I started my life as a mechanical engineer, staring out of a factory window looking outside thinking" if I worked for myself my bench would be outside in the sun". 30 plus years later I am a soul trader " Road Warrior" finish carpenter fitting mostly oak doors into prestige houses from the back of my rolling workshop with the sun warming my shoulders. "Life is Grand!"

My father's sister worked as a framer... I called her my Carpenter Aunt.

😂. Hilarious acronym. Very well explained. Touching on your points of other trades before or after a persons trade is so important. Putting you head in the sand without care or knowledge of the next person burns my ass pretty serious.

A carpenter is a multi talented worker who gets paid very little, i have been doing it for fourty years and can charge what i want, do plumbing, tile,framing,finishing, drywall, plumbing, concrete, cabinetry, electrical,wood stoves and on and on. No tickets but word of mouth, i once had red seals measuring between each stud for blocking each piece was a different length on 16 inch centers, go figure how that worked out at the eight foot mark.

A Carpenter is a member of a 70's brother and sister musical duo.

This is one of the top breakdowns on here, boggles my mind that this level of explanation is no where to be found on provincial government websites. 3rd year into carpentry and as I started out I couldn't find a breakdown like this anywhere.

I started working for a spray foam insulation outfit while taking IT classes in HS. All my friends went into carpentry right out of school but for some reason that never really interested me. I thought welding was neat tho so I did structural welding for about 4 years all around the PNW. Currently doing commercial mechanical/plumbing for big buildings like schools, universities and fast food while also doing metal fabrication on the side. Most all of my friends that went into framing now have their own businesses doing things like dirtwork or finish work. It's pretty crazy what's possible without having a college degree.

I don't normally comment on things, but I have to give kudos when they are well deserved. I find you are an excellent, very refined, respectful, and an extremely humble man. I totally respect your talent, talks and teachings. Today that is a very Rare thing to come by. My name is Rick Policastro and I just wanted to encourage you to continue to be successful in any and all of your endeavors. Thank you again.

And here are I thought the channel name was one of the greatest ruses of all time - hands down the best drywall channel out there!

I started as a rookie (FNG) in a framing crew. 40 years later and self employed for the last 28 I do everthing. Framing, plumbing, electrical, drywall, painting, flooring, and, lest I forget, trim work. It's just easier and more rewarding to do everything on remodel jobs. I have accumulated a ton of tools and knowledge by tackling everything. My retirement plan is to build a woodworking shop and turn out replica antique mouldings, doors, and other restoration components. Love old houses!

I explain these different trades @ “specialty trades” to ppl like doctors. You have a GP, then you’ve got your specialty doctors: heart, gi, ear nose throat, urinary, & so on. That’s similar to how the trades are “setup”; imo, & a way to explain to ppl how things are. Great vid & did a good job w/ similarities & differences 👍🏻👍🏻 Cheers✌🏻

AMAZING VIDEO , it clears up everything I was wondering about what is a "carpenter " in Canada , I'm originally from France and Moved in Nelson BC 4 years ago and every time I asked a local what a carpenter is the answer never been clear at all . This video answers most of the questions I had, Thank you Ben !

As a Licensed Architect in California, I appreciate this video. There is so much to learn about how the construction industry works.

Thanks. I was one of the dummies who thought carpenter = woodworker. So I was wondering why you are so good at drywall!

There’s also people like Me. I use to be in my younger days. I worked for my neighbor how owned a wood shop. We did many different things. Turning spindles and columns. Making light fixtures from wood. Making Billy clubs for police, rough and finish cut lumber boards. Table tops. Just about anything needed to be made from wood. Even high end woods, cherry, walnut, teak, mahogany, black cherry, and more.

Hey Ben. The faithful who watch you will watch what ever you create in your garage..Do not worry. Keep up the good work. 😃😀

Thanks for this great video Ben. As someone who started out doing form work, then framing and finally doing finishing work, including a lot of drywall along the way I can attest to the fact that not all carpenters stay within the bounds of one aspect of carpentry. My ancestors in Wales were ship builders and I'm always amazed at the level of carpentry skills those guys had building wooden ships while using pretty rudimentary tools (compared to today). It seems to me that those were the true craftsmen.

