Carpenter Apprentice

[ClayBreaker]

Hello all,

I'm looking to be a carpenter Apprentice. I've been here and there and called everywhere, but everyone wants two years plus of experience. I have some experience building cabinets and installing windows as well as drywall, but not on paper like most companies want . I also have both hand tools and power tools. If anyone knows of a company hiring or a trade school near San Bernardino please help! Any info is appreciated. Thank you Calguns!

[MJB]

Drive to the coast look for framed custom homes in Newport. Talk to the framer or the Super if it's all ready framed.
SB is tough but you might get lucky and can carpool with a coworker

[sanjoseskater]

Check the union halls local 405 for Santa Clara county…. Check your local and sign up for pre apprentice 17-25$?? An hour?? To start and 50$+ an hour after 5 year apprentice. Also look into sheet metal union electrical union and plumbing union better pay plus less wear and tear on your body long term. Go union get paid$$$$

[2761377]

there's a difference between a nail banging production framer and a real carpenter.

since apparently you have no one to take you under their wing, if you want to be a real carpenter apprentice join the union.

[not-fishing]

Originally Posted by 2761377

there's a difference between a nail banging production framer and a real carpenter.

since apparently you have no one to take you under their wing, if you want to be a real carpenter apprentice join the union.

A lot of Union Carpenters I grew up working with spent a year or two framing houses by the piece. Then once they had some skill they joined the union and did the apprenticeship for a while until finally buying their journeyman cards.

I was a Concrete and Regular Laborer (local 185) for almost a decade before I went into the Carpentry Apprenticeship. I lasted a little over two years in the classes before I just bought my card. If you're smart it shouldn't take you four years. Of course that was more than 40 years ago.

Employers are not real fond of employing Apprentices because with all the regulations and fees they cost almost as much as journeymen. Where I tended to see Apprentices used is on larger jobs where the Feds or State limited the number of Journeymen that could be hired before you had to hire an Apprentice.

[KillZone45]

Originally Posted by not-fishing

A lot of Union Carpenters I grew up working with spent a year or two framing houses by the piece. Then once they had some skill they joined the union and did the apprenticeship for a while until finally buying their journeyman cards.

I was a Concrete and Regular Laborer (local 185) for almost a decade before I went into the Carpentry Apprenticeship. I lasted a little over two years in the classes before I just bought my card. If you're smart it shouldn't take you four years. Of course that was more than 40 years ago.

Employers are not real fond of employing Apprentices because with all the regulations and fees they cost almost as much as journeymen. Where I tended to see Apprentices used is on larger jobs where the Feds or State limited the number of Journeymen that could be hired before you had to hire an Apprentice.

You bought your ticket? Please explain that to me.....

[Big Chudungus]

start out as "general laborer" https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/...y=construction

Let them know you can read a tape, do math, etc.
Learn how to read Blue Prints, how to find pg and drawing number from little hex with circle etc, what the abrivs are for "existing" and "on center" etc.
Most Plans only give FINISHED dimensions so you need to back-into framing height to allow for ceiling sheetrock, finish floor, etc but diff rules for room width/length.
Big old pickup is best but I prefer big van due to increase in casual crime. However these days gas is expensive and they don't plan job locations around your home, so LONG commutes are the norm.

Carpenter's Union is in Zombie Mode and nearly non-existent in Southern Cal, only does certain Govt projects, Apprenticeship wants you Vaxxed because they want to LARP as "education".

Carpenters USED to be "aristocracy of the building trades" because all other trades had to come to carpenters because you can't hang wire or run plumbing until framing is up. Now carpenters are glorified laborers, and it ain't getting better.

In SF Bay area you can outright buy a Union Journeyman's card for IIRC about $400 and even get on "pay when you get job" plan but will be tough to find and hold job with limited exp these days.

I'd suggest just about any other trade route TBH. Take Jr College class for "Project Management" and land entry level "gopher" job then weasel into carpenter gig that last longer because you got office/admin skillz to keep you around when rest of crew is getting laid off.

[Eat Dirt]

Originally Posted by 2761377

there's a difference between a nail banging production framer and a real carpenter.

n.

You Sir , Hit the nail on the head ..

Bad pun . I know , but the truth

[MJB]

Most GC started as a framer.........

Finish carpenters are in huge demand