What You Need to Know to Become a Great Carpenter

In fact, carpentry jobs are set to rise 20% due to population growth and demand. There are a variety of ways you can learn this skill, which include carpentry courses, carpentry trade school, carpentry classes or a carpentry apprenticeship. You can even complete a carpentry degree by signing up for a carpentry courses online. Carpentry training is the key to success as it is the only way to truly learn carpentry.

So, how much do carpenters make? When you’re just starting out you can expect to make $28,000 annually, but you can work up to over $70,000 as you gain experience and a good reputation. You may choose to join one of the many carpentry companies, or strike out on your own starting a new business.

The work of a carpenter can be incredibly varied- you may create furniture, artwork, window framing, doors or even houses. You’ll need an attention to detail as not only does your end product have to look great, but it needs to be safe, too. Hand eye coordination is key as you need to use both power tools and hand tools. You will read blueprints so you need to be proficient at math, especially for working out roof pitch angles, and in carrying out measurements; your job will likely be carried out in warm working conditions so you need to be tolerant of the heat, and standing for long periods of time. The job involves traveling from site to site, so you’ll be in a better position if you have a valid driver’s license. You will also need a high school diploma, or GED, and an apprenticeship completion. Some jobs will require an associate’s degree, and some may not.

Before you set your hand to woodturning projects or wood lathe projects you need to make sure that you have the right tools for working wood and wood carving tools. Carpenters have their own set of tools, the most common ones being: hammer, saw, measuring tape, spirit level, sliding table saw, wood carving tools, miter saw, bend saw, and wood lathes.

• The best miter saw for you starting out is probably the Hitachi C10FCE2, because it’s under $150 and works just as well as the more expensive ones.
• A quick look at table saw reviews highlights the SKUL 3410-02, it’s an excellent budget and compact option for those just starting out. For the best portable table saw check out the Dewalt DWE7491RS, it’s just under $500 but offers you the ability to take it easily from site to site and set it up on its own stand. Or the $130 option, the Central Machinery 97896.
• Band saw reviews show that a lot of carpentry contractors love the Rikon 10-305, which is under $300.

On the rest of this website, you can read more about what tools we recommend and how you can use them.