An accident has left me with partial use of my right hand. As I can no longer grip well I am through with construction. My plan is to paint but with restrictions. Ladders are now out of the question. I have to restrict myself to painting rooms with eight foot ceilings and staining decks. My hourly rate will be around twenty dollars to compensate which is fifteen dollars less than the going rate. Would you hire me?
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Hypothetically , sure. We all are handicapped in one way or another. (G)
I don't see why you would drop a payrate disproportionatly, charge by the job, not the hour.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "
Me.
I don't "hire" people, but if you're work is good and I thought you could handle a particular project, I'd suggest your service to the home owner. Your rates are up to you, but I see no reason you shouldn't charge the same "per job" as anyone else. My dad has no legs (seriously, lost 'em both right up to the hip) and that never stopped him from charging premium rates. His workmanship spoke for itself. He made less per hour because things took him longer, but the price per job was the same.
--------------------------------------------------------
Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.net
See some of my work at TedsCarpentry.com
I have back problems, after falling off a roof 25 years ago. So I don't do high stuff anymore, either. And I try to avoid doing real heavy work, like I did in my 20s. And I keep pretty busy, with repair and restoration work, as well as some fairly high trim work.
As to your question- if you do good work, respond pretty quick to phone calls, and show up when you say you will, I'd have no problem hiring you. Its amazing how much work following those 3 simple rules will get you.
And like Sphere said- don't undersell yourself. Charge what you're worth.
Your probably better then 5,,, 25 year old numbskulls.
"Your probably better then 5,,, 25 year old numbskulls."Now THAT'S high praise indeed! :)
BruceT
If you contract with homeowners, you should do OK, assuming you can cut trim accurately.
But why do you want to stay in the trades? There must be many jobs available which would suit you and your current limitations better, tech support on the phone for example.
Edited 6/9/2008 6:34 pm by Hudson Valley Carpenter
"tech support on the phone for example"The guy is handicapped...not a criminal! Why suggest torture like that?
"The guy is handicapped...not a criminal! Why suggest torture like that?"
Reading instructions off a computer screen to someone on the phone while sitting in a comfortable chair in an air conditioned space. That's torture?
Compared to painting it sounds like a pretty decent job.
till he gets a string of Darwin Awards canidates....
and what they are calling in for is all his fault and the caller is just the one to let him know this in no uncertain terms...
besides he'd have to move off shore and take a very serious cut in pay....
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!!!
Actually, what came to mind that caused me to suggest that job was several calls I've made to American companies for tech support, over the last year.
I've been pleasantly surprised to find Americans speaking clear English without accents on the line. So it seems that the great experiment with low wage English speaking Asians hasn't been so cost effective after all.
Anyway, it's just one possible job of many that someone with certain physical limitations might find attractive. Asking myself if I'd rather be a tech rep than roll or spray paint all day, the answer came quickly and effortlessly, "Absophuckinlutely".
seems just about everybody computer went off shore...
the better tool companies are still here...
so it seems it a shot in the dark any more....
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!!!
i worked for years in the field with a one handed welder, he had lost his right hand at the wrist. other than that he was not handicapped, and with welding he would use the stump to steady the stinger, using two "hands" but only gripping with one.
he never had any problems, except for all of us yelling at him for violating the safety rule of keeping two hands on the ladders at all times.
again he couldn't grip the ladder with one hand, but he could use what he had to steady himself and he got around just fine.
Have you been watching "axmen" on History channel?
That one ole guy with three fingers cut off and wearing a claw does pretty dang good.
"What's an Arkansas flush?......It's a small revolver and any five cards."
yes i have seen him. rough life for those guys, not much future in that.
I don't about that. That ole dude is doing pretty good on that shw. He runs the best outfit on the show.
Still fells trees with that claw and a Stihl.
"What's an Arkansas flush?......It's a small revolver and any five cards."
As others have said, don't sell yourself short.
