Replies

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Jun 15, 2009 04:39pm | #1

   I liked how the guy was cutting bridging at around 2:00. Cool.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA
   Everything fits, until you put glue on it.

1. 
   Huck | Jun 15, 2009 06:05pm | #2

   - them guys made it look easy!

   Surprising that they had a portable circular saw on the job, but did most of the cutting with a handsaw.  And I thought framing was a physical job with a skilsaw in one hand all day!

    View Image"...everone needs to sit on a rock, listen to the surf, and feel the ocean breeze in their face once in awhile."

   cambriadays.com

1. 
   bd | Jun 15, 2009 06:19pm | #4

   I remember watching a carpenter do a remodel on my parents' home back about '62. He had a circular saw, but it only came out when he had long rips or tapers to cut. He still brought in several handsaws each day.I often wondered if their reluctance to use the circular saw more often had to do with the cost of blades & possibly short cutting life of a sharp blade. Just a thought.

2. 
   MikeHennessy | Jun 15, 2009 06:23pm | #5

   I was watching that guy cutting/installing the bridging and was thinkin' - "that would be even easier with a CS . . . er, no it wouldn't!"

   I also liked the spot of the guy installing T&G flooring with a hammer. I assume he had to go back over it with a nailset, but maybe not ... dunno. Cross peen hammer maybe? Never even considered how to install T&G other than use a floor nailer.

   Another thing I liked -- the window frames that are pretty much structural. I've had to deal with enough of those monsters while doing rehabs -- cool to actually see 'em going in.

   The guy fitting drawers. He had a metal block plane, but there's a woodie setting on the counter.

   Oh, and the 50-lb. router with a cord about an inch in diameter. At first I thought it was a vac hose, but I think it was the cord.

   Fun film.Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PAEverything fits, until you put glue on it.

1. 
   Huck | Jun 15, 2009 06:51pm | #6

   I liked this quote: "the higher cost of skilled hand work reduces the market for such articles" - some things haven't changed!View Image"...everone needs to sit on a rock, listen to the surf, and feel the ocean breeze in their face once in awhile."

   cambriadays.com

2. 
   Shep | Jun 16, 2009 02:50am | #13

   When I first started with my dad 34 years ago, we did a few floors nailing by hand. We used spiral shank nails, and had to use a nail set to sink 'em deep enough to fit the next board.

   Man, it was slow going.

   Going to a flooring nailer seemed like a light year's jump in technology.

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Jun 16, 2009 04:52am | #15

   I figured a nail set would probably be involved and the vid just didn't show that part. All the old floors I've torn up were done with square cut nails, tho'.Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PAEverything fits, until you put glue on it.

2. 
   stevent1 | Jun 16, 2009 04:54am | #16

   I learned from a carpenter back in the day, He taught me to use a cut nail to set the other cut nails used to nail the flooring. Use the head of a cut nail to set the other cut nails.

   Chuck Slive, work, build, ...better with wood

3. 
   Jer | Jun 16, 2009 01:39pm | #22

   When I first started out, I was taught to install floors that way with cut nails. Of course hand nailing a floor could in no way keep up with the efficiency of the pneumatic nailers of today, but you would be surprised at the speed some of those old timers had. Their hands had callouses & welts on them the size of Everest.
   I installed several floors myself by hand doing the cut nail set move and when I tried my first floor nailer (non-pneumatic) it was like that old commercial....."Wow! I coulda had a V-8"

4. 
   doodabug | Jun 17, 2009 01:28am | #25

   My dad rolled his pants cuffs up and kept the nails in there.

5. 
   Gunner | Jun 17, 2009 03:12am | #26

        Now that's a neat trick! 

    

    

    

   Posting without a net.

6. 
   gb93433 | Jun 17, 2009 03:20am | #27

   I did not buy any nails guns until 2000.We always used ring shanks mails when we nailed down the subfloor and never had any squeaks. I remember when a man and my self were adding an addition onto a house and it was about the same size as a neighbor's addition. My helper commented about the neighbor's addition that it sounded like "put in two and pull one" next door. They were using nail guns and we were not. There were two of us and three of them. When I got older I decided to buy some nail guns.

