questions from beginners

[squall_line]

I think the habitat for humanity comment is a good one. If someone has little background in home construction, go for it.  Better than someone posting a video on Youtube that has no idea what they are talking about. For those outside the US, habitat for humanity builds homes for folks who can't afford it, uses a mix of donated materials, used materials, volunteer workforce (trained and un-trained), and the future homeowner putting sweet equity into the house. It's one of the few ways someone would be around real construction, and not be just around family projects where those doing the project may not know what they are doing.

Ironically, I chimed in on the Habitat for Humanity comment earlier myself.  Sometimes I need to just listen to my own advice...

 

[jeffinsgf]

Jeez, you guys are overthinking this.

What do you need to get started with carpentry?

You get a hammer and a saw, and a box of nails.

Voila.

And a couple boards.  [big grin]

 

[squall_line]

Jeez, you guys are overthinking this.

What do you need to get started with carpentry?

You get a hammer and a saw, and a box of nails.

Voila.

And a couple boards.  [big grin]

My kid hasn't been born yet, but I'm led to believe that a lack of boards doesn't necessarily stop everyone from using hammers, saws, or nails;  walls and floors are perfectly fine for getting started with that, especially at a young age.  [eek]

I'm more worried because I was one of those kids who was constantly taking screwdrivers to things and disassembling them, rarely with any success in reassembly.  [embarassed]

 

[Ron B]

I'm more worried because I was one of those kids who was constantly taking screwdrivers to things and disassembling them, rarely with any success in reassembly.  [embarassed]

Reminds me of a story on my brother.  Many decades ago My dad told my two year old brother to leave the mud dabber (wasp nest) that was out in the garage alone and they will not bother you. He walked out of the garage, walked back in, and my brother had climbed onto of a workbench and with a screwdriver in his hand was preparing to attack the nest.  He would have been even more unsuccessful than you with that screwdriver if dad had not caught him in the act.   

 

[Packard]

Jeez, you guys are overthinking this.

What do you need to get started with carpentry?

You get a hammer and a saw, and a box of nails.

Voila.

And knowledge. 

There is a lot of responsibility associated with carpentry.  A painter does not have to worry that his work will cause an accident because of bad design.  He does not have to worry that a flight of stairs will fall because he only used one coat of paint.

A painter does not have to worry about structural walls. 

A carpenter also has to know how to flash windows; how to install a pan for a sliding door, what fasteners to use for assembling a deck. 

25 years ago a Home Depot carpenter came to make a repair on my deck.  He re-used 50 year old joist hangers and attached them with zinc-plated drywall screws. 

And uneducated carpenter can do lots of damage.

"A hammer and a saw" does not cut it in my opinion. 

True, but getting hired is another story.  [big grin]

 

[AlexThePalex]

And knowledge. 

There is a lot of responsibility associated with carpentry.  A painter does not have to worry that his work will cause an accident because of bad design.  He does not have to worry that a flight of stairs will fall because he only used one coat of paint.

A painter does not have to worry about structural walls. 

A carpenter also has to know how to flash windows; how to install a pan for a sliding door, what fasteners to use for assembling a deck. 

25 years ago a Home Depot carpenter came to make a repair on my deck.  He re-used 50 year old joist hangers and attached them with zinc-plated drywall screws. 

And uneducated carpenter can do lots of damage.

"A hammer and a saw" does not cut it in my opinion. 

With the quote box messed up above, I assume these are your words.

Like I said, you're overthinking this. This was about a "beginner", "getting started". No, a beginner is not put on making structural walls. When you start out, you start small, and you get your knowledge along the way by doing things. Step 1, step 2, step 3, etcetera.

I made my first treehouse when I was 6 or 7, with a hammer and a saw and a box of nails, nothing more. From some old, abandoned pallets laying around. Nobody told me how to do it, except that my father once showed me how to hammer a nail into the wall.

By the way, OP's original post was entirely rethorical, he never returned to this thread and was only interested in promoting his channel.

 

[Packard]

The quote box error was my fault.

But where I live all businesses have to be licensed.  The only license that would cover a carpenter is a "Construction Contractor".

I am not certain if or what the qualifications that are required for that type of business license.

All businesses need to file as a sole proprietorship, LLC, Corporation, etc.
All businesses need to have a town license and a EIN (IRS file number).
All businesses have to have a sellers' license.
All businesses have to have insurance.

So I will stick with "a saw and a hammer" is not sufficient. 

 

[AlexThePalex]

So, I take it, you can only be involved with the activity of carpentry if it is done professionaly?

Isn't that a somewhat narrow perspective?  [scratch chin]

I'll say again, you're really overthinking this. In fact. Most people know how to hammer two pieces of wood together. Only a very tiny percentage of them are professionals.

 

[mino]

The quote box error was my fault.

But where I live all businesses have to be licensed.  The only license that would cover a carpenter is a "Construction Contractor".

I am not certain if or what the qualifications that are required for that type of business license.

All businesses need to file as a sole proprietorship, LLC, Corporation, etc.
All businesses need to have a town license and a EIN (IRS file number).
All businesses have to have a sellers' license.
All businesses have to have insurance.

So I will stick with "a saw and a hammer" is not sufficient.

I think you needs to distinguish a Carpenter - with skill and authorization for a full range of tasks - who would just need an architect to go along. And a "carpentry worker" who is not authorized to do certain things but may work on the same big projects all the same.

For example over here, you need to have a trades school or some equivalent qualification, to be able to apply to a building business license as self-employed. If a limited company, you must employ a qualified person with construction trade education/license etc. etc.

But, that licensed person can have multiple helpers which do not need to have any formal qualification. As Alex who comes from NL which is anything but unregulated.

There is a BIG BIG difference in being able to do something non-commercially (and/or being hired as a helper) and being able bid for actual construction projects on your own.

At a start, the "bid on your own" (for a whole project) is a NO-NO for all kinds of reasons, not only the security ones.
But getting hired or contracted as a helper, doing oneself small non-structural carpentry, or pretty much any furniture jobs is absolutely fine at the same.

 

[Vondawg]

By the way, OP's original post was entirely rethorical, he never returned to this thread and was only interested in promoting his channel.

Absolutely!………And thanks Peter