Since this is the right place to ask, because im sure some of you were laborers at some point and now probably have laborers working for you... How do I present myself so that I wont have any trouble finding someone to take me under his wing and teach me the real craft. I know I gotta work hard, and I will. Any tips and suggestions welcome. Thanks guys.

 

Ask questions, even if they seem like dumb ones. Keep up with new products and their application methods, they change constantly. Pay attention to the details of what your mentor does. College classes would help, math is vital, an example would be the post Tom made to help the gentleman with his odd crown installation. Young people have the advantage of the internet, you can learn a great deal right here. As far as learning it all goes, "LOL". Good luck. Carpentry can be a very good career if you do quality work. However, to learn it you are going to have to get dirty, get splinters, bang up your thumb a few times and be willing to do it again. Carpentry isn't for everyone. Ya gotta actually work for a livin'

 

I start a laborer job monday the 10th. Big custom home here in Mesa, AZ. Ill tell you guys one thing, the little book that was attached to my Craftsman speed square has been teaching me more about roofs then my book(gives you all of the pitch tables from 2-12 to the end). I think I could make a common cut if I were asked to. I also just got a big book called Modern Carpentry(all the other books seemed really old, the title made me get the book).

Ah,... the little speed square book..
Yes, that will show you how to use the speed square to cut rafter angles, but it won't tell you how long the rafter should be......

After you get the basics of how to use the speed square and get familiar with pitches,angles, and degrees; do yourself a favor and buy a GOOD quality framing square with the little book on that one..... The framing square does alot more than just check to see if you corners are square..

Trust me on this.......I was taught by a master builder who only used the framing square, no others..He taught me the hows and whys of construction.

 

Since this is the right place to ask, because im sure some of you were laborers at some point and now probably have laborers working for you... How do I present myself so that I wont have any trouble finding someone to take me under his wing and teach me the real craft. I know I gotta work hard, and I will. Any tips and suggestions welcome. Thanks guys.

Just the fact that you're going to school for this trade should tell any builder that you are more than just a grunt:thumbsup:

Keep the interest in learning, ask questions, make suggestions, try to solve things on your own... After a little field experience, take the initiative to prove yourself... Don't be afraid to fail, and when(not if) you do, LEARN from it.

If you find yourself working for someone that cannot or will not mentor you, then find another. When I was 17 years old, I went to work for two brothers who had a small construction company. The older brother had went to a trade school after high school and worked for various builders for several years. Then when the younger brother graduated from high school, they started their company.... The younger brother had no previous experience working for other people, he jumped right in to being a "boss". I always said that I worked "for" the younger, and worked "with" the older... The older brother is the one who taught me how to use the framing square.. He would quite often ask ME what I thought on certain things while building, most of the time I had no idea, but he was testing me and trying to help me think out the whole process & come up with a solution.. the younger brother would never do this, he just gave orders.. If I asked him "why" or "how", he would say "just do it!"

I was just a grunt for the younger brother, while the older brother was actually teaching me and preparing me for my future.. I will be forever grateful to this older brother......These two are now split up and not on speaking terms...... The older brother owns and operates a very high end custom cabinet shop now, while the younger is still trying to get by with small construction projects and no permanent employees.

 

Here are a few tips, if you carry in wood carry trash out. Learn what "head ache" means real fast. Learn to push your crew and stay ahead of them. The lead and a young mule are the most important spots on the job. Carpenters get burned out so keep the material and tools in front of them and they'll use them more and once you get caught up they will have no choice but to let you in on the framing.

 

My suggestion is to do what everyone else says, ask questions... There is nothing wrong with asking, most tradesmen would much rather have a guy that asks, whether right or wrong, rather than a guy that just knows it all and subsequently does something wrong. You can't fake the knowledge you have now at construction because it will tell on you. However, what you can prove is your willingness to learn and BE TAUGHT the right way to do something. This drive that you seem to posses is invaluable to a trade crew member, and if your Lead man doesn't realize this, then go somewhere that does. Being in the field cutting RO's and Rafter tails is the best way to learn.

 

How do I present myself so that I wont have any trouble finding someone to take me under his wing and teach me the real craft.

First ya gotta find someone that knows the "Craft". Then be honest, don't pretend to know something you don't. As posted above, it'll show. Being honest with yourself and the one you work for will prove itself profitable to the both of you. I feel lucky, 28 years ago an old man, he was 67 then, took me under his wing and was patient enough to deal with this eager (thought I knew it all) one. Well, I hope he would be proud now. However, I have taken many things he taught me and applied my own style to them, I reckon everyone does. As posted above, Get and learn how to use a framing square. It'll do anything and a great deal more than a speed square. My mentor handed me one and told me he would consider me a carpenter when I could do my taxes on it. I still can't. Get what I mean?