My grandfather only had a thumb and a pinky on his left hand (lost the other fingers in his 30's). Didn't slow him down much. Good luck to you.
http://grantlogan.net
Who got Bo Diddley's money?
One of the best framers I've ever worked with was a thaliomide baby--born with a 'flipper' instead of a hand on his left arm. Never slowed him down his whole life, and he started framing long before nail guns were common. Started his nails by wrapping his fingers over the top of the hammer, holding the nail between two fingers with the head against the flat of the hmmer. One short swing to start it, then release and shift his grip so fast you couldn't see it, and sink the nail in two more swats. 20d commons in KD spruce....
Died last fall of brain cancer. (RIP, bro....)
You've got at least partial use of your hand; don't let it scare you off doing what you know how to do. If you do good work, nobody worth working for will care how many hands you've got.
Dinosaur
How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not brought
low by this? For thine evil pales before that which
foolish men call Justice....
hell i have half a brain and i still work but i'm the only one that will hire me...
i agree with what others said... price it by the job... no should have to pay extra because it takes you longer... which is just fair... but show up, do what you say and when, return phone calls... and you are pretty much hired around here...
deliver more than people expect and you'll never go without work... i say same job price... it just might take you a bit longer...
good luck
p
If your in NJ when can you start? Can't be any worse than the wife!! ( and I never said that!!)
Are you crazy???
Do you come to work on time every day minus the brew flu? Do you leave nothing behind but quility work and a clean job? Are you able to properly prep and run a job or crew? ARE YOU HONEST????? Do you take pride in you're work? Would you will willing to do the work needed from the floor and leave the tall stuff for the others on a crew?
You're kidding. Right? Don't sell yourself short if you have most of the above.
To all the sympathetic replies I'd like to add...
No Excuse! If you're going to feel sorry for yourself because you have a slight hanicap you may as well get out of the trades right now. As you may have noticed by the responses you've recieved, there are plenty of people with some sort of handicap doing all sorts of work - carpentry, plumbing, welding, painting, roofing. So quit feeling sorry for yourself and get off your butt and get busy!
Time wait's for no one, and it won't wait for you.--------------------------------------------------------
Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.netSee some of my work at TedsCarpentry.com
minus the brew flu?
reminds of the story about the woman who shows up at the police station to report a rap e. detective asks if she got a look at the guy, she responds "no but he was a painter" cop says "how do you know he was a painter if you didn't see him?" woman says "he smelled like beer and he didn't finish the job"
I would most likely hire you. 90% of the paint jobs I see by non-handicapped, overpriced painters are junk. If your work is good, I wouldn't lower what you charge at all. I speak in regards only to the overpriced underqualified persons in the overpriced city I live in.
hire a helper to do the ladder work.
as to the other stuff ... either U do a good job or U don't.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Welcome to Breaktime
if you can actually do the work, and you have the right attitude, I would certainely hire you if I needed your services
in fact-- i might actually PREFER you over somebody without the handicap
Why would I prefer you???????
you are aware you have some limitations AND you are putting thought into how you can overcome those limitations
that extra thought--can make you MORE organized, MORE efficient, a better supervisor, a better contractor etc.--than people who DON'T put that extra thought into it.
Best of luck to you,
stephen
Your responses were appreciated. Since my accident two painting jobs were shared with others. Could I match their speed? No, and this new supervisor was not happy. But the quality of my work was equal or better. Your support showed me what a s.o.b. the supervisor was. So I am venturing out on my own. Jobs with deadlines will be excluded such as the local hotel owner who wanted one room painted per day. To attract business my low rate will be advertised but limited in duration. Insurance, contracts, business cards, and state paperwork will be tackled this week. I am even thinking of establishing a web site so customers can understand my business limitations and post comments after the job is completed. Thank you.
don't explain the problems...
charge job rate...
and tell them yur old, slow, thourgh and are very good...
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!!!
