Aside from being able to lift heavy things, you also need to have great hand-eye coordination. Carpenters use tools that require a good eye to avoid getting injured or damaging the wood.
Being detail-oriented. One of the most important parts of carpentry is being able to measure and cut pieces of wood to exact measurements: an entire building could be affected by an ill-measured stairway. Carpenters also need the ability to look at a wooden structure and assess any problems with it. Having problem-solving skills: Carpenters will face many problems while on the job. A board may break, or a tool may stall, and a carpenter will need to be able to recognize the problem and come up with a quick, effective solution.
A hammer. Hammering and pulling out nails is a big part of being a carpenter. A hammer and nails are important to any carpentry project. A measuring tape. The ability to make precise measurements is one of the most important parts of being a great carpenter. If one measurement is off, the whole project could fail. A saw. Carpentry wouldn’t be an art without the saw. There are many different kinds of saws. The most common is, fittingly, the universal saw. Practicing on one of these is a good place to start as an aspiring carpenter. Marking tools. This is a fancy name for pens or pencils. Once you have made your measurement, you’ll need to mark where each piece of wood needs to be sawed, nailed, and so on. A spirit level. Levels are the key to symmetry, straight lines, and general accuracy. If you place a spirit level on a plank you hold up to the wall, it will tell you whether or not it is perfectly horizontal.
If you have already taken the shop class at your school, ask your teacher if you could be the teacher’s assistant (TA) for the class. While you will have to help grade papers and projects, you will also have access to the shop class’ tools and you may be able to work on your own projects during down time. Find out if your school’s drama department offers a set building class. While this may not seem like the most direct route to becoming a carpenter, these classes will teach you the basics of carpentry while also allowing you to be a bit more creative than most shop classes.
You could also run a simple internet search to find out if there are any carpenters in your area that put on workshops or any classes you could attend.
Technical training includes learning the basics of carpentry, how to read blueprints, what building code requirements are, safety regulations, and the math required to become a skilled carpenter. Some apprentices will also receive specialized training. This includes rigging, learn how to build scaffolds, and working with concrete, among other topics.
Having a high school diploma (or equivalent certification). Being 18 or older. Proof of residency in the country where you live (the US requires proof of citizenship. ) Passing a drug test. Being physically able to do the hard work involved in carpentry.
Look locally. Another option is to try to find carpenters in your area who may take you on as an apprentice. Look for carpenters, contractors, construction companies, shipbuilding companies, etc. who may be looking for an apprentice.
While being a helper will not necessarily guarantee a well-rounded carpentry education, it can be a great way to supplement carpentry classes. There is also the potential for the person or company you help to be fully invested in teaching you the ins and outs of carpentry. [7] X Research source
There are also trade schools that offer a variety of programs, including carpentry programs and courses. While these schools are not entirely focuses on carpentry, their programs can be just as credible and effective as those at schools dedicated entirely to carpentry.
Keep up on new tools of the trade. New tools are constantly being developed to make carpentry projects more efficient. Even if you follow a different career path with the thought that you may go back to carpentry, it is still important to keep on the latest developments in the field. That way, if you do decide to pursue carpentry again, the transition back into that world will be much more fluid. Read books about architectural design and watch videos on YouTube by good-quality carpenters showing different tricks of the trade.
