FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

Eager helper + bad tools = problem

| Posted in General Discussion on May 5, 2005 08:02am

I had a kid from Honduras helping me for a few days, and he brought a small selection of hand tools.  (Before anybody gets their knickers in a wad, he has a green card.)  He’s been here since December, and he knows about as much English as I know Spanish, but he has a good attitude and wants to learn.  I’m doing interior remodeling, so I use him to help hold long boards, snap chalk lines, etc, and slowly let him take on other tasks.

We worked out a system where I would measue and he would cut.  I can count to 12 in Spanish, so I would call out a dim like tres feet cinco inches y uno quarter and it worked, althoiugh fractions other than quarters are a problem.  Then I called out a bigger dim and got a bad look in return.  Tried again … same response.  So I looked at his tape measure that he had borrowd from another amigo … there weren’t any feet marked on it.  It was almost all inches, although there were a few feet marks.  I didn’t inspect the whole tape, but there was a 6FT mark but no 7FT or 8FT, only 84 & 96 inches.  My Stanley tape has small numbers that tell you instantly where 5′-3″ is … his only had 63″.  No wonder he gave me a strange loo.

I tossed that tape in the basura and gave him one of my spares, and things went much better.  I also gave him a torpedo level and a 12″ plastic speed square, and he thought he was a hot carpenter then.

 

I’m sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.

Reply
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Replies

  1. r_ignacki | May 06, 2005 01:10am | #1

    You can improve your spanish a little, instead of calling out dinensions in a combination of spanish and english try....  feet is pez , inches is pulgadies, and for fractions , a quarter is un "quatro" and an eighth is " octavo". Forget about smaller fractions, just stick to the octavos and bang it in tight.  

    Get an english to spanish dictionary, and not just one, get several. There are even some especially for construction terms. You need several because in south America there are differant countries, and i've found out that even amigos from differant countries down there can't communicate with each other. The one guy from mexico will call tar paper   "papele day asphalto",  while the guy from bolivia will call it "negro manilla".

    Some useful phrases....  

    ?tengo hambre?.....    are you hungry?   ( like, ready for lunch?)

    vamos a la casa....     lets go home

    leesto?      .....          ready?   ( as in.. ready to lift up the beam?)

    pieza day mierda....      ( that's)  a piece of sh_t

    pistola....        nail gun

    clavos para pistola....    gun nails

    bueno, bonito, y barato......       good, pretty, and cheap. ( like, do your best and caulk the rest)

     



    Edited 5/5/2005 6:15 pm ET by panama red

    1. mizshredder2 | May 06, 2005 06:33am | #4

      ?tengo hambre?.....    are you hungry?   ( like, ready for lunch?)

      psssttttt Panama - you're tripping up on your verb conjugations...

      tengo hambre = I have hunger  (it's short for the full phrase:  yo tengo hambre)Of all the things that I have lost, I miss my mind the most! 

      1. User avater
        IMERC | May 06, 2005 07:35am | #5

        tengo hambre...

        Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

        WOW!!!   What a Ride!

        Forget the primal scream,  just ROAR!!!

    2. FastEddie1 | May 06, 2005 05:42pm | #6

      I see differences alrerady.  Lunch time is loonches (phonetic, not real spelling).  The nail gun is matillo kompressor.

      He tries to use English all the time, and I try to use Spanish, so we're edumacting each other.

      What's the word for wood?  Like gimme that 2x4.  He's saying something like marrerra but I can't catch it.

       I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.

      1. User avater
        CapnMac | May 06, 2005 06:16pm | #9

        He's saying something like marrerra but I can't catch it

        Madera is wood, medera de la constuccion is "lumber" IIRC.

        Pino is "pine" which works for a lot of framing.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

    3. User avater
      CapnMac | May 06, 2005 06:11pm | #8

      feet is pez , inches is pulgadies, and for fractions , a quarter is un "quatro" and an eighth is " octavo"

      Would get you stranger looks around here . . .

      Feet are peids (PEE yeds); inches are inchas (INcyas); 1/4 is quiches (KWEEchez); 1/8 is aites (ATES or ATE es).

      Some useful phrases....  

      ?tengo hambre?.....    are you hungry?   ( like, ready for lunch?)

      My brain says:  "tempo (para) comida" (or comida norteño, lunch but no siesta).

      vamos a la casa....     lets go home

      And also "Vamos a la cantina" or "Vamos de la mercada rapido (para cerveza)"Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

  2. User avater
    Luka | May 06, 2005 03:18am | #2

    Save the spanish for everything else.

    The guy is going to have to learn the english for measurements just like the rest of us, if he is going to make it.

    Yeah, I know, we already knew the english for the numbers, but we still had to wrap our brains around using the tape measure accurately. He can learn it in the same way everyone else does it, and he'll be better off.

    A person with no sense of humor about themselves, has no sense at all.

    1. FastEddie1 | May 06, 2005 05:43pm | #7

      Ok Luka ... gimme your phone nombre, we'll call one day and you can 'splain the black diamonds to him.   :)

       I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.