Again with the Low rate BS..Knock it off.
It is REALLY hard to bump UP a current list of working contacts once they have you at a LOW RATE. Keep yer head up, look em in the eye and charge what you NEED to stay in business, and take care of family or whatever..if you ain't making a profit, THEY know you won't be around for the upcoming work, or a call back , if needed.
I wasn't aware of that line of thinking until one of my customers pointed it out directly by saying, "You need to make profit, because I want to be sure you are still around next year, and there after". They thought I was undercharging them. So go figure.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"We strive for conversion,we get lost in conversation, and wallow in consternation. "Me.
I'm with sphere. Stop the whining about the limitations its pi##en me off. 20 bucks an hour where I come from is diddly squat for painting. Listen to the guys here they know what they are talking about. Guys on this site would not be here if they did not have passion for there work. Your not gonna get a pitty party here.
Good luck though, Lou
i don't want to be presumptive..
just offer something that might help you....
don't focus on the limitations .......
focus on doing a good job and holding your WORK out as equal to any and second to none
I think that's what everyone has said.
"What's an Arkansas flush?......It's a small revolver and any five cards."
IC... missed your smiling face around here ... where ya been ?Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Really busy, old friend, really busy.
Just recently have I had a chance to get back on here and check out this action.
I'm glad to see a lot of the old regulars still around and kicking up dust.
"What's an Arkansas flush?......It's a small revolver and any five cards."
any chance you can make Doud's in August ?
should be good timesMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
I would love to. But probably not this year.
I'm cleaning up a little farm I bought last year and trying to stay up with 3 year old grandson.
I'll just have to read about it here and wish I was with ya'll.
"Coming to recognize you are wrong is like coming to recognize you are sick. You feel bad long before you admit you have any of the symptoms and certianly long efore you are willing to take your medicine." -Charlton Heston. My job here is to see that you take your medicine.
Back when I was doing projects over east of Madisonville, there was a really great painter I'd lawys try and horn my jobs into his schedule. Diabetes had left him color blind and missing a foot, so he had a young helper with him to help tote dropcloths, help run the masking, whatever. He also was the one to check that the paint store sentthe ight color out.
Helper got worked like a burro in a pit mine, but got to learn everything about the paint trade from a patient teacher. Helper would get to needing more money, or start up something on his own, and another helper would get hired. The two of them were as fast as any other contractor, and had a reliable quality of work. More repeat work from satisfied customers than three lifetimes could get done, too. He quit working at 67 1/2 with the birth of his first great grandchild, and is probably quite happy on his porch in retirement.
It's not the limits you bring to a job, it's the job you do within your limits. Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Charge the full rate. Looks to me you will do just fine. People who do Quality paint jobs are hard to find. And they can make a job look great.
sure as long as you could still provide a well done finished product for the services you are able to provide.
Unless the your handicap has slowed you down substantially I would not reduce your rate as you're probably slowly going to bankrupt yourself.
My irrigation guy doesn't have any hands at all. He lost both arms at the elbow. I don't know how and I never asked. Anyway if you've ever seen a sprinkler fitter work... you know that they use their 'hands' an awful lot... same as any other trade. He's got these three pronged metal "hand" prosthetics and manages just fine. He charges the same rates as everyone else.... and rightfully so.
When I was kid my parents had an addition put on the house. One of the three carpenters (and 1/2 owner of the company) only had one leg. We had no idea until he came to work in shorts one hot day. He was up and down ladders like everyone else.... humping wood around, etc. I was in awe of those three carpenters and more so the one with only one leg. The impression he made on me was huge....and not because he only had one leg... but because he was a great carpenter.
Don't sell yourself short. And you dexterity will only get better. If you believe you can do it.... everyone else will too.
One of the painters I worked with this week has just one hand...the arm with the stub below the elbow clutched the spackle and he was filling nail holes "one-handed," as fast as I could make the holes.