Carpentry

[deaknh03]

2 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

 

Or in some cases - even what one is.

Right. Thats an essential tool. Stays in my belt. 

[Mobasser]

Agree here. When you cut stairs, you've got to use a framing sqaure. I used to keep a set of stair tread clamps in my toolbelt. When you mark off the stairs, these keep each one consistent. Without any clamps, your bound to be off on the tread or riser. If your off by 1/4" on say, your second step, all your stairs are off , on the whole set. A framing square is a must have tool, for lots of things.

A Speed Sqaure can be a good tool also

[J Francho]

I have a couple speed squares but not a good framing square. I've wanted one and will probably need one for a few of the projects I have planned. Any recommendations?

This one looked decent: POWERTEC 80008 Steel Framing Square with Rafter Tables | 16-Inch by 24-Inch L Shaped Tool - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N2P89D1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_RNPNYP3JWBJ8A8C0AASN

[Mobasser]

14 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I have a couple speed squares but not a good framing square. I've wanted one and will probably need one for a few of the projects I have planned. Any recommendations?

This one looked decent: POWERTEC 80008 Steel Framing Square with Rafter Tables | 16-Inch by 24-Inch L Shaped Tool - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N2P89D1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_RNPNYP3JWBJ8A8C0AASN

That looks good J Francho. Lowes, and Home Depot carry some also.

[Catt]

Stanley makes a good one & so does Irwin 

[Mobasser]

3 minutes ago, Catt said:

Stanley makes a good one & so does Irwin 

Catt, I think an aluminum one is good. My old steel one got rained on and rusted so bad, you couldn't read the numbers.

[J Francho]

I did look at that Irwin model as well. I guess it's really just down to the contrast and preference at a certain point. Thanks gents!

I'm going to Lowe's today for closet stuff, so I might slip one in the cart, lol. 

[Catt]

14 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

My old steel one got rained on and rusted so bad, you couldn't read the numbers.

 

 

[MN Fisher]

26 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

 

Or just this - it's what I use to de-rust my tools...takes a bit longer than Catt's method, but no worries about sticking your hands in it to scrub a little with a green pad.

[Catt]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

no worries about sticking your hands in it to scrub a little with a green pad.

 

I brush it on, let it sit, & rinse off.

[MN Fisher]

9 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

I brush it on, let it sit, & rinse off.

I'm just one of those who try to stay away from harsh chemicals unless it's needed. If it's your thing, go for it, I just try to find less 'dangerous' methods.

[J Francho]

4 hours ago, Mobasser said:

That looks good J Francho. Lowes, and Home Depot carry some also.

Welp, no dice at Lowe's. Amazing. They had a small aluminum square for like $6. Looked like garbage. I'll try that one I found on Amazon. 

[MN Fisher]

17 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Welp, no dice at Lowe's. Amazing. They had a small aluminum square for like $6. Looked like garbage. I'll try that one I found on Amazon. 

One of these.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200456133_200456133

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200802685_200802685

 

Tools I get at Northern - I avoid Amazon for such things.

[Mobasser]

J Francho, a good smaller hardware store might be the best bet. They usually stock tools for pro carpenters. I'm not surprised Lowe's doesn't have a good one...

[Biglittle8]

On 9/1/2021 at 1:30 PM, Catt said:

3 nails holding the shingles, & the "Cellophane" strip under the shingles were never removed. Watched crews replacing roofs & 90% were making the same mistakes.

Unfortunately, skills aren't the only things passed on from "Tradesmen" to the apprentice, if a roofer has never been taught the proper way to install a shingle, he teaches his entry level guys the same junk... Then they teach the same thing... And so the vicious cycle endures. The biggest problem I see, is that a lot of general contractors don't supervise their subs and if the work is to code, an inspector will pass even if it is shoddy(ie: boards cut a little short, missed nails, etc...) Don't even get me started on SOME of the so called "Home Inspectors" out there!

[J Francho]

53 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

One of these.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200456133_200456133

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200802685_200802685

 

Tools I get at Northern - I avoid Amazon for such things.

I've been getting all sorts tools from Wiha, Milescraft, Kreg, etc. without any issue from Amazon sellers. 
 

49 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

J Francho, a good smaller hardware store might be the best bet. They usually stock tools for pro carpenters. I'm not surprised Lowe's doesn't have a good one...

There's one on the other side of town. I'm sure they have a good one, but I don't need to go out and buy it. We're in a COVID-19 hot zone right now, so ordering is a better option. 

[Mobasser]

52 minutes ago, Biglittle8 said:

Unfortunately, skills aren't the only things passed on from "Tradesmen" to the apprentice, if a roofer has never been taught the proper way to install a shingle, he teaches his entry level guys the same junk... Then they teach the same thing... And so the vicious cycle endures. The biggest problem I see, is that a lot of general contractors don't supervise their subs and if the work is to code, an inspector will pass even if it is shoddy(ie: boards cut a little short, missed nails, etc...) Don't even get me started on SOME of the so called "Home Inspectors" out there!