 

One thing the guys have neglected to advise you on. When i hire a new guy, I tell them keep their eyes and ears OPEN, and the pie hole CLOSED, til they get a feel for what we do. Lots of guys will tell someone to do something, and not fully explain what they actually want. Ask questions to complete the task, but do not ask useless, or pointless questions, and don't try to impress your new boss with your skills aquired through the little book that came with your speed square.

Couple of other things....I like motivation, standing and watching others work is what I do...not my crew guys...When my crew leader and I are discussing something, it does NOT mean take ten, unless my crew leader says take ten. When the HO or customer come onto the job site, do not offer your opinion or comments, and if they corner you, politely decline to answer. There is no shame in being a beginner. When you see something that needs to be done, step up and do it...you will know after the first day what this means...and finally, my own pet peave...when my guys tool up, they are handling hundreds or dollars worth of tools...even if you see others do it, NEVER mis-handle tools...i watched a newbie toss my new Skil Bigfoot saw in the back of the step van without even rolling the cord up. I asked if he would like to own it? His reply got him fired...he said.."it ain't mine", well...that summed up how he would work out,...

 

Im just afraid ill ask too many questions. Like, "put our tools away" "where?" and what if i put'em away wrong. I would never let tools, mine or his, be damaged if I could at all prevent it. As soon as I figure out how the people ill work with want things done the sooner ill be catching up on the ***** work and getting a few minutes here and there to learn a few things. Looks like I need a Framing Square and another tool bag. Thanks alot guys, ill let you know how my first couple of days go.

 

I'm 28 and live in Tennessee,,, i started out being a laborer straight out of high school for a framing crew,, i did that off and on for about 4 years working for different crews learning all of the different methods that goes with framing a house,, framed houses from 1500 sqft to 13,000 sqft, wood framing and metal stud framing,, i eventually got burned out doing the same thing every day and wanted more,,, so i went to work for a brick laying crew,, learned how to do it but not a profession for me,,lol,, then i found a contractor that did every aspect of builing a house himself,, then i learned the electrical, plumbing, hvac, ceramic tile, hardwood, trim work, ect,,, 2 years ago i went into the business for myself,, i went and got the small contractors license and spit out some money for advertising. Now i am getting calls for everything from replacing foundation vents to builing room additions. Just to give you an idea when i started out do labor work i made $8 dollars an hour,, and now i average $3000 to $4000 a month. Just an example,, i did a 300 sqft screened-in porch by myself,,, to a month to do it and made $4700 from it. One more piece of advise,,, some contractors are pretty picky as far as who they want to work for them,,, but you need to be picky too,, because you don't want a job that you dread waking up to every morning,,, find a contractor that that talks and can teach you stuff,,, i've worked for some that don't say a word the whole day you are working,, so see if you can find one that is just as interested in teaching you what you want to know as you are interested in learning the trade. Don't worry about the petty stuff like wondering how the tools get put away,, if he has you start to put them away and you don't know where they go then neatly set them by his truck until he gets there and ask him. So good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

Well its been a while, been so Fing busy and tired, I started on Sat the 8th, then mon thru sat, and now its tuesday afternoon and im hurting. They dont let the new guy off for nothing, I got a manfac.I beam floor joist dropped on my back today. Other then being always tired and sore I gotta pick up the speed on some things and ill be good. Supposedly the last 2 laborers didnt even last a whole day. You definately cant get that kind of work out at the gym. Everybody have a great day and THANKS.

 

thefng: if your crewleaders dont want to teach someone who is willing to learn. find a new crew. & be honest when applying to any job.

 

I think night school and the hands on is the only way to go. (Schooling) learn the formulas thats the key I would say everything is difficult if you do not know the simple formulas to figure them out. a2+b2=c2 lol
just making a little joke, been reading some threads about squaring things up and I guess if you cant square anything you shouldnt try to BUILD.:thumbup:

 

When you are a laborer for a framing crew, no one is going to teach you anything. You learn by using your eyes!!!! Watch what everyone else does. Then one day you will finish nailing joist hangers earlier and they will let you on the nail gun and you will know what to do. You just won't be able to do it fast!!!

I'd recommened working for a good GC over a framing contractor. You will be alot more rounded then. And GCs make more money anyway.

I worked for a framing contractor all through high school. I hated doing the same stuff everyday. Then i got a job with a GC. We subbed almost everything out. But there was always something to do. One day i'd be framing, then the next grouting tile, etc. It taught me alot about everything and made me really love construction and helped me decide what i wanted to do in life.

Matt

 

I dont know how old you are or your situation but one thing that I know has helped a lot of people 'when they were younger' was JobCorps. You have to live on the campus in most areas, but you get paid for your time and its free training. Hands on training. Plus its a good experience. I do know you have to be 24 or younger to get in and I think the number is 1-800-JOB-CORPS.

Just a thought.