      1. User avater
        CapnMac | May 06, 2005 06:19pm | #10

        'splain the black diamonds to him

        Ooh, diamante negro leaps to mind, but probably would be better to call them rhomboides negros.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

        1. Gumshoe | May 06, 2005 06:28pm | #11

          OK, here's a few I picked up from the help I've worked with, please give me the CapnMac Spanish Review:
          "con juevos" - put some oomph into it!
          "juevon" - lazy
          "que verguenza" - shame on you
          "dinero facil" - easy money
          "panzon" - fat man
          "patron" - boss
          "patrona" - wife

          1. migraine | May 06, 2005 07:10pm | #13

            "juevon" - lazy

            Be careful, for some Latin countries, this is not a a "nice" word.  I got slap my my wife's girlfriend for calling her juevon in a joking manner.  Try using perizoso or osioso (I can speak it, but forgot the spelling part)

          2. Gumshoe | May 06, 2005 07:28pm | #15

            yeah, I'm finding out jobsite Spanish is not the safest. I once repeated a phrase I'd heard often on the jobsite (didn't even know what it meant), and everyone I was working with stopped and stared at me, and finally someone said "Man, I never expected YOU to use such filthy language!". Oops.

          3. jmo2 | May 10, 2005 05:53pm | #29

            Word.

            I was on a Habitat for Humanity build in central Costa Rica.  We were digging the trench for the foundation with a limited number of tools (pick axes, shovels, and so on.)

            I made the mistake of believing the handout they gave us with the names of the tools in Spanish.  Obviously, someone had not cleared this with the locals in Costa Rica.

            I kept asking for the "pica"...which the official handout stated meant "pick axe".  Lots of laughter and snickers as I kept this up the first day.  "Here, use the pica..."  "Where is the pica?"  "I think I'll need a pica to tackle this."  A few of the other women who were willing to tackle the heavy stuff were right there with me, 'Pica this...pica that."

            Finally, someone told us that the local slang for...er....a masculine body part was the word "pica".

            Awkward.  We never took the official "word sheet" at face value again.

          4. User avater
            CapnMac | May 06, 2005 07:53pm | #16

            "patron" - boss

            LoL, just never, ever confuse padron and patron--close is not close enuf' <g>Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

          5. DanH | May 06, 2005 10:16pm | #17

            Also, "patron" (Pa-trown) has a meaning wider than simply boss. It carries an implication of "guardian", similar to the "patron" in English. To be called someone's patron is both an honor and an obligation.In general, Spanish is more formal that English. "Senor" (imagine a squiggle over the "n") is most literally translated as "lord", and "usted", the formal form of "you", is probably best translated as "thou".Of course, most Spanish-speakers will appreciate any serious attempts you make at speaking their language (just don't end every word with "o" and expect them to understand/appreciate it), so don't be afraid of making a faux pas with regard to the linguistic subtleties.

          6. Scrapr | May 06, 2005 11:07pm | #18

            Dan

              What is El Jeffe? I am being called el jeffe and padron. Both mean boss to me. And I understand the underlying subtelties of padron. Just not sure what is the distinction of el jeffe. (I am a little "heavy"

             

            As I come in the am I am saying Buenas Dias caballeros!

            Good morning cowboys???

          7. User avater
            CapnMac | May 06, 2005 11:56pm | #20

            el jeffe

            That's typically the "chief," or to use a borrowed bit of cowboy spanish, the (head) Honcho.

            So, owner of the company is el jeffe; the PM is el primaro; the super/foreman is el segundo.  With more than one crew, a certain grandeur is granted honorifically and the bossfella gets called patron.

            As I come in the am I am saying Buenas Dias caballeros!

            Buenas dias, hombres! is probably more apt, at least until noon, then it's buenas tardes.  That, and the plural of señor can sound like a cat spitting if rendered wrong.

            These are some good terms, too:  cerca, near; lejos, far; aquí, (right) here; allí, there (not here); ayea, (over) there.

            Baje, lower; and levante, lift; can also be useful.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

          8. User avater
            CapnMac | May 06, 2005 11:41pm | #19

            (imagine a squiggle over the "n")

            Ah, comme ca (hmm ¿como tan?):  ñ

            That's ALT key  and 164 on the numeric keypad; Ñ is ALT+165.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

          9. DanH | May 07, 2005 05:01am | #22

            I don't have enough fingers for that.

        2. FastEddie1 | May 07, 2005 12:46am | #21

          rhomboides negros.   No, I want to see you explain their purpose ... to a kid who has only used a tape for less than a year.

           I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.

          1. User avater
            CapnMac | May 10, 2005 12:41am | #25

            No, I want to see you explain their purpose

            Well, now between my spanglish & your spansih and his english, we might have a chance . . .

            Explaining the initiation rites might be a tad more complicated though <wink> . . .

            Hmm, madera typical and madera grosso might start it . . .

