Popular Post Eric. Posted July 11, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 11, 2017 Excerpt from Jeffrey Greene's American Furniture of the 18th Century: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted July 11, 2017 Report Share Posted July 11, 2017 Dang! I need to find myself a boss... or a Domino. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted July 11, 2017 Report Share Posted July 11, 2017 This is why I bought more machines Eric. I think CS said something in his Roubo video about machines took the place of the apprentice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chet Posted July 11, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 11, 2017 So if I read this correctly, if you are a hand tool person you are the apprentice and if you have power tools you are the boss. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wdwerker Posted July 12, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 12, 2017 Having a apprentice to sand , fetch and sweep is a glorious thing ! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prov163 Posted July 12, 2017 Report Share Posted July 12, 2017 During our recent trip to Colonial Williamsburg we learned a lot about apprenticeships in the 18th century. Williamsburg still uses, with some modifications, a trade apprenticeship program much like it was originally practiced in the colony. Giving up 8-12 years of your life to learn a trade while making nothing (except room and board) or very little, then striking out as a journeyman with hopes of finding a town where you could make a living plying your trade. Daunting. Still, I think we have made a huge mistake in trying to direct nearly all kids to college, with the attendant debt load, and then have them working at Starbucks. We should put more emphasis on vocational/trade schools and apprenticeships (21st century versions). We'll always need plumbers, electricians, welders, carpenters, mechanics, etc. But, that's just me. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted July 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2017 Yeah I agree. Don't read too much into it...I was just saying it's a waste of time to mill boards by hand. LOL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 12, 2017 Report Share Posted July 12, 2017 I have a group of friends from high school. The four of us all are still close I went to college and became a CPA Two of my friends are union electricians and the other is a cop. They all earn a middle class wage. There are plenty of jobs/opportunities for people who don't want to go to college. I don't understand where this idea that we push all kids into college comes from. It is not my experience at all. Yes, the trade unions do manage their numbers in order to keep wages up. If we have more plumbers than toilets then a plumber's wage goes down. So I do object to the idea that we "need" more of any particular job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post trialbyfire Posted July 16, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 16, 2017 I work for a general contractor in Texas on the project management side of things. And I can tell you for a fact, general contractors need more people that can drive a nail, set a form, hang a door, etc. At this point we would even love to have someone that is just willing to show up and work with out complaining. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 17, 2017 Report Share Posted July 17, 2017 On 7/16/2017 at 8:50 AM, trialbyfire said: I work for a general contractor in Texas on the project management side of things. And I can tell you for a fact, general contractors need more people that can drive a nail, set a form, hang a door, etc. At this point we would even love to have someone that is just willing to show up and work with out complaining. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk In my geographic area, most of the trades are dominated by the unions (at least for commercial work), and they do an excellent job training people. Like I said, they do manage their numbers in order to keep wages up (which is good or bad, depending on your point of view), but most journeyman plumbers/pipefitters/electricians/carpenters/ironworkers know what they are doing. Most. Outside of construction, it is usually the employer's responsibility to train their people. In construction it seems it is someone else's responsiblity to train people. In most industries, if you can't find good people, either you aren't paying enough, or you aren't training them properly. Also keep in mind, the economy is at a peak right now. Don't worry, in a few years there will be plenty of people looking for work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pwk5017 Posted July 17, 2017 Report Share Posted July 17, 2017 On 7/12/2017 at 5:58 PM, Mike. said: I have a group of friends from high school. The four of us all are still close I went to college and became a CPA Two of my friends are union electricians and the other is a cop. They all earn a middle class wage. There are plenty of jobs/opportunities for people who don't want to go to college. I don't understand where this idea that we push all kids into college comes from. It is not my experience at all. Yes, the trade unions do manage their numbers in order to keep wages up. If we have more plumbers than toilets then a plumber's wage goes down. So I do object to the idea that we "need" more of any particular job. My wife is a hairdresser and was keeping pace with my income at a fortune 500 company until i hit the senior manager level. Even then, we arent THAT far off--maybe a 15-20% difference? $100k of debt, 5 years working without income, and i assure you my day to day sucks way more than hers. Certainly caused me to pause and think a few times... I, like Eric, cannot fathom why people choose to mill lumber by hand. Just last week i had a 22 year old in my place telling me how much he loves the thrill of milling by hand. I told him i love the thrill of firing up Mr. Powermatic and cramming boards through as fast as i can. Different strokes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 22 is full of energy and the world hasn't chewed on him much. Old bull...young bull... walk down ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted July 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 How many boards has he actually milled by hand? One? Because after one it gets boring real fast. Just a hunch...he's probably never actually done it. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodbutcher Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 I flattened a 4"x 36" piece of walnut by hand last night. Had a bow in it. Spent a good hour on it. Once I was finished with it I was thinking to myself: "Someday Im going to own a jointer, and wont have to do that anymore." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatCharlieDude Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 On 12/07/2017 at 4:58 PM, Mike. said: There are plenty of jobs/opportunities for people who don't want to go to college. I don't understand where this idea that we push all kids into college comes from. It is not my experience at all. John Deere was paying for people to become welders and hiring them starting at $100k a few years ago because there was such a shortage. I may take up a trade when I retire, learning a new skill sounds fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 I always try to avoid it, but sometimes I have no choice and have to flatten my boards by hand, the reason being I cannot use a jointer and/or planer in the apartment where I live. Yeah, it's not my favorite woodworking task, but it's good workout! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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