Skill with a Skill

[Swingman]

Framing crew on a current construction project is being run by two union carpenters from Washington state. Both of these guys are "old school", to say the least (it's been years since I've seen exclusively 77's on a jobsite here in Texas, and these guys pulled seven out of the trailer, five for the "hired help", and a "personal" 77 a piece).

This morning, watched while one of them ripped a 4x12x20' cedar beam to width, to match two butting LVL's ... took less time to "rip" than to "report". No guide, no line, just a pencil mark to start, and a 'finger on edge' to guide the cut. Result: perfect match to the LVL's, and the 9/16" off cut does not vary by 1/32 for the entire 20' length.

Try that with 20' 4x12 stock on your table saw!

Can't express how good it is to see that type of "skill" is still being wielded once again in these parts ... notable/rare enough for picture proof:

rarer these days : sit in a the construction trailer and listen to measurement 'call outs' in English, and SRV on the jobsite radio.

Now, if only Paul Harvey would be around to signal lunch time ...

[Leon]

Obviously the Sketchup plans that they were referencing was a big help in making those accurate cuts. ;~)

[Charlie Groh]

...I've recently dragged my 77 out for a couple of jobs and it's been a *time* machine. I love that saw...it really is a part of my arm when I'm using it...Swingman, you probably wouldn't like the way mine looks, tho; there is *no* guard. I own three of them and all the guards are in a little nook in the shop. I know, I know...but that's how we learned out here on the "tracts" and anytime I use a circular saw *with* a guard I feel I'm gonna hurt myself! I suppose if I were on a "real" job (meaning one involving other workers and apt to get OSHA inspections) I'd have to conform, though. Funny aside, I was at a yard the other day at the counter. So I see this gizmo out of the corner of my eye...you know, an impulse-buy display, and it was a Skilsaw guard holder-upper. Well, I joked with the sales guy who's about my age that I wouldn't be needing *that* anytime soon. He came back with, "...yeah, there was a guy in here this morning who said '...now, what do they think I'm going to do with my pencil?'"

...the man's been at it for awhile! The real advantage of that saw to one who knows how to handle it is *speed*...gobs of power...I LOVE the sound of Skilsaws in the morning!

[MikeWhy]

F8ck!!!! They had to travel half the country to find work?!!

[Swingman]

"MikeWhy" wrote

Yeah, Bubba ... and I'm damn glad of it.

Don't want to sound non-PC, but good gawd almighty the difference!

[Swingman]

"Charlie Groh" wrote

Yep, nary a guard in sight.

Funny thing, one of 77's was used to "chop" down an 8" diameter tree that was leaning over the framed area and in the way of installing TJI's. A relief cut on one side, the coup de grace cut on the opposite, tree down, five minutes, back to work.

I gotta admit that's the first time I've ever seen a "circular saw" used to remove a tree. :)

Keep in mind that around here it would take an application, complete with name, rank, serial number, genus and phylum of every tree on that, and adjacent, properties; an inspection prior to that; erection a "tree protection fence" around adjacent trees; another inspection of said fence installation; a week for the actual "tree removal permit"; a licensed professional "arborist" to do the deed for $250 minimum; a request to remove the "tree protection fence", apres mort; another inspection following that providing $100/diameter inch was paid to the city "tree fund"; AND, required replacement with an equal number of circumference inches of a tree on the "approved list", and within 2000 feet of the construction site, and that must live for at least five years.

No, I'm not kidding ... we actually had one builder here in WestU accused of "tree murder"! :(

[notbob]

There's still such a thing as union carpenters? I've heard of such things in myth.

nb

[Swingman]

wrote

Foundation contractor on this particular job, an old time Aggie acquaintance, is married to one of the guy's sister. The guy, who owned his own framing company in Washington for the last 25 years, was bit by hard times in the area and just moved to Bryan, and, as luck would have it, was looking for work. I had him bid the job, along with four others, and he came in in the middle (I liked that his was a fair bid, a tad on the high side for the times, but it showed an obvious knowledge of the work required, and, just importantly his worth in it ... no low balling just to get the work) Although I'd never met the guy before meeting with him on the RFQ, the entire family is known for their work ethic, the connections were there, and I had a good feeling about him. Soon as the contract was awarded, he flew in his old right hand man from Washington for the job, and hired some local hands to fill out the crew.

