Woodworkers, people in the trades: If you could change professions, would you?

[RC]

Closest call I've ever had wasn't related to work, but during my matriculation exams I got frustrated with the first part of my Finnish exam going badly and went off for a ride on a dirt road along a river to blow some steam.

This happened in the middle of the winter and I didn't notice that under the fresh snow the whole road was of mirror ice. Drove into a 90 degree corner too fast, hit the brakes and nothing happened - except that I slid off the road heading directly at the river.

Tipped my car over the river bank and thank god for that single tree on the river bank in about a mile that I hit with my roof and stopped my roll just short of the waterline. Without that tree I would have been upside down in the river and most likely drowned trapped in the car with the roof through the ice. I've never felt so wobbly in my legs then when I climbed out of the passenger window of my car and climbed back onto the road to get help.

 

[JLB builders LLC]

Hey guys,

Anyone else have close calls?  I can think of a few...and all were human error due to time related pressure...

Jon

I was 2 years old and fell off a playground slide landing on my head.
We won't get into the results of that one, thank you [eek] : [unsure]
Tinker

Hey I did that around 5-6 maybe…except I slide upside down on the pole supporting it. Was a very tall slide…and I let go from about 5-6 feet up. guess i was near sited….ground looked closer lol.

Other than getting shot in the hand with a paslode, small cuts and scrapes nothing electrical tape couldn't fix, driving a cordless drill with a philips bit through my thumb knuckle shredding the joint and having plastic electrical conduit wrap around my legs and trip me tearing the tend/ligs in my knee I have been pretty lucky….Knock on wood.

Cops get shot at or stabbed, people get hit by cars and trucks, mugged, murdered, etc..  accidents can happen to anyone anywhere so I do not really dwell on it. I really enjoy my work. The only thing that scares me is my kids 17 and 18 working with me and teaching them to be safe and conscious of everything they do. Was teaching my 18 yr old how to use a joiner last week…whew!

My Grandfather was building his house in Puerto Rico at the age of 75 and stepped on a sheet of plywood sliding off the roof 2 stories up. He grabbed the sides and surfed to the ground then carried it back up and finished.

a few years later he was roofing a house and going up a 30 ft ladder with a bundle of shingles on his shoulders. he got to the top and the ladder kicked out. Broke his hip and tore his nose up with the grit on the shingles. The next day he was on the roof with crutches hand nailing shingles.

Last year he was putting an addition on my moms house at 92 and the cement mixer fell in the footer. he tore his groin muscle pushing it out by himself. He finished but it took him awhile. lol

There are many more stories like that about him and I think I pretty much am the same way…at least I hope.

I also tell people I can get things done quicker but it takes a toll on your mind and body. I tell them now 3 weeks when I know it takes a week and a half so when I finish sooner they are happy. Other clients know I do my best and give them 110% of quality at a good price so they don't complain.

 

[Nigel]

I was plasterboarding/drywalling an attic in a large house ,using metal rails and screws with a very rapid screw gun - it just pops the screws in at 6000 rpm.I was alone working in the house attic boarding the ceiling.

On a stepladder I was holding a piece of metal to the back of the board merrily 'popping' screws in. When I went to move off the ladder I found I couldn't move my hand  [which was above my head]  at all.It felt like a piece of wood nailed down - rock solid and unable to move. My thumb was screwed to the back of the ceiling but I hadn't felt a thing.

Three thoughts occurred to me pretty quickly.I was alone. The screw gun disengages it's clutch when screws are driven in and third my mobile phone was on a pile of plasterboard on the other side of room.....the fourth sickening thought was that I may have to rip my hand free. I still had the screw gun on the stepladder and I had to try it expecting it to spin uselessly. It didn't and I was released as quickly as I was trapped.Ahh the relief!! Then I felt really stupid. I had been certain my hand was miles away from the screw. How wrong can you be.

Not really life threatening  but it still makes me feel sick to think of it.

 

[Tinker]

I have several work related accident stories.  Most of them happened tto me and several i have related to the FOG.  I think i have told this one before, so i will make it short (if that is possible  :)
I was working for three brothers.  They were all bosses and so i was low man (boy) on the totem pole.  We were building a fairly large (for the day > 1950) ranch.  The oldest brother told me as long as i could keep the three of them supplied with shingles, they would let me help with he nailing.  I would do anything to get "to use the tools" in any trade they worked at.  I propped the ladder at an angle I could put a load (3 bundles) of shingles on my shoulder and run up the ladder, plop them within reach of the carpenters and run back for 3 more bundles.  We had wood gutters at edge of roof and they were real solid.  As I would get to edge of the roof, I would reach down and grab the edge of the gutter, flip out and land on the scaffolding plank a few feet below the soffit.  I would hit that plank with me facing the house.  There was a pile of dirt where we had not backfilled (that was one of my jobs which i worked on by hand every evening for a couple of hours after work).  I would flip backwards and spin so I would land on my feet facing away from the house and continue running to the shingle pile, grabbing 3 more bundles and run back up the ladder.  In lass than a minute, i could get 9 bundles onto the roof. 

