Let’s say I wanted to learn carpentry (or any type of trade) but I didn’t want it to be my career would Going to trade school be the thing to do?

I work at night time at a restaurant and I make pretty good money. Enough to support my family and have most of the things that I want. However I’ve always wanted to get into carpentry and since I work at night I have a lot of free time in the day while the wife is at work and son at school. I’d like something to do during that time I’m wondering if going to trade school will teach me what I need to know. I would consider getting a part time construction job but I don’t think lots of companies are hiring for the hours that I’m looking for. Any advice is appreciated!

If you know or can find someone who does what it is you want to learn, you can also ask if they would take you on as an apprentice.

They wouldn't have to pay you, since the compensation for your time and assistance would be in learning the trade/skills you want.

You can also volunteer for things like Habitat for Humanity or other groups that do charitable construction work.

You'd be offering a valuable service, too, in that you can help carry tools and materials, run errands and do manual labor as directed. 

I'd also recommend YouTube.  It's scary how much woodworking I've learned in a little over a year watching other people and taking notes.

The hardest part of any new thing is the vocabulary/terminology and knowing which tools, blades or products are right for each task. 

If you're looking at woodworking more than building construction, WWMM (WoodWorking for Mere Mortals) is very good at teaching how to do things with minimal tools.  He even offers online courses that help build shop furniture, home furnishings and organizational techniques and projects for the shop.

Even if you're more into construction, the things you learn in woodworking overlap with that, like using circular/table saws and other hand and power tools.

Anyway, just a few ideas.  Have fun!

https://woodworkingformeremortals.com/

https://www.youtube.com/user/stevinmarin

+1 on volunteering. You meet cool people who give you tips, have some fun, and then once you figure out the basics (how not to cut your hand off) then you can learn a great deal from books and videos.

If you know or can find someone who does what it is you want to learn, you can also ask if they would take you on as an apprentice.

They wouldn't have to pay you, since the compensation for your time and assistance would be in learning the trade/skills you want.

You can also volunteer for things like Habitat for Humanity or other groups that do charitable construction work.

You'd be offering a valuable service, too, in that you can help carry tools and materials, run errands and do manual labor as directed. 

I'd also recommend YouTube.  It's scary how much woodworking I've learned in a little over a year watching other people and taking notes.

The hardest part of any new thing is the vocabulary/terminology and knowing which tools, blades or products are right for each task. 

If you're looking at woodworking more than building construction, WWMM (WoodWorking for Mere Mortals) is very good at teaching how to do things with minimal tools.  He even offers online courses that help build shop furniture, home furnishings and organizational techniques and projects for the shop.

Even if you're more into construction, the things you learn in woodworking overlap with that, like using circular/table saws and other hand and power tools.

Anyway, just a few ideas.  Have fun!

https://woodworkingformeremortals.com/

https://www.youtube.com/user/stevinmarin

Thanks My man! That’s awesome advice.

+1 on volunteering. You meet cool people who give you tips, have some fun, and then once you figure out the basics (how not to cut your hand off) then you can learn a great deal from books and videos.

  I just want to be more manly so I can get more action with the wife 

  I just want to be more manly so I can get more action with the wife 

 
I think you misunderstood when someone told you how much women liked his wood ....   

I’m assuming you want to do finish carpentry? I’d check out woodcraft in kalihi and ask their advice for classes/seminars. Do you have base access?

I’m assuming you want to do finish carpentry? I’d check out woodcraft in kalihi and ask their advice for classes/seminars. Do you have base access?

Definitely would like to learn finish carpentry along with framing too. I will definitely give them a shout mahalo! 

Edit: no I don’t have base access.

Essential Craftsman is a great channel on YT.   He is very good at explaining and demonstrating.

