way ... always make sure the guy drives a blue truck

and just have him mark up the net 20%

Metrojoebarbs

Dirt,
Your post have been the best. I will find them the old fashion way (licensing board). I've got a feeling I'm going to be standing on a pile of #2 screaming at many blue truck owners.

roofwiz74

I grew up in commercial roofing.My grandfather had a very large piece of property with roofing equipment everywhere.I remember playing on alot of tar covered cool stuff.Worked as soon as I was worth it,been stuck ever since.
it's in my blood.

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You have ONE advantage over me.....you can kiss my butt and I can't!!

Magnettica

I wanted to be the biggest and baddest drummer rock 'n roll has ever seen. But that didn't work out too well. So I remember reading an interview in Circus Magazine about how Vince Neil used to be an electrician before becoming a star with Motley Crue. That was good enough for me. So when my Navy recruiter asked me what trade I was interested in, I thought back to the interview and told him electrician. The rest is history.

Besides doing little home improvement jobs, no one on either side of my extended family ever did construction contracting. Although I am 75% Irish so somewhere along the line I must have an ancestor or two who did back-breaking type labor. Like for instance, the building of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Mud Master

I have been in construction since I was born. Never had a pacifier, dad just put a phillips screwdriver in my crib. Dad used to be a big commercial and Government builder and remodeler, so I spent all my summers working with him. By the time I was 18 and out of school, I was a mechanic. As years went on my dad got tired of the headaches the came with having a larger company, and as guys moved on to other companies or to do thier own thing, he got into doing smaller type work. Now he is a 3 man crew and has a contract with United Parcel Service and does all thier work, from repair to remodel. and he stays busy year round with them. Also does small classroom and lab construction for University of Maryland.

I however always enjoyed building and remodeling and wanted to stay in it, so when I turned 24 I went into business for myself, and have been doing it ever since. Even with all the stress it brings, 12 years later I still wouldn't give it up for anything.

Except Retirement, of course.

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Frankawitz

When I was young my parents bought houses that were run down and they would fix them up, Over the 22 years I lived with them they had owned and lived in 26 houses, So I have been around remodeling almost my whole life, My Father wanted me to play Professional Sports, He had played semi Pro Baseball during World War II, I ended up playing Hockey and was on my way to the Big Show. but instead I wanted to party with my buddies and ended up blowing a Pro Career in the NHL, Ted Lindsay(Retired Red Wing) was the last Coach I had when I played for the Westland Junior B team. If I had it all to do over again I would still take the hard road, after spending almost 4 years in "Whats a matter U" college I learned some hard lessons. But when I got out I started out as a apartment painter and then was asked to do more repair work so I ended up doing Plaster and Drywall repairs and now I love the challenges I come across, there is nothing more fun then putting back a beautiful Plaster Crown Moulding or Cornice Moulding and have the home owner say" Man you can't even tell were you made the repairs"
That makes it all worth it.

Mrmac204

worked in my dad's lumber yard as a kid- then did some diesel mechanic stuff for a bit-way cold! and way out in the woods- ok for a single guy I guess- worked more lumber yards, doing some furniture building on the side. industrial supplier for a few- then got into the film industry, building sets- found out that I love the precision and detail, also get done, and make it perfect ten years of that- trying now to break into doing houses- finishing carpentry etc... learning a lot on this board! and talking to friends in the industry- boy I had some dumb ideas, but I be learning!

Mac!