Jim, the oldest brother would yelll at me that I was crazy.  He tried to explain (without quite clobbering me with his hammer) that "one of these days you are going to get yourself killed." Since i was 19 years old, i of course knew a heck of a lot more than all three of the brothers put together and just kept on with my exuberance.  On one of my flights from the roof, as my feet hit the soffit plank, they just kept oon heading south.  We had a scaffold set up blow the window level and my feet went tru that plank as well.  The foundation had not been backfilled yet and I continued right on down to the footing.  I was lucky I did not get killed from the fall, but i was not hurt.  That is, i wasn't hurt until all of the plank pieces caught up with me and started clattering all over my head and shoulders. That was the only time in the year of working with those three brothers that any two of them agreed to anything.  they all agreed that i was a total idiot, but they still expected me to keep the shingles coming.

I worked at just about all of the trades while working with those brothers.  i think i did something just as stupid while learning every one of the trades, but I remained friends with all of the brothers for many moons after.  I said above that i have been lucky to have enjoyed most of the jobs and trades I have worked at.  Certainly i liked most of the building trades and most of my agricultural experiences.  About the only trade I did not like was electrician.  Back then, all cable was BX.  Being left handed, i had to tie my arms into a knot to cut that stuff.  I could cut it, but it was a hastle for me. I also was not crazy about painting, but just about everything else i tried I liked doing.

Tinker

 

[HowardH]

I would worry about the trades becoming harder to get young men and women to commit to early on.  In the U.S., there is this push that everyone should have a college education.  I'm all for education, I have a degree, but there are plenty of reasons for a young person to go into the trades and the public schools are not providing that training anymore.  Not everyone is cut out to go to college.  When I went to high school, we had automobile shop classes but those have long gone away.  My understanding is that in the EU, the educational system still gives a student a choice between going the higher education route or to apprentice in a trade.  Is that right?  There will always be a need for plumbers, electricians, mechanics, carpenters, HVAC techs as all these college edumacated guys won't have a clue on how to fix or build anything.  I can do some things along those lines, none all that well, so I am envious of the skill the trades guys have.  Those skills are not easily attained and require dedication and hard work, both good character traits to teach our kids. 

 

[JLB builders LLC]

Im teaching my kids 17 and 18 but still want them to go to college. They have a lot of skills for there age and do a great job.

True there is a shortage in the trades. Even if they do get some young guys into it they do not seem to take pride and want to do a great job. More of a stepping stone to another "job" and not a career or they are on drugs  and or steal. 

 

[HowardH]

my summer between high school and freshman year at college I spent building a house with a friend in Houston.  There were a lot of new houses being built at that time in my neighborhood and we noticed a guy framing this 3000 sqft home all by himself.  Curious, we asked him what was going on and indeed he was going to build this house all by himself.  My friend and I, 18 and without a summer job, asked if he need some help.  He asked if we had framing hammers and pouches!   [huh] I didn't but hurried down to the Sears store and got a 22 oz framing hammer and leather pouch and he paid us $3.75/hr.  We started the next day and by days end I had to pry my fingers off the handle since my forearm was spasming.   [scared]  Over the course of the summer we framed, put the roof on, helped pull wire, put on the roof, hung sheet rock (never been so tired in all my life, before or since), tape and floated, ran base and trim, painted inside and out, helped hang cabinets and I'm sure a lot of other things.  It was basically a crash course in the trades and it gave me a keen appreciation of what it all meant.  It was a lot of fun and 36 years later I still have that hammer.  The claw is about .5" shorter from chipping away concrete from time to time but I still use it.  

 

[jmarkflesher]

I was working on a science building for Delbarton High School in 1996. A new Head Master had been hired and he was living on campus with his wife Hanna. She was from Sweden and she explained to me the education system is much different in Europe. They would track each students strengths and weaknesses from an early age. If you loved a subject they would gear you're classes towards that love. Yes you still got all the basics but not everyone is pushed to college. Is this the way it still is in Europe or have they also gone the way of the USA?

 

[RC]

In Finland we supposedly have the most advanced schooling system in the world and you are encouraged to deepen you knowledge in subjects of intrest since daycare (3 years up). Everyone gets a broad base of knowledge in a wide variety of subject from science/maths to cooking and wood/metalworking and we have usually an advanced group and a normal group in class and a support groups for low performers with the possibility for teacher led extra lessons too. Our literacy rate 100% and we as a nation have been hitting top scores in international testing for years. About 90% of our youth continue to higher education after high school and a majority of those head into university studies that aim at Masters degrees.