2. 
   Huck | Jun 15, 2009 06:10pm | #3

   I'm demo'ing out some cabinets on a job that was built in the 50's.  Really something to see dowels where today I'd see pocket screws, hand nails where today I'd see gun nails.  And tile over a mud bed, no wonder board on that job!

   Awesome to see those guys at work in that video.  I bet they could teach us "modern" guys a thing or two!

   View Image"...everone needs to sit on a rock, listen to the surf, and feel the ocean breeze in their face once in awhile."

   cambriadays.com

3. 
   oops | Jun 15, 2009 07:31pm | #7

   The thing that caught my eye was the carpenters wearing overalls. Complete with built-in nail pouch/apron, hammer loops and pencil pocket. Was fun to watch.

   My age may explain it, but that is what I remember a real carpenter looked like. Sans Boss Hog's profile. A fashion statement?

4. 
   gb93433 | Jun 15, 2009 07:46pm | #8

   The movie was done by a professor at Iowa State College. That program is gone today.

1. 
   dedhed6b | Jun 15, 2009 08:13pm | #9

   I remember, while doing my paper reoute, plumbers with bit braces boring holes in the floor."Shawdow boxing the appoclipse and wandering the land"
   Wier/Barlow

1. 
   bobbys | Jun 15, 2009 10:01pm | #10

   We have home movies from when my dad was building homes, I saw guys with a bit and brace and asked him what were they drilling, He said they were drilling the downspout holes in wooden gutters, This was in 1962, I cant imagine reaching for a bit and brace for that!!!

1. 
   theslateman | Jun 15, 2009 11:14pm | #11

   You gotta ask Sphere to teach you some old time tricks of woodworking !!

5. 
   maverick | Jun 16, 2009 12:17am | #12

   where are the safety glasses and respirators? and those guys on the roof with no harnesses!

   the hand saw is a lost art. when I was working union it was in our contract that when you laid someone off you had to give him a half hour to sharpen his tools. these days the use that half hour to bug out early

6. 
   IamtheWalrus | Jun 16, 2009 03:49am | #14

   I've only been doing this for three years or so, but that was really cool!

1. 
   Huck | Jun 16, 2009 05:41am | #18

   I've only been doing this for three years or so, but that was really cool!

   Well, yeah, but didn't you have a carpenter friend over by the coast you used to spend time with?View Image"...everyone needs to sit on a rock, listen to the surf, and feel the ocean breeze in their face once in awhile."

   cambriadays.com

1. 
   IamtheWalrus | Jun 16, 2009 06:28am | #19

   huh? I've learned a lot from a certain carpenter by the coast's posts( hey that rhymes) but I'm not sure what you meant

1. 
   Huck | Jun 16, 2009 08:57am | #20

   speaking of rhymes...

   The sun was shining on the sea,Shining with all his might:He did his very best to makeThe billows smooth and bright--And this was odd, because it wasThe middle of the night.

   The moon was shining sulkily,Because she thought the sunHad got no business to be thereAfter the day was done--"It's very rude of him," she said,"To come and spoil the fun!" 

   The sea was wet as wet could be,The sands were dry as dry.You could not see a cloud, becauseNo cloud was in the sky:No birds were flying overhead--There were no birds to fly.

   The Walrus and the CarpenterWere walking close at hand;They wept like anything to seeSuch quantities of sand:"If this were only cleared away,"They said, "it would be grand!"

   "If seven maids with seven mopsSwept it for half a year.Do you suppose," the Walrus said,"That they could get it clear?""I doubt it," said the Carpenter,And shed a bitter tear.

   "O Oysters, come and walk with us!"The Walrus did beseech."A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,Along the briny beach:We cannot do with more than four,To give a hand to each."

