The basics of the carpentry career

Carpenters are skilled craftsmen who perform carpentry work. Carpentry involves a wide range of woodworking. The construction may include wood, buildings, furniture and other wooden objects. To access this profession, you must be informed of the basics of the carpentry career.

Of course, the knowledge of the chosen profession is important. Passion is not enough to choose a domain, it is also important to know the nature and needs of a career that interests you.

Because of the intense physical and manual work that this career requires, most carpenters are men. Nearly 98.5% of carpenters are men, making it the fourth most dominated job in the United States.

There are approximately 1.2 million carpentry jobs in 2002. Most of them are contractors who build or repair buildings. Other carpenters work for manufacturing companies, government agencies, retail stores and schools. About 30% of carpenters are self-employed.

There are different types of carpenters. Knowing each type or job description can help future carpenters decide which area to specialize. Here are the different types of carpentry jobs:

• Mayster - involved in rough carpentry; includes framing, formwork, roofing and any other structural or large-scale work that is not necessarily polished.
• Joister - involved in laying floor joists. Floor joists are horizontal planks that provide floor strength to support the weight.
• Finishing carpenter - involved in finishing carpentry: cabinetmaking, furniture making, fine carpentry, model making, instrument making, flooring and other joinery requiring a minimum margin of error.
• Carpentry carpenter - involved in molding and carpentry, such as door and window frames, mantels, baseboards and ornamental work
• Cabinetmaker - involved in cabinets, wardrobes, chests of drawers, storage chests and other furniture, whose function is to tidy up
• Ship Carpenter - involved in the construction, maintenance and repair of ships, and carpentry specific to nautical needs.
• Scenic Carpenter - involved in the production of sets and sets for film, television and theater
• Framer - involved in the construction of skeletal structures or building frames.
• Roofer - involved and specialized in the construction of roofs, especially on rafters, beams and trusses
• Construction Millwrights - primarily involved in the processing of metals and machinery and precision-demanding equipment
• Piledrivers - involved in the installation of heavy frames requiring the use of cranes and rigging skill
• Plasterer - mix and apply wet plaster based on cement and gypsum to provide a fire-resistant finish on interior surfaces such as walls and ceilings, etc.

To gain a lot of knowledge about the profession of their choice, carpenters learn their trade through in-company training, formal training programs, vocational training or training for employers and apprenticeships. From high school, carpentry is already taught in courses such as carpentry, workshop, drawing and mathematics.

Apprenticeships combine vocational training with classroom work. Apprenticeship applicants must be at least 18 years old and pass an exam to verify that they have the necessary skills to become a carpenter. The duration of the program is usually 3 to 4 years. Beginner carpenters learn under the supervision of more experienced practitioners.

In addition to the laborious and arduous tasks of a carpenter, the carpentry work requires or involves the following:

• Read blueprints and / or obtain instructions from a supervisor
• Lay out, including choosing materials, method or work, and measure and mark materials to avoid costly mistakes
• Cut and shape materials and assemble them
• Verification of completed units to ensure they are level, square, plumb, as well as the appropriate shape, size and location