            Percada una, izzat "per each"?  "Percada centra" is what my memory wants for spacing (that, and and the magical "OhSay" <g>).Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

          2. FastEddie1 | May 10, 2005 01:14am | #26

            Si senor.  Comprende nada.

             I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.

          3. User avater
            CapnMac | May 10, 2005 04:24pm | #27

            Comprende nada

            Au contraire <g>, su comprende un poccito (verstehen ein wenig; wakari mas te skoshi; parlay vous un petites), or we'd not have this gab going.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

          4. FastEddie1 | May 10, 2005 04:29pm | #28

            Ahhh, un poccito ... that's what I see first thing every morning.

             I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.

          5. DanH | May 10, 2005 11:45pm | #30

            No, it's what your wife sees when ... no, never mind.

  3. BUIC | May 06, 2005 04:26am | #3

    Good attitude and wants to learn... my definition of a good helper or apprentice. Good for you for bringing him along and your patience with his language skills. But I'll tell you what my mother told me about her parents after they got here from Italy. Unless they were in the company of family or friends, speaking italian was forbidden because they KNEW that they all needed to learn english if they were going to survive and do well here... they did , god bless them... so, my two cents, encourage your guy to learn as quickly as possible... good luck (to you both!)    BUIC

    1. User avater
      JeffBuck | May 07, 2005 08:15am | #23

      my first true love was a Puerto Rican girl from Ft Lee NJ ... we met in Wildwood NJ ...

      I was 14 ... she was 13 ... and worlds older than me.

       

      I still remember some spanish ... but each and every phrase she taught me would get me kicked outta here for life!

       

      if U ever need to swear at him ... alot ... drop me an email!

      Jeff    

  4. DanH | May 06, 2005 06:34pm | #12

    I once watched three guys in Mexico install wood forms for pouring (really) a concrete basura ceiling. Between them they had two hammers (one with a broken claw) and one very old and rusty handsaw. For forms they had pieces of wide boards and plywood, none measuring more than 2x4 feet, and assorted sticks of 2x4, 1x4, and other indescribable stuff, nothing longer than about 5 feet. Most of the nails they used were reclaimed from other work. The basura had block walls and two rooms, each about 6x6 feet.

    It took the three of them most of three days to piece it together, but when the ceiling was poured (with VERY wet concrete) it all held fine, and very little leaked through.

    It's amazing how much they could do with so little.

    At least the folks I saw in that part of Mexico (Rio Bravo) were some of the hardest working, cleanest, nicest folks I've ever met. Though in grinding poverty, everything was clean and well-kept. No one was ever loitering either -- they always were busy with SOMETHING, and in two weeks I saw maybe 5 people smoking.

    1. Gumshoe | May 06, 2005 07:25pm | #14

      Thanks for sharing that, makes us appreciate what we have a little more. I once worked with a Hispanic framing contractor who said he had a relative from Mexico visit his jobsite. He asked where the rolloff dumpster full of scraps was going, and when he found out it was going to the dump, he got choked up, and said you wouldn't believe how happy they would be to have that wood in his home town, that the craftsmen there could do beautiful things with it.

  5. JasonPharez | May 08, 2005 02:29am | #24

    Hey Ed,

    I know most everyone else has been replying to the language barrier, but in response to the crappy tools problem, I think you did great! I recently hired my first "real" employee, and although he has a sincere desire to work hard and learn, he had no tools. I took him to the HD and bought him a decent tool belt, Estwing, speed square, etc.; cost me about 80 bucks. That is under the assumption that if he stays with me for so long, they are his, if not, they become my "spares." Maybe you could work out a deal where if he needs something, you would take 50% of the cost out of his pay and eat the rest. It's a tax break for you, and a goodwill gesture from you to him. I have a program where an employee can trade his/her "bonus" every quarter to a new tool should he or she decide to.

    Just a thought.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Video Shorts

Categories

  • Business
  • Code Questions
  • Construction Techniques
  • Energy, Heating & Insulation
  • General Discussion
  • Help/Work Wanted
  • Photo Gallery
  • Reader Classified
  • Tools for Home Building

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Mortar for Old Masonry

Old masonry may look tough, but the wrong mortar can destroy it—here's how to choose the right mix for lasting repairs.

Featured Video

Video: Build a Fireplace, Brick by Brick

Watch mason Mike Mehaffey construct a traditional-style fireplace that burns well and meets current building codes.

Related Stories

  • Podcast Episode 690: Sharpening, Wires Behind Baseboard, and Fixing Shingle Panels
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Hand Tool Sharpening Tips
  • Old House Air-Sealing Basics
  • A Drip-Free, Through-Window Heat Pump

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 332 - July 2025
    • Custom Built-ins With Job-Site Tools
    • Fight House Fires Through Design
    • Making the Move to Multifamily
  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Old House Journal – August 2025
    • Designing the Perfect Garden Gate
    • Old House Air-Sealing Basics
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

Enjoy unlimited access to Fine Homebuilding. Join Now

Already a member? Log in

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data