Not Happy With My Skills!

antonioooooooo

Im always analyzing myself and how much work I get done in a day. I hate out of square, unlevel, humpy, non symmetrical work. Today my job was to build a simple 6 inch box 54 inches long over an existing box and to build a mantle type box to fit over an electric fireplace to sit on the other box... also some easy little pony walls on the side and a bulk head above to match.... anyways i took a look at the end of the day of what i got done and it was discouraging... i seriously tryed to build as quick as i could and didnt get as much as i nearly wanted.... but i did run to the store to get some material.... seems like i look at something and figure i can get it done in 2 hours and it takes me all day....i need some tricks or somethin to get it done faster or how would you do this project...

William James

I don't know whether you're just nailing, joining with biscuits or spline to assemble these boxes. Or what you got done. Ripping pieces? But I know where you're coming from. I used to look at a job and think it would take me 2 hrs and it actually takes 4. Sometimes I'm still off, but for the most part Im pretty close now. My main problem was inexperience and not calculating how long each step actually took, but how fast ID like to get it done. Keep a journal of projects. what you did and how long it took. Any unforeseen issues that arose (ran out to get ? Glue). It will help limit the runs too. You'll probably see that you are putting too much pressure on yourself. Either that or you sit there looking at the thing for half the day. Nothing wrong taking extra time, if the end result shows it.

griz

How much experience do you have? Were you doing paint grade or stain grade work? Often times projects take longer than expected. You went for material. How about lunch, cell phone calls, people stop by the job, help someone else do something etc? When you start a project have realistic expectations of how long it will take.

genecarp

Stay focused on quality, the speed will come with time. Work with other exp carpenters watch how they work, a good carpenter never wastes a step, the pace is steady not hurried, the efficiancy is a beautiful to watch, and even more beautiful to experiance, GMOD

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antonioooooooo

Well Im 22 and been doing different types of contruction since I was 19. First full year I was laying vinyl decking. For about 18 months after that I was framing. And for about a year ive been doing renovations. Its only me and the boss working together right now. anyways it wasnt any finishing work, just a basic 2by4 box sheeted with plywood (something for the electric fireplace to sit on). There was no rippin involved. They wanted the box 6 inches high so what i did was build a bunch of mini walls with a bottom plate, 2 and a quarter inch studs, top plate, and three quarter inch ply sheeted on top. the fireplace then sat on top of that and they wanted it to have a rock face on both sides and on top so i built mini walls for that sheeted them. they also wanted pony walls on both sides to match the height of the fireplace,and a bulk head above to match the depth of the fireplace... Anyways, I didnt think about it i rushed into it and it turned out OK but not the best for the time but im still not done... not happy with my performance lately !

griz

Dude, chill out. You are very young not much experience and have high expectations of yourself. It takes time to gain skill & speed. Find an old carpenter to work with. You'll watch the guy and swear he's asleep on his feet. Then at the end of the day there's a whole bunch of work done, he'll walk to his truck and you'll crawl to yours. I know, I was in your shoes a long time ago and got hooked up with an old carpenter. Relax, enjoy & be proud of your trade. It takes time.

Gus Dering

Eventually you will be able to see the job through in your mind like a movie in every detail. When you see a potential problem you rewrite the script and maybe introduce some different materials or techniques to unclog the jam.

Once you have it worked out enough in your mind you can make a little sketch to make it crystal clear. then your material list becomes a cut list and you are off and running.

A simple framing job like you described is only done quickly and efficiently after you can cut up your stock and pop it together in a simple and logical order with the proper materials.

Try to relax, slow down and get a good plan. The ol saying "haste makes wakes waste" comes to mind.

All that comes with time and effort to become more efficient. Sounds like you have that desire, that is something we can't teach. So good on you there.
Remember this too. We all have bad days. Hang in there young man.

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WarnerConstInc.

2x6's on edge with some 3/4 ply on top would have
got you 6" in about 20 mins.

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antonioooooooo

hahah I just like it when you end up with a product thats awesome and done quickly, but some mistakes I make I think to myself.. HOLY **** how did you miss that!

antonioooooooo

WOW and you mean with half inch ply but I cant believe I never thought of that lol

mnjconstruction

when i was younger i was slow. then I got faster with experience. Now Im getting older I think Im slowing down again. Work smart and worry about the quality. When people hire me there not hiring me because I am the fastest, there hiring me cause they know its going to be done right. I think that is the most important thing!

Trim40

Everyone here has given you good advice. We have been in your shoes. More brawn than brain. Learn to use your brain more and practice,practice,practice.

pinwheel

When I was about your age, I read something that has stuck with me ever since.

"why am I a good enough carpenter to fix all my mistakes, but not good enough to not make them to begin with"

23 years later, I still don't catch them all before I make them, but make far fewer than I did at your age.

Keep after it, you're drive to be better & faster will take you far in this business.

WarnerConstInc.

I said 3/4" because it seems like most 2x6's are 5 1/4" in width.

No need to re-invent the wheel if you dont have to.

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galla35

I was gonna jump to the bottom and post the 2x6 on edge idea, good thing i looked through the whole thread first

moorewarner

I posted about the first tng floor I laied in another thread and one reply included the suggestion to take my miter saw off the stand and put it on the floor next to the work so I could just turn and cut. DOH! That simple change in how I was working would have saved a good bit of time.

The speed ups come with experience and the quickest way to get it is to work with someone who really knows their sh**. Short of that it just takes thought, during and after your work to figure out what steps you could of saved, and it helps to be able to set aside how and what you did and try and look at it with a fresh mind and ask "how could I have done this differently both in workmanship and process".

What matters most is desire, if you have that the rest will come.

D.Foster

Gene made a good point about efficiency with every step. Even if you can't physically add more to a task while retrieving a tool, or lumber, take that time to think.... Think about the next step or, the next tool you will need etc. Thinking ahead, always thinking and being mindful of the next few steps, without compromising attention of the present step is what will take some time, and learning. We all have those days Brotha!! You were humble enough to make that post, im sure you will learn well in the years to come.

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WNYcarpenter

You'll never be happy with your skills.....better tools, efficiency, perfection, etc...

There are beginners, and there are the guys writing the book. With the rest of us somewhere in the middle, Trading tricks and fighting similar battles.

Personally, I'm losing sleep over an equal challenge....I'm frustrated as hell, but I asked for it and would have it no other way.....an un-challenged carpenter is an unhappy carpenter!

I could only wish the guys I work with were as serious as the OP!

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loneframer

I was told by the guy who taught me more than anyone else,

"There is a fine line between production and perfection"

25 years later, I'm still pushing myself to find the balance.

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"Walking the fine line between production and perfection"



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antonioooooooo

Heres some pics of what I got done today... finished it early enough hahah... they made a change to the base so I made it bigger than 6 inches. Everything is pretty much bang on level except for whatever reason, on the left side of the fireplace, the top of the framing to the bottom of the bulkhead was 30 and a quarter and the right side was 30 so i said **** being perfectly level and made it the same. All ply is gonna be rock and all framing is gonna be drywall with that cool looking curved bead. Above the fireplace is gonna be a wall mounted tv.

Attached Images

	bulkheads.bmp (121.0 KB, 214 views)
	fireplaces.bmp (121.0 KB, 134 views)