We have introduced an in-between schooling system that fits in the gap between the old trade schools we had and a university in the 2000's as the new thing. What this basically is is a trade school with added theory lessons and a defined upgrade path to a university degree but the schooling still includes the old hands-on tradework as well. The old trade schools have all but gone extinct in the last five years.

Unlike Germany where the university system work so that everyone gets in but you are weeded out constantly based on your results if you're not cutting it, here we have to pass entrance exams to all higher education programmes before entry, but then you won't be thrown out even if you decide to work on the side or take a year off or what ever.

Oh, and a notable difference to the US and most of rest of the world is that all schooling is paid by tax payer money including university degrees. My M.Sc.EE cost me in books and materials about 5000€ (and I recall seeing a figure of it costing 100.000€ to the government).

 

[Tinker]

This is not very spectacular, but i had a little fun with it.

Two weeks ago, i had a double hernia operation.  I had gone over post op activities with the surgeon before the operation was to take place. I had asked how long i would be laid up and he told me I would go home the same day, and could go back to normal activities within a day or two.

"Hey Doc, just because you see all of this white hair on my head and chin doesn't mean I don't really believe I am only 39."

(I've been 39 for a few years longer than I wasn't)

"What do you mean?"

It means my normal activities are probably a bit more strenous than what you might think."  I went on to explain that my "normal activities" include driving truck, landscaping work, woodworking and on an on with some of the more frightening aspects of the activities that might be included during my recovery.  He then told me i could drive, but I had to limit any lifting to nothing heavier than a gallon of milk.  "In or out of a container?" I asked.

I asked about running my riding mower.  "That should be ok."

"Doc, my mower can mow at 10 to 12 miles per hour, solid frame with no soft suspension.  It can really bounce on rough ground."

"Look, all I can tell you is that if you shake that webbing around, you will be right back in the hospital getting the whole thing redone.  That can be a bit of a problem."  He went on to advise that i really take it easy for atleast ten days and I will be coming in for checkup within two weeks.  I agreed and told him a friend would help me with my landscaping.

On Friday, a week after the op, i was mowing under a low limbed tree and reached up to move a low branch out of my way.  I immediately was stung on the hand by a white tailed hornet.  I put my mower into overdrive and headed out across the lawn.  As soon as i stopped, I was nailed by two more hornets on the same hand.  I kicked in the afterburners and sped further across the lawn.  After checking where the nest was, we finished mowing. Eventually, the next day, i went back and destroyed the nest.

On Wednesday, two days ago, i went back for my post op inspection.  When the doc finally got to me, he had a student (nurse or doctor) with him.  He asked if I minded her being there as he checked me over.  Hey, she was a heck of a lot cuter than he was, so I assured him it was ok. 

He asked how i was doing.  "Fine."

"No problems"?

"Well, I did run into a hornet nest on Friday and got stung by three of them."

"I thought you were going tto take it easy."

"I was.  If I had been mowing at my normal speed, they ever would have caught me."

The good doctor just shook his head and said to the young lady beside us, "You know, he is just a little bit crazy."

Note: Should I have been insulted? :

Oh well, i am back to work, no ill side effects
Tinker

 

[tiralie]

LOL good one. That's a fast lawn mower, and it sounds like a pretty big yard too.
Tim

 

[peter halle]

Wayne,

Dixie Chopper?

 

[sancho57]

Sorry if Im a little late to the party. I just found this thread.

Im at a point in my life where Im getting ready to retire from my job. Ive worked this job for 25 years.

So Im thinking now what?

Prior to my present job I worked with tools repairing and building things and loved it.

I build cabinets and built-in for people all my clients and friends seem to be happy with my work.

Now its time for me to go on to something else.

I would like to get back into building / repairing things.

Ive been thinking about finding furniture at swap meets, garage sales and even what people have thrown out.

Repairing it and reselling it. Im in no hurry to turn the stuff over, as long as I make a few bucks etc Ill be good with it.

Also I enjoy building cabinets and finish work.

Ive thought about the house flipping thing, buying a home, take my time remodeling it while I live there then selling it after a year making a profit  and buying another.

I was also thinking of going to a temp agency and working a few days a week very part time.

I dunno like I said its a tough decision

Its a difficult decision for me to make.

 

[Tinker]

Wayne,

Dixie Chopper?

Skag Turf Tiger w/29hp fuel injection water cooled engine.
If I'm in a hurry, my butt hits the seat every 20 feet or so  [wink]
Tinker

 

[Jonhilgen]

Wayne,

Dixie Chopper?