I am not a carpenter by trade, but I learned a lot of carpentry by just observing how new construction was being built and just started making things like storage sheds.
I never made cabinets in my life before, but bought a book about cabinet making and made the cabinets for our house in Kailua.  My wife did not want to leave those Koa cabinets when we were going to sell the house and move to the Big Island, so I pulled them all out and made new ones which was not koa.  I must have done ok because the house sold 8 days after it went on the market and the guys who put on the new granite countertops was impressed.  Basically carpentry is just making careful measurements, exacting cuts (especially when making cabinets) and making sure everything is square.  I will take a lot longer, but my finished work is a lot better than most commercial carpenters.  I also did not buy cheap tools.  Most of my power tools are Festools.  I have close to $10k worth of them.  If you want quality woodworking stuff, go to Woodcraft in Kalihi. 

Also when there is an economic downturn it is a great time to buy used tools.

Photo of framing the cabinets and finished project.  I used poplar for the door and made my own knobs out of it too.
I learned how to make cabinets from a book.  Almost all things are possible if you put your mind to it.

We had meetings recently with local union reps and one guy mentioned that the trade schools recently are wait-listed since the demand is high.  The demand is (or was back in early Jan) was such that tradesmen were being recruited from CA, AZ, NV, etc.  I would think the trade schools will be even more slammed given recent events.

That said, if you are the type that is a quick learner and can learn by doing, I would think there's plenty of opportunity to find someone to "help" while you learn on the job.  Growing up, the family business installed installing pool tables and other stuff that included wood working.  I picked up stuff quickly out of necessity, but probably not the best way for me to learn since there were definitely some "clean up" after bad first attempts. 

If you know or can find someone who does what it is you want to learn, you can also ask if they would take you on as an apprentice.

They wouldn't have to pay you, since the compensation for your time and assistance would be in learning the trade/skills you want.

You can also volunteer for things like Habitat for Humanity or other groups that do charitable construction work.

You'd be offering a valuable service, too, in that you can help carry tools and materials, run errands and do manual labor as directed. 

I'd also recommend YouTube.  It's scary how much woodworking I've learned in a little over a year watching other people and taking notes.

The hardest part of any new thing is the vocabulary/terminology and knowing which tools, blades or products are right for each task. 

If you're looking at woodworking more than building construction, WWMM (WoodWorking for Mere Mortals) is very good at teaching how to do things with minimal tools.  He even offers online courses that help build shop furniture, home furnishings and organizational techniques and projects for the shop.

Even if you're more into construction, the things you learn in woodworking overlap with that, like using circular/table saws and other hand and power tools.

Anyway, just a few ideas.  Have fun!

https://woodworkingformeremortals.com/

https://www.youtube.com/user/stevinmarin

This and you need hands on experience. Because youtube can teach you how to do something, but from the brain to the hands is a different story. 

This and you need hands on experience. Because youtube can teach you how to do something, but from the brain to the hands is a different story.

Yes, that's why it's good to practice with shop projects -- things that make you more productive and organized. 

The first thing most people build if they don't have one already is a solid workbench that fits their space and needs.  That project alone can be as simple or as elaborate as you want to make it, and as mobile or permanent as you want.

One thing I never owned before is a planer.  But now, I don't think I can ever work with dimensional lumber again without one.  Being able to plane boards flat and have them all the exact same thickness makes a project come out much more professional than having rounded 2x4 corners and large panels that aren't totally flat.  You can use hand planes and other non-electric tools to do that, but the time and skill involved is enormous by comparison.

A buddy of mines is making knives.  He has limited equipment.  No forge or press, so he's basically cutting the shapes from already made objects and sharpening them and adding a grip.  Stuff like old disc saws, files, etc...

A buddy of mines is making knives.  He has limited equipment.  No forge or press, so he's basically cutting the shapes from already made objects and sharpening them and adding a grip.  Stuff like old disc saws, files, etc...

How is he handling the heat treat? 

I have a buddy in TN making knives.  I posted some pics on here somewhere.  Anyways, the heat treat process (he outsources) is key, or at least to his knives.  They are decently easy to sharpen, hold an edge well, and are pretty durable in general.  The ones I have aren't stainless, but not that hard to maintain. 

