Things Every Journeyman Carpenter Should Know...

BrianG

Hi all,

I'm Brian, a Carpenter Apprentice, and this will serve as an introduction post too. I've been in the trade a few years and always want to learn something more. And it seems the more I learn, the less I know!

Obviously learning should never stop, but in my opinion you should be able to give a journeyman a set of prints, a sight level and elevation, and maybe a laborer or helper and he should be able to get to work.

So, regardless of your specialty (trim, drywall, framing, forms, etc), what are things you think every journey level carpenter should know? I'm sure plenty of times you may have thought of this when either training someone or when someone did not know something.

Thanks for all the information I've picked up from these forums, I look forward to your responses.

Brian

A W Smith

Ability to lay out framing, stairs, roof rafter layout, take off materials, Ability to use tables found on a framing square, ability to calculate board feet, volumes, area, baluster spacing, Ability to visualize the finished product, ability to spot complications well in advance to avoid them, Ability to be be detail oriented. Ability to work around and plan your framing or project for other trades and to make their job easier without slowing you down. ability to schedule tasks in their correct order. Ability to use time management skills. for example don't go up or down a ladder or back to your truck empty handed if materials or equipment need to be moved.

__________________
Al Smith
http://www.awsmith.com

BrianG

Thanks for the response and list!

silvertree

Welcome, it sounds like you'll do well. AW knows whats he's talking about and summed it up pretty good. Hang in there and you'll be the man.

__________________
Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

curapa

You summed it up yourself.

Never get cocky and think you know it all. There is always something to be learned no matter how long you've been in the business.

trav007

Here's a rule that I learned very early on. It will make you an efficient, competent, and happy carpenter. This is the coveted 321 rule.

Plan, Plan, Plan
Measure, Measure
Cut


Unless your in a hurry...then just measure and cut....then run back to your saw because its 1 inch too short due to misreading the tape measure and cut a new piece....but now you forgot the measurement ( if you tried to go by memory ) or you forgot your note pad......so you remeasure and now your 1/8 too long because you don't want it to be too short again....now you cut a saw kerf off the end and it fits....and your tired.....and frustrated.....at least you had more wood right.

__________________
Travis
www.customkreations.ca
"The most perfect technique is that which is not noticed at all"
-Pablo Casals

troubleseeker

Never close your mind to anything someone is offerring as a "helpfull suggestion" for a task, no matter how dumb the guy offerring it may seem in your opinion or how outlandish the idea sounds at that particular moment, just put it in the back of your mind. I promise you that one day some version of it will save you a lot of grief on some task.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing I relentlessly tell young guys. "I never want to see you sharing your attention between operating a power tool and operating your mouth yacking with someone else." When my hand grabs a saw handle, I have only one point of concentration. If someone walks up and starts talking to me, they always get a "What were you saying" when I am finished with the tool.

A W Smith

Unless they are yelling "shut the damn saw off the blades too deep and your cutting my saw horse's in half"

__________________
Al Smith
http://www.awsmith.com

chris klee

or "dont cut like that, your going to cut the cord." to which they will reply, "no i wont" then walk in five minutes later and tell you they owe you a cord.

neolitic

Both of which fall under.....

__________________
Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

Double-A

Which brings up an interesting point.

What do you do with your circular saw cords while you cut?

I know some folks that just sorta flip them out of the way, but I, and some others, flip them behind, so they are being pulled behind the saw at all times.

I even have been known to flip the cord up over the shoulder of my cutting arm to keep in out of the way. Probably not the smartest thing I've ever done.

__________________
"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y.
New York Times, July 20, 2006

A W Smith

When cutting my cord goes up my arm around my neck and down my left arm

__________________
Al Smith
http://www.awsmith.com

neolitic

Over the shoulder...whatever it takes
to keep it out of the way, and not getting
snagged in the kerf/on the end of the board.
Another reason I loves mah P-C --
they have a little clip up near the top of the
handle to pull the cord around so it hangs
over the motor when you want.
(This my partner just recently "discovered"
after I pointed it out to him 10 years ago)

__________________
Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

Double-A

My wife never listens to you either.

__________________
"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y.
New York Times, July 20, 2006

neolitic

Ain't that the truth!

Between my partner (61),
and Mom (80) some days
I'm pretty sure that when I speak
it comes out chinese!

__________________
Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

orson

One thing I didn't see yet, make sure you know the Pythagorean theorum, one of the most useful pieces of geometry in carpentry.

www.rubycon.us
Ruby Construction LLC
Lancaster Kitchen Remodeling
Lancaster Bathroom Remodeling

TempestV

A few other things that haven't been talked about yet in regards to helpers and apprentices:
A journeyman should be able to run a crew and keep a couple people busy and efficient
A journeyman should be able to train and coach helpers and apprentices up to their level (provided the helper is worth training)

Double-A

I only go around my neck when I'm working up high. Fall protection you know.

__________________
"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y.
New York Times, July 20, 2006

A W Smith

Also should know how to square up a layout using the 3/4/5 method, also known as the 6/8/10 or the 12/16/20 method



Double A depending on how high you are do you use six or eight coils?

__________________
Al Smith
http://www.awsmith.com

Double-A

Thirteen. I don't want that sucker coming loose. Someone could get hurt.

__________________
"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y.
New York Times, July 20, 2006