How lucky can you get ... :)

Bubba, I can tell you one thing for sure ... I wish like hell I had six more to build right this minute, with these two guys as bell cows, we'd be hell to stop!

[Swingman]

wrote

Know the feeling ... having all these relatively young studs around the last couple weeks and, in my *mind's* eye, I'm still the same, so I humped a couple trusses this week, or tried to. Paying the price as we speak ... thus the margarita, in hand.

[nailshooter41]

Ask any contractor... he'll tell you...

YOU SUCK!

Sorry.... ;^)

A find like those guys only comes along once or twice. You know that.

You know, the moon and stars haven't lined up that well for me over the last few years. I have the work, but no qualified subs. I have the subs, but not enough work to hold onto them for long.

And it has been years since I have seen a craftsman that is of the level of mastery that make me actually admire what he does. Not necessarily the work, but the way he goes about it; no lost motion, no unsure decisions, no extraneous activity, no loud talking, etc.

Just set up, and go to work. Stop for lunch. Honestly take only 30 minutes. Give an additional material list if needed, a progress report if asked, and a heads up on a possible problem. Stop work at the end of the day (not rolling up 30 minutes before quitting time) roll up, go home. At the job the next day with coffee in hand 20 minutes before starting time.

Where did all those guys go?

Robert

[-MIKE-]

Why do you expect him there 20 minutes early, but are pissed that he might leave early?

[Swingman]

wrote

A good predictor of that .. and, while you would appreciate the single biggest factor why this guy got the bid, many won't ... he simply asked the right questions.

Amazing the depth of knowledge that one act can reveal. :)

(I had two bids that were lower than this crew, and one higher, and the lowest $5K lower ... as you know, that's pretty damn hard to explain to a client).

Lost to the prevailing attitude that nobody but an idiot would put money into a building where it can't be seen by a buyer.

[DGDevin]

That shows he left home early in case there was a traffic delay on the way, it demonstrates a commitment to the job that is often lacking in those who allow just barely enough time to get there a minute before starting time. It ain't the single most important quality in a worker, but things like that tend to be part of a pattern.

[Swingman]

Just like a drummer, used to showing up on the downbeat!

No offense, Mike, but the change in times and attitude is nicely reflected in your question. It wasn't Robert that "expected" anything, it was the dude himself, who was hired to do the job, that expected it of himself as part of the job!

I agree, it's not a prevailing attitude today, thus the discussion.

[Swingman]

"DGDevin" wrote

Very will put!

[nailshooter41]

About the only thing I would be pissed about is an idiot that puts words in my mouth.

Did I indicate anywhere that I EXPECTED him to be there early. You, the one that has admonished others for not being as literal as possible, not adhering to the written word exactly as it has been recorded. You have done this before when responding to my posts, reacting by putting you own thoughts down as my words.

Read my post again. If you are unclear of its commentary, post your questions here.

Don't put words in my mouth or pretend to read my thoughts, asshole.

Robert

[nailshooter41]

Exactly. Precisely. For this man, it was something that others here obviously just don't get. It is a standard that he held himself to, his own standard that goes beyond the norm. As seen here, it totally escapes some - beyond their comprehension, and even their imagination.

The particular man I had in my mind's eye when I typed that just thought that was the way the world worked. It was the way I was expected to act when I started in the trades. It was that way before me, and no doubt before that.

Years ago, there were NO acceptable excuses for being late. If you were there every day on time (which my first boss considered 20 mintues before actually starting so he could get a head count while you were getting your tools out), you were given a pass on that rare day there was a traffic pile up, a sick kid, etc.

And how well any employer would understand that.

Robert

[Swingman]

wrote

Hell, and my recent IME, many of today's young worker's want to be patted on the back and rewarded with a raise for just showing up.

Damn if we don't sound like a couple of old farts ... :)

[Joe]

amen, brother!

My boss hired someone who was late to her interview despite the old adage not to.

She was late to work everyday after that.

[Joe]

Yeah, and they consider showing up in flip flops to a business office to be a fashion statement.