   The eldest Oyster looked at him,But never a word he said:The eldest Oyster winked his eye,And shook his heavy head--Meaning to say he did not chooseTo leave the oyster-bed.

   But four young Oysters hurried up,All eager for the treat:Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,Their shoes were clean and neat--And this was odd, because, you know,They hadn't any feet.

   Four other Oysters followed them,And yet another four;And thick and fast they came at last,And more, and more, and more--All hopping through the frothy waves,And scrambling to the shore. 

   The Walrus and the CarpenterWalked on a mile or so,And then they rested on a rockConveniently low:And all the little Oysters stoodAnd waited in a row.

   "The time has come," the Walrus said,"To talk of many things:Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--Of cabbages--and kings--And why the sea is boiling hot--And whether pigs have wings."

   "But wait a bit," the Oysters cried,"Before we have our chat;For some of us are out of breath,And all of us are fat!""No hurry!" said the Carpenter.They thanked him much for that.

   "A loaf of bread," the Walrus said,"Is what we chiefly need:Pepper and vinegar besidesAre very good indeed--Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,We can begin to feed."

   "But not on us!" the Oysters cried,Turning a little blue."After such kindness, that would beA dismal thing to do!""The night is fine," the Walrus said."Do you admire the view? 

   "It was so kind of you to come!And you are very nice!"The Carpenter said nothing but"Cut us another slice:I wish you were not quite so deaf--I've had to ask you twice!"

   "It seems a shame," the Walrus said,"To play them such a trick,After we've brought them out so far,And made them trot so quick!"The Carpenter said nothing but"The butter's spread too thick!"

   "I weep for you," the Walrus said:"I deeply sympathize."With sobs and tears he sorted outThose of the largest size,Holding his pocket-handkerchiefBefore his streaming eyes.

   "O Oysters," said the Carpenter,"You've had a pleasant run!Shall we be trotting home again?'But answer came there none--And this was scarcely odd, becauseThey'd eaten every one.

    View Image"...everyone needs to sit on a rock, listen to the surf, and feel the ocean breeze in their face once in awhile."

   cambriadays.com

7. 
   collarandhames | Jun 16, 2009 05:30am | #17

   Awesome!

   We did a video a couple years ago for our local apprenticeship comittee:

   http://www.whatiwant2b.ca/careers/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=53

   I'm at the end!  What do you think of it ?  pay special attention to the dude with the glasses.  He's awesome!

   dave

    

    

1. 
   bd | Jun 16, 2009 12:51pm | #21

   Nice presentation. Dude at the end was super cool.

2. 
   Dreamcatcher | Jun 16, 2009 03:15pm | #24

   Nice vid; makes me want to be a carpenter ;-)Maybe it's just in my neck of the woods, but I don't understand why I keep hearing that carpentry is a "high demand" field? It doesn't seem like many people around here are looking for a carpenter...let alone a highly skilled carpenter. Most of the jobs I see in the classifieds are for installers or laborers. Even when people (potential clients) say they want a skilled carpenter to do the job (say custom cabinet install) they really only want to pay for an installer to drop in a "custom" arrangement of Ikea cabinets.Maybe I should move to Canadia where skilled carpenters are still in "high demand".DC

1. 
   collarandhames | Jun 25, 2009 06:13am | #28

   Really?  I mean, you can't just sit at home and hope the phone rings.  For me it's been networking.  I have friends who do Solar power installs.  They have a network of friends,, I got a call tonight to replace a houses windows.  My wife works at the university. So I get a lot of calls from professors and the such.  I keep pretty busy,, and there's a whole lot of tradesmans trucks at the home depot all day everyday.    I don't think of carpentry as a "look in the classifieds" type of job.  my 2 cents. 

8. 
   Jer | Jun 16, 2009 01:42pm | #23

   That was really great. Thanks. I carried a whole set of very sharp hand saws for years but as time went by, found that I used them less & less. Once in a while though, it is much more efficient than electric.

   I especially liked the pattern makers.

   I am returning to my hand tool roots these days. It's very satisfying.