I have a nephew that wants to be a carpenter. . . but

episodic

Lifer
Feb 7, 2004
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His parents are pressing hard for college.

He came to me to try to help sway his parents to his side.

Not knowing anything about carpentry, I thought I'd ask what you all thought. . .

He is graduating next year (high school). . .

I know he is very hands on. . . and is good at this kind of stuff already.
 

AgaBoogaBoo

Lifer
Feb 16, 2003
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He needs to apply and find a place that offers something remotely similar. He should have already started on developing these skills and made his own path into this area, can't expect to jump right into it after HS.
 

Ronstang

Lifer
Jul 8, 2000
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Nothing wrong with wanting to be a carpenter. He can even specialize later on and open his own business. Nothing wrong with this profession and there is potential for making more money than your average college grad that is going to get stuck in a dead end low paying job for most of his/her career.
 

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
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Tell him to go to college for BCM (Building Construction Management) if he decides to do the school thing. Good money and can be as hands on as he wants it to be.
 

compnovice

Diamond Member
Jun 18, 2005
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I don't know anything about carpentry... But I do know that many majors in college are not worth the time, money and effort...
 

axelfox

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 1999
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Jesus was a carpenter, if that helps.

If not, carpenter ants can lift a couple of hundred times more their own body weight :D
 

episodic

Lifer
Feb 7, 2004
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Don't you need to go to trade school of some sort? What about the apprentice journeyman and master thing? Those are things I don't understand. . .
 

Toastedlightly

Diamond Member
Aug 7, 2004
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Originally posted by: axelfox
Jesus was a carpenter, if that helps.

If not, carpenter ants can lift a couple of hundred times more their own body weight :D

/thread

...wait...
 

AnyMal

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
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Skilled caprenters are always in demand. Earning potential is very high (up to six digits) if he's willing to work a lot and be very good at what he's doing.
 

dartworth

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
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Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
He needs to apply and find a place that offers something remotely similar. He should have already started on developing these skills and made his own path into this area, can't expect to jump right into it after HS.


Sure he can get into it right out of high school...

Have your nephew contact the local carpenter's union hall and see if they are taking applications and when they are putting on an apprentice class. You can make decent money working in the building trades.
 

Ronstang

Lifer
Jul 8, 2000
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Originally posted by: dartworth
Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
He needs to apply and find a place that offers something remotely similar. He should have already started on developing these skills and made his own path into this area, can't expect to jump right into it after HS.


Sure he can get into it right out of high school...

Have your nephew contact the local carpenter's union hall and see if they are taking applications and when they are putting on an apprentice class. You can make decent money working in the building trades.

If he actually has carpentry skills already and is talented he would be much better off getting out of any state that has a union of this type unless he wants to be held back or screwed completely.
 

dartworth

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
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One more thing...I was just talking to a carpenter on a job I was doing and he is getting ready to retire. He is 49 and going to retire at 50 and will make $60K just from his pension...

I was a bit jealous as he can retire so early...:(
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
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Where does he live? Here in Northern Kahleeforneeya, journeyman UNION carpenters (wood-ticks ;) )make about $28/hour, PLUS excellent benefits. Obviously, an apprentice starts at MUCH less, somewhere around $14 or so, but still pretty decent money to learn a trade. Non-union carpenters here traditionally top out around $18-20 and have to pay for their benefits, IF and WHEN they have any.
 

KarmaPolice

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2004
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i know nothing aout carpentry but i dont see a problem with it. I recommend college to most people but college simply isnt for everyone. You can make a lot of money in any skilled trade...you can makemuch more then someone working in a office somewhere. I would do it if i had any kind of skill with my hands..but i really really dont. I live in a pretty nice neighborhood..dare i say...rather rich(not my house..but the others) and one of the nicest houses in here is a guy who is a mechanic...he makes a but load...sure his hands may not be as clean as Mr. Doctor next door but he makes his way.