It doesn't take much to be a home inspector anymore. We had an inspector look at one of my daughter's rental houses, built in 1956. He looked up in the attic and said all was good, except the strange marks on the rafters where they touched the ridge board?  I looked and realized he was talking about the hammer marks, from toe nailing the rafters in. He really didn't know much at all. Before someone can inspect a house, they should have some hands on in building one. It's the best way to learn.

[MN Fisher]

41 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I've been getting all sorts tools from Wiha, Milescraft, Kreg, etc. without any issue from Amazon sellers. 

Well, since there's a Northern Tool store only 15 minutes from me...

[TnRiver46]

8 hours ago, J Francho said:

Welp, no dice at Lowe's. Amazing. They had a small aluminum square for like $6. Looked like garbage. I'll try that one I found on Amazon. 

I’d rather take a light beating than to walk into Lowe’s . 

7 hours ago, Mobasser said:

It doesn't take much to be a home inspector anymore. We had an inspector look at one of my daughter's rental houses, built in 1956. He looked up in the attic and said all was good, except the strange marks on the rafters where they touched the ridge board?  I looked and realized he was talking about the hammer marks, from toe nailing the rafters in. He really didn't know much at all. Before someone can inspect a house, they should have some hands on in building one. It's the best way to learn.

I have to deal with home inspectors a lot, they try to hold up the sale of houses on account of mouse turds in attics and crawl spaces somewhat frequently. I have no idea why, there are bigger problems with 100% of houses in the world than that! I think they just act as a pawn to raise/lower sale prices for buyers and sellers 

[Hammer 4]

On 9/4/2021 at 9:52 AM, Mobasser said:

Agree here. When you cut stairs, you've got to use a framing sqaure. I used to keep a set of stair tread clamps in my toolbelt. When you mark off the stairs, these keep each one consistent. Without any clamps, your bound to be off on the tread or riser. If your off by 1/4" on say, your second step, all your stairs are off , on the whole set. A framing square is a must have tool, for lots of things.

A Speed Sqaure can be a good tool also

I have at least 3 framing squares. One of them dates back to 1936. Can't tell you how many times I've had to recut stairs cuz fools just didn't get it. A complete home can be built using a framing square, I used 12 and 6" speed squares for smaller stuff.

BTW Mobasser, this turned out to be a pretty  cool thread.

[J Francho]

10 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’d rather take a light beating than to walk into Lowe’s . 

I have to deal with home inspectors a lot, they try to hold up the sale of houses on account of mouse turds in attics and crawl spaces somewhat frequently. I have no idea why, there are bigger problems with 100% of houses in the world than that! I think they just act as a pawn to raise/lower sale prices for buyers and sellers 

the Lowe's by me is lesser of two evils. Home Depot is actually closer, but it's in that COVID hot bed. I'd rather go during off hours somewhere safer. 
 

home inspectors up here are out of a job. If you ask for an inspection as part of the sale, your offer is immediately rejected. You get a 30 minute in person viewing and then any other due diligence is online or asking neighbors. 

[TnRiver46]

17 minutes ago, J Francho said:

the Lowe's by me is lesser of two evils. Home Depot is actually closer, but it's in that COVID hot bed. I'd rather go during off hours somewhere safer. 
 

home inspectors up here are out of a job. If you ask for an inspection as part of the sale, your offer is immediately rejected. You get a 30 minute in person viewing and then any other due diligence is online or asking neighbors. 

You’re probably better off just asking the neighbors! Although I’ve had lots of customers that moved here from other parts of the US and they said the building codes were much more stringent and enforced where they came from 

[Mobasser]

That's one thing about working as a carpenter, or studying carpentry. Once you get into it, you'll start to see things on houses that the average person would never notice. Mistakes, or small details that most folks would pass by. You can look at these things and know how they were done. Carpenters tend to look at a home differently than people who have never done this work. Average home buyers look at the paint colors, cosmetic details etc. Carpenters are thinking" ok, they cut this at 22.5, routed this edge, toe nailed here, supported this here etc. They can see mistakes or crummy work faster also. It pays to develop a keen eye. So many folks get duped into buying houses with huge problems, because they've been covered up in certain ways.

[Mobasser]

Actually, one sheet of 4x8 drywall can cover up plumbing leaks, past or ongoing, termite damage, wood rot, mold, sloppy framing and other problems. When the market is good and interest rates low it happens all the time.                       In the race to get the houses on the market, lots of things get covered up. These all end up being the problem of the home buyer. Then he's got to hire a contractor to fix these things, and hope he gets a good, honest guy at a fair price, which these days is harder to find...

[Catt]

The good thing is lots of Dads, Uncles, & Pawpaws are telling kids forget college, grab a pair of steel toe boots, get dirty & sweaty & learn a trade or two!

 

Yes I believe every kid should have an opportunity to go to college but I understand not every kid is college material.