Skag Turf Tiger w/29hp fuel injection water cooled engine.
If I'm in a hurry, my butt hits the seat every 20 feet or so  [wink]
Tinker

You got nitrous on that thing?  I would love a riding mower since I also now about 6 yards in my neighborhood with a 21" walk behind...Hey, maybe I'll get out of woodworking and get into landscaping full time.

Peter, your story was remeniscent of a urgent care experience I had when I first started.  I got my index finger stuck in an edgebander  (theres, a spindle with spikes that grabs the wood and it grabbed my finger.)and it took driving to three places to finally get some proper attention.

Jon

Jon

 

[Tinker]

Wayne,

Dixie Chopper?

Skag Turf Tiger w/29hp fuel injection water cooled engine.
If I'm in a hurry, my butt hits the seat every 20 feet or so  [wink]
Tinker

You got nitrous on that thing?  I would love a riding mower since I also now about 6 yards in my neighborhood with a 21" walk behind...Hey, maybe I'll get out of woodworking and get into landscaping full time.

Peter, your story was remeniscent of a urgent care experience I had when I first started.  I got my index finger stuck in an edgebander  (theres, a spindle with spikes that grabs the wood and it grabbed my finger.)and it took driving to three places to finally get some proper attention.

Jon

Jon

Jon, 61" deck  14K new  3k trailer  25k truck
Festoys aren't the only expensive playthings
Have at it  [laughing]

 

[lumbajac]

Ive been thinking about finding furniture at swap meets, garage sales and even what people have thrown out.

Repairing it and reselling it. Im in no hurry to turn the stuff over, as long as I make a few bucks etc Ill be good with it.

Sancho57,

I heard on The Dave Ramsey Show back around June 5 a caller who did the furniture reselling thing.  I tried to find the archived recording of the show for you, but one has to pay to access that far back. 

Anyway, I believe the caller was a relatively recent college grad in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area who picked up cheap or free furniture, mostly via Craigslist, fixed it up (most he said only needed a few screws to strengthen things back up), and resold it via Craigslist.  He also said he knew the large item garbage pickup days for all the surrounding subdivisions and picked up some major scores with his pickup truck on those days.

I believe he pulled in $24K in his first 12 months of doing it with his past month (last May) being his best yet by pulling in something like $4100 if memory serves me correctly.  To make a long story short he paid off his debts, but was going to keep doing the furniture reselling thing for "fun money."  Best part of all is that he had no overhead, no licences needed, and no tax issues that I'm aware of.

Corey

 

[sancho57]

Thank you, thats exactly what I was wanting to do.

At least I now Im on the right track.

I have all tools I need to do this. So no major purchases will be needed ( Unless festool releases something new that I have to have)

Much like the caller on the radio, I wouldnt use this for my total income as Id have a retirement check coming in.

It would be to keep me busy and fishing /  ice tea money ( I dont drink).

Mohawk Finishes has furniture repair classes here periodically and are very reasonably priced.

So at least now I know Im thinking in the right direction.

Youve been really helpful

 

[Jonhilgen]

Tinker,

I need a good, small zero clearance mower.  Yards around here are small, with gates.  Any good suggestions?  This is my "fun" money I make outside of woodworking, but in the summer its not so fun mowing three yards after a day of working in the field.  Dropping a couple of grand on a decent mower will pay for itself in a short time.

Jon

 

[Tinker]

Jon,
If the yards are small (a matter of contention i suppose)  a good walk behind would be better.
I now work alone and almost never use my walk behinds, but when i had help, I mowed the large areas and had the help do the sall areas with the walkers.  Now, i only use the rider.  For the small lawns, it actually takes me longer than my help could do with the walkers.  Today, most walk-behinds have hydraulic drives.  As an add-on, they have small "trailers" that the operator can stand on.  With hydraulic drive, those "Velkies" are a must.  When you try to make 180º turn, without the velkie, the mower can actually run over you if not careful.

Another point about the preferrence/choice of walk-behind or rider is transport.  Almost all walk-behinds will fit easilly of the back of a pickup truck.  Some riders are too big.  many too heavy for a 1/2ton pickup.  They can be dangerous to load and unload onto a truck.  You should have a trailer with a rider mower.  If you want to know about the dangers Z-turn riders for loading onto a truck, you can send me a message (my E-mail is listed with my id) and i can go into more detail for you.

As far as which brand is best, look at the dealers.  Look at their shops and look into their reputations.  I get only Skag because that's what my dealer sells AND SERVICES.  If he don't sell it, I don't buy it.  As many here spend more $$$ for Festoys because the service is great, so should you look at the service for a mower and other landscaping tools.

Good luck
Tinker