Now...you gotta tell him that it takes a lot of work...a ****** cartpenter..is well...a ****** carpenter.
 

dartworth

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
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Originally posted by: Ronstang
Originally posted by: dartworth
Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
He needs to apply and find a place that offers something remotely similar. He should have already started on developing these skills and made his own path into this area, can't expect to jump right into it after HS.


Sure he can get into it right out of high school...

Have your nephew contact the local carpenter's union hall and see if they are taking applications and when they are putting on an apprentice class. You can make decent money working in the building trades.

If he actually has carpentry skills already and is talented he would be much better off getting out of any state that has a union of this type unless he wants to be held back or screwed completely.


Just remember this sir, unions aren't run the same everywhere so please do not make such generalizations.

Misinformation does not help...
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
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If he enjoys it and is willing to work hard to become good at it, it sounds like a better choice for him than to spend 4 years at college "just because."

Definitely have him look into the union opportunities in your area, to see if they are accepting apprentices and under what terms. They can also give him an idea of how much work is really involved in learning carpentry as a trade instead of just playing at it.
 

Greenman

Lifer
Oct 15, 1999
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The trades can be very rewarding. I've been a carpenter for 30 years, and a contractor for 20. Im also an electriction, plumber, tile setter and a pretty fair draftsmen. In a good market, you can make $500 a day without killing yourself. A lot of people around here don't think thats much money, but you can live on it in most parts of the country.
 

bctbct

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 2005
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Union for sure if he can get in. Carpentry work is hard on the body and gotta have the pension. Non Union might give him an extra buck or so and he wouldnt have to go to apprenticeship school but he will never get near the benefits.

Interior finishes if he wants to keep busy and stay out of bad weather. Stay away from concrete work.

Tell him to target a small to mid size contractor that does interior work. If he has a chance to get trained for doing accoustical ceilings tell him to pursue that. Small contractors tend to cross train, in this business the more you know the more you will work, guaranteed. Large contractors will put you at your best and leave you there, but you go home if they run out of that type of work.

Carpenters usually have tons of opportunities to work on the side for extra $$

Warning, its a hard life and you have to work your tail off, employers expect it and replace you if you cant produce.

I belong to the Carpenters so PM me if you have any specific questions.
 

bctbct

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 2005
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Originally posted by: Ronstang

If he actually has carpentry skills already and is talented he would be much better off getting out of any state that has a union of this type unless he wants to be held back or screwed completely.


Not so
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
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he should make some local contacts and figure out what he needs to do, and go to his parents once he has a solid plan of action.
 

Fenixgoon

Lifer
Jun 30, 2003
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Originally posted by: Greenman
The trades can be very rewarding. I've been a carpenter for 30 years, and a contractor for 20. Im also an electriction, plumber, tile setter and a pretty fair draftsmen. In a good market, you can make $500 a day without killing yourself. A lot of people around here don't think thats much money, but you can live on it in most parts of the country.

500/day not much money? dude, that's 2500/week = 10k/month = 120k/year. that's a fvckload of money, unless you're living in a big city, where that gets you a 1sq ft apartment
 
May 16, 2000
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There are plenty of reasons to go with college right after school, but also reasons not to. It's entirely his decision, not his parents. I think college can be beneficial to everyone though, and there are programs geared towards construction type fields. Bottom line is education is like drug counseling: unless you personally want it enough, it's not going to have any effect.
 

giantpinkbunnyhead

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2005
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Originally posted by: Ronstang
Nothing wrong with wanting to be a carpenter. He can even specialize later on and open his own business. Nothing wrong with this profession and there is potential for making more money than your average college grad that is going to get stuck in a dead end low paying job for most of his/her career.

Very true. my dad owns a woodworking business (started in carpentry) and makes far more money in a month than I make in a year. And I don't live too shabby. There's potential in most any job, I think... as long as the motivation is there. as far as college vs. no college? Different sets of advantages, is all that is.