More kitchens

[Hookedagain]

Originally Posted by Rmarsh

It is filled in with hardwood flooring.

Got some of the crew back on this job after working alone here for the last two weeks. I've been with this company going on 18 years, working with the same three guys....good carpenters.... the whole time. Two of us are close to retirement age....and with all the work we have it was a about time to hire another younger man to help. So for the last year or so the new kid (He's actually a grown man..but i'm at least forty years older) has been on the job learning to be a finish carpenter. I have been impressed with his progress and work ethic. Very respectfull and humble guy..... came here from Ecuador.....and wants to learn all he can.... it takes time. I've taught a lot of guys the basics over the years but I've taken it upon myself to show Luis .... stuff he hasn't quite figured out.......and some things I dont normally share. I feel good about it when he comes back later and sincerely thanks me.

Although it seems you are a bit older than myself, and most likely have been in the field much longer as well. I have been a finish carpenter or craftsman if you will for a long time as well. Having worked in several stair shops and being a stair installer for those companies I find great satisfaction when a stair (or any other job for that matter) is complete. But I especially have a feeling of satisfaction when I teach the younger generation a piece of the trade. I am having the pleasure of working with my son now as he is home from college and my boss hired him to be my right hand man. I also had him all summer. Its great teaching him...even more so because he wants to learn. Thanks for sharing the progress of your projects.

[nightfighter]

Originally Posted by Hookedagain

Although it seems you are a bit older than myself, and most likely have been in the field much longer as well. I have been a finish carpenter or craftsman if you will for a long time as well. Having worked in several stair shops and being a stair installer for those companies I find great satisfaction when a stair (or any other job for that matter) is complete. But I especially have a feeling of satisfaction when I teach the younger generation a piece of the trade. I am having the pleasure of working with my son now as he is home from college and my boss hired him to be my right hand man. I also had him all summer. Its great teaching him...even more so because he wants to learn. Thanks for sharing the progress of your projects.

I too have greatly enjoyed teaching and passing on the knowledge, even just opening the door to the trade. I wish I could get my son back working with me. He lives here in town, at my ex's house and works for her husband's contracting company. (Had to send him away when I totaled my knee and knew I was out for a year.) I think her husband holds him hostage working for him, saying if he leaves he has to move out, pays him half of what I would be paying and certainly below what he's worth... It is complicated.

[Rmarsh]

Originally Posted by nightfighter

I too have greatly enjoyed teaching and passing on the knowledge, even just opening the door to the trade. I wish I could get my son back working with me. He lives here in town, at my ex's house and works for her husband's contracting company. (Had to send him away when I totaled my knee and knew I was out for a year.) I think her husband holds him hostage working for him, saying if he leaves he has to move out, pays him half of what I would be paying and certainly below what he's worth... It is complicated.

Ross....hopefully that situation will correct itself in time.
I worked with my dad on a few projects.... my parents inherited a fixer upper home when I was a teenager....and my dad... an electrical engineer needed a helper. My older brothers were already out of the house so it fell to me......It was not much fun. But when my dad figured out how to lay out and cut new stair stringers to the basement...I thought it was pretty cool. I bought him a cheap skillsaw that fathers day......now I realize that it was so I could use it.

[piemma]

Originally Posted by nightfighter

I too have greatly enjoyed teaching and passing on the knowledge, even just opening the door to the trade. I wish I could get my son back working with me. He lives here in town, at my ex's house and works for her husband's contracting company. (Had to send him away when I totaled my knee and knew I was out for a year.) I think her husband holds him hostage working for him, saying if he leaves he has to move out, pays him half of what I would be paying and certainly below what he's worth... It is complicated.

Not a good thing for your son. Long term implications. You could be making such a difference for him. I'm sure it is complicated.

[Rmarsh]

Originally Posted by Hookedagain

Although it seems you are a bit older than myself, and most likely have been in the field much longer as well. I have been a finish carpenter or craftsman if you will for a long time as well. Having worked in several stair shops and being a stair installer for those companies I find great satisfaction when a stair (or any other job for that matter) is complete. But I especially have a feeling of satisfaction when I teach the younger generation a piece of the trade. I am having the pleasure of working with my son now as he is home from college and my boss hired him to be my right hand man. I also had him all summer. Its great teaching him...even more so because he wants to learn. Thanks for sharing the progress of your projects.

Its great that you are getting to work with and teach your son some valuable skills.....less and less of our kids are going into the building trades. Both of my boys went their own way vocationally and are doing fine. Getting closer to retiring now and I am feeling it's time to try to give it away to someone deserving.
As a 19 year old, I was lucky enough to have a knowledgeable and highly skilled mentor teach me stuff I still use now...decades later. I bump into him every once in a while and thank him sincerely for taking the time.

[Hookedagain]

Originally Posted by Rmarsh

Its great that you are getting to work with and teach your son some valuable skills.....less and less of our kids are going into the building trades. Both of my boys went their own way vocationally and are doing fine. Getting closer to retiring now and I am feeling it's time to try to give it away to someone deserving.
As a 19 year old, I was lucky enough to have a knowledgeable and highly skilled mentor teach me stuff I still use now...decades later. I bump into him every once in a while and thank him sincerely for taking the time.

He is in college to be a biologist, a wildlife biologist actually. He loves the outdoors and the animals that live there. I explained to him that I want him to get his education, and work with his head. But he also should learn a trade as well. He really enjoys the finish work end of construction. He's young but grasps it well. Understanding the way things work is half the battle. I joke with him and tell him I don't want him to do this for a living, he needs to learn it so he doesn't call me every time he has a door that won't close of a stair that squeaks....he'll know what to do.

[Guppy]

My three sons all got a hammer on their 14th birthday.... ;-)

[Rmarsh]

Originally Posted by Guppy

My three sons all got a hammer on their 14th birthday.... ;-)

I had my son with me a lot during the summer months and anytime there was no school when he was young. I was working for myself building homes and would have him in tow instead of paying for daycare. At first...I would have him do small tasks for me... just to keep him busy. Then came one very hot summer...He was old enough now to really help and I had two good size houses to frame up. So I hired him and his cousin to be the laborers.

Many years later now and they still talk about how much they suffered in the heat and how I showed no mercy. That may have convinced them both that the job wasn't for them.