I just came across this.
Number #1 is it something you want to do?
I'm a journeyman shipwright I have build large
wood sailboats from scratch. I built interiors in
fiberglass 32 to 52 foot long boats in a factory.
At age 17 I was making more money than my dad
was. I served as an apprentice
with a man that was like my second dad.
At the factory I also did piece work off hours with
some of the best Taiwanese boatbuilders in the world.
Most my hand wood working tools are Japanese.
My wife says I'd rather build boats than sail them.

But I hate building houses,  making
house cabinets,  and I've built a few.

Try a few classes to see what you like.

When it comes to wood working you have to
like it or just do something else. 
It is more like an art.
If you do something you love it is not work.

   First of all, there's a BIG difference between Rough and Finish carpentry and the tools and skills to be proficient in either.
   When roughing, think 1''x 2'' and 2''x 4'' lumber to start with and get larger for constructing buildings like homes, garages, sheds, as well as decks, benches, picnic tables.
Max play in roughing could be as much as 1/8" in some circumstances but the graced would be humiliated for half as much.         
You'll need circular/rip saws, 12-20 oz claw hammer and nails, 16p nail guns, flat bar, cat's paw, 16'- 30' tape measures, carpenters squares, speed squares, 6' & 2' levels mason lines, drills, bits and screws.              
Think Gran Torino.
   
     Finish takes more "Finesse". Other than tables, beds and a few other projects, wood dimensions would be smaller than those used for roughing. Cabinets, armoire's and entertainment centers are made of butt joined or doweled planed planks or you can use ply wood which is available in top finished veneers.
Sailboats, skim boards and other water related projects would use teak or otherincluding Marine ply (see plywood Hawaii in Mapunapuna for both).                               
     Chairs, gun racks, pole holders, spice rack, and of course picture frames are all finish work projects as is all of the "trim work" in the house like base boards, wall &  cove moulding, chair rails etc...    
There is no "max play" here, there is NO play. Smooth surfaces, invisible joints and a meticulous eye define custom finishing.
   Some of the proper tools here depending on your project would be a circular saw and compound miter saw's with high tooth count blades, miter box w/ miter box saw, biscuit joiner, plane, dowel set up, palm sander, finish hammer, pin nailer and stapler (these are usually compressed air), 6'-12' tape measure, finish square, belt sander, drill and driver, screws.
   As I have built all of the above and then some and have all of the above tools and more (sometimes several of each) I enjoy my "Garage time" on these finish type projects.
I'll also agree with Flap regarding making your work bench your first project.

   And I'll end with this to gather ire from some.                                  
A finish carpenter could do roughing, but a rougher could never finish.   

I just came across this.
Number #1 is it something you want to do?
I'm a journeyman shipwright I have build large
wood sailboats from scratch. I built interiors in
fiberglass 32 to 52 foot long boats in a factory.
At age 17 I was making more money than my dad
was. I served as an apprentice
with a man that was like my second dad.
At the factory I also did piece work off hours with
some of the best Taiwanese boatbuilders in the world.
Most my hand wood working tools are Japanese.
My wife says I'd rather build boats than sail them.

But I hate building houses,  making
house cabinets,  and I've built a few.

Try a few classes to see what you like.

When it comes to wood working you have to
like it or just do something else. 
It is more like an art.
If you do something you love it is not work.

I actually do like carpentry. If it weren’t for some personal circumstances I would probably be working for a contractor. I have some experience. I used to help my dad do some side jobs. Hanging drywall, painting, hanging studs and hung some cabinets. But I would never be able to do a job on my own.

I recently tried to make a small outdoor shed on my lanai so I could put my toolbox and some other small things in it. I want to turn my outdoor storage closet into a reloading room. It was a disaster and I lost any confidence I had hahaha.

I also just want to be able to work on my own house maybe be able to build my own house one day. Maybe not the whole thing but be able to do most on my own. I really like flaps idea of volunteering I’ll probably look into that.

Mahalo for all the advice fellas!