Right on bro…it’s like playing in a band. You’ve got all kinds of guys, playing one composition…in harmony. 🤔🍷🎩🎩🎩

A concrete former in the uk was called a shuttering joiner its great to hear the different names for the same trades world wide wether it be carpetry or cabinet makers all highly skilled in there respective fields i think the confusion comes from the lay person seeing joiner in the end of the trade's person's title just my tuppence on the subject 😉😃

I'm a painter, but from the very beginning I had to learn to do drywall and texture, and then "cool-coat" roofing, and now I am going more and more towards carpentry (As many aspects of it as I can get into), and as I am slowing down because of my age, I am also getting into woodworking. Nothing like evolving, doing anything that you are actually interested into. Even if most of the time it is just work, and not necessarily enjoyable all the time.

Very interesting. I’m a total amateur. Been a diy guy for years, but not very good at anything. I just work it out. A few years ago, a woman came into my house, looked around at all my mad science, and said, “oh, you’re a REAL carpenter”. I told my brother that story and he still laughs at me about it! Love your channel. 👍👍😊

I've been watching your channel for years. Was a painter. Just became a carpenter. Glad I gained a lot from your videos before going into the field. A lot of hanging drywall for me (and insulation unfortunately). Thanks for all the content. Go Canada! Freedom!

In IATSE, the stage hand's union, carpenters roll big chunks off a truck, lift them up, bolt them together, and then do all that in reverse. Which might not sound odd. But their "electricians" match the numbers or letters on 2 pieces of truss, bolt them together and then find a male and female plug with the same color or pattern tape, and plug them in. Like one guy might have to switch off a 3 phase panel and plug in 5 plugs in a special order, then flip the panel on. That is about as technical as it gets. So, sometimes its not art, but sometimes the finished product is art.

Very informative & enlightening. Appreciate all your insights. Love your videos Ben. Keep ‘em coming.

It is so pleasant watching your videos. They are to the point, yet detailed and you stay on topic !! Praise Jesus for you sir. Blessings 🙏🏻

Great video explanation. Lots of overlap on duties by region and customs. My Grandpa apprenticed under his uncle in Ohio, the late 19teens. Over his career he did pretty much everything connected to home building except electrical and plumbing. Including masonry , concrete work, and plastering. Lots of built in kitchen cabinets then. Worked at a foundry during the war doing a lot of precision form work and concrete for large machine installations. Local lore had it that bets were taken on his precision and no one ever lost betting in his favor. After he retired he built a lot of furniture and got into refinishing as well. He was quite a man and a major role model for us all. I think of him every time I pick up a tool and love using those I inherited. Miss him every day.

Great video. Got a lot of people telling their stories of where they started and where they're now and how they identify what they do. There's also that group." The handyman" we know enough from start to finish but don't have a specific skills. Many started in the building trade doing one thing and like you wanted to do more. Then you tell someone I can do that, plus I have the tools, next thing you know your working for yourself.

Excellent video Ben! I really learned something. Years ago my mom hired a carpenter to build an addition to her home. I was surprised he knew how to do it. I thought carpenters nailed things together. Now I understand.

Thank you for this explanation! I have been genuinely curious and this cleared things up perfectly.

Thanks for the video. You’ve taught me a lot about drywall and finishing as a framer. I’m a 2nd year carpenter going to be a red seal like you. Cheers

I found your channel about 2 years ago, when the PEX plumbing in my house failed due to a manufacturer defect. I had to have the entire house replumbed, which involved cutting panels out from behind every plumbing fixture in my house. I decided to patch it all myself, and got on YT to find a good channel, and found yours. I watched about 10 videos, went out and bought all the tools I didn't already have, and went for it. I started off in a closet behind a door that no one would see, and even surprised myself at how well it turned out. Your videos are so easy to pick up skills from and apply them to my own problems. Great job!

I'm a painting and drywall contractor . I really enjoy your videos, keep up the great work !👍🏼

👍. Absolutely correct in knowing the before and after and the issues that can be caused or prevented

Hmmmm Assembly Systems Specialist. ASS! Lol! Good stuff as usual, Ben.

Just wanted to update about my kitchen remodel project at the dry wall stage. I messaged you about needing to possibly skim existing texture to match new dry wall finish and you commented back, thanks. It has taken me 5 days to tape and put 3 coats, light sanding each time. I am a electrician of 35 years, never done dry wall but was always around it my career. Thanks for the videos you made it possible to actually pull it off, looks great. The only regret I have is not watching the video of how to use and practice with the hawk and trowel, we don't use those here in Sacramento, but I did !!! thanks again Vancouver Carpenter.

In Canada it is one that does lots of drywall repairs

As a Cabinetmaker, I've spent a decent portion of my career correcting people when they introduce me to someone else as a "Carpenter". I take a lot of pride in being a Cabinetmaker, and I've also spent a lot of time thinking about the various trades that I consider to be under the umbrella term "Woodworker", which in this video you've used to describe a subset of tradespeople as opposed to my definition. I think that "Woodworkers" include Carpenters and Cabinetmakers, and if you think that Furnituremakers are separate from Cabinetmakers, then those are the 3 large groups. Within the Carpenters, I think that you find Framers, Formers, Trim/Finish Carpenters, and Wood Flooring Installers. I believe that flooring installers are a distinct trade. Within the Cabinetmakers, you have Assemblers, Sawyers, Operators, Joiners, and Installers. Most Cabinetmakers (including myself) are proficient in multiple "Sub-categories", and when you're a custom cabinetmaker (like myself), you tend to be very good at designing a project and taking it all the way to a perfect installation. CNC machines have become a big part of the trade and while I am also a CNC operator, I don't think it necessarily falls under Cabinetmaking. I'd wouldn't expect a CNC operator to use a jointer or shaper. Cabinetmaking is a very complex trade, and it's shocking that our Red Seal is optional. There are too many people who tack together IKEA cabinets and think they're Cabinetmakers. I think Furnituremakers and Cabinetmakers have significant overlap, but I think a Cabinetmaker could go their entire career and never build a table or a chair, or a bench. Likewise, I think a Furnituremaker could go their entire career without building a bathroom vanity box. As a Cabinetmaker, I would trust myself to build a strong house with level walls, square corners, and all kinds of things planned for that other trades wouldn't even know that they could benefit from. However, I wouldn't be able to do it on time or on budget because I'd be splitting 64ths of an inch and stressing about 90.1° angled walls. The ability to work within an acceptable tolerance while adhering to code is what makes Framers make money. I think that all of these sub trades have some or significant overlap, but I personally think it's asking for trouble to get a Framer to trim out your interior doors and windows, or to ask a Trim Carpenter to design and build a kitchen. I doubt you'd want a Former building you a harvest table, or a Flooring Installer framing your house. I agree with the sentiment in your video that we should all understand trades that come before and after us. Knowing why my kitchen floor is 1/2" out of plane and level over 8', or why a niche has 87° inside corners, or why a vent/pipe just HAS TO be in a particular place can both humble you and allow you to help others to improve their own execution on job sites so that we all work together and achieve greatness on our builds.

Thanks, now I'm the ass. That's an oddly accurate description of how I feel during most jobs when I should have charged more.

Great general experience and knowledge! I consider myself lucky enough to have several years experience in all aspects of construction from concrete to roofing and specializing in finish carpentry for most of my career. I moved onto a more drywall and finish focus when my body started failing (probably because of the roofing and concrete work!). Found it was easier to teach my guys how to install and finish drywall and painting systems than it was to teach them how to do hardwood finish carpentry. It's been a good career and I feel like I know just as much about the process of building as most (residential) general contractors. Cheers!

Out of the Army I worked as a carpenter putting up pole barns. I always felt saying I was a carpenter was an exaggeration. That was the title the employer used. I had almost no training. Cool to now learn 40 years later that yup I was a carpenter. Thanks. Kind of interesting australia calls the trade "builders". More accurate maybe. I guess this all started hundreds of years ago when there was basically 3 materials, rocks, wood, metal and very limited use of those materials. In an area where there wasn't wood a mason would build a house. Places with wood a carpenter would build it, meaning the structure. All the other steps like rendering walls, roofing, etc...would probably be completed by whoever built the structure. Before so many things became specialized.

Thanks Ben, I feel your pain, I've been a carpenter for years and no one knows what I do for a living either

Well said Ben! Thanks for another informative video

My favorite part of this video is that you chose to cut to pictures of pallets whenever you mention Pinterest. (Or, at least twice, anyway.) 😂

Awesomeness. Thank you

Thanks for this video!!!! I did always wonder why you are the Vancouver carpenter but yet have so many videos on drywall. And yes, I thought a carpenter was a woodworker lol

I'm a union carpenter specializing in metal wall panels on high-rises. Been doing it for 20 years. Carpentry is a very vague and diverse term, I actually had to watch your videos to learn how to tape since I never had to do it other than a patch here or there.

Good video on the different aspects of the job

youre so humble and straight🔨💪

Wow. I never heard it explained this well. I guess I'm a DIY A.S.S HAHAHA. Great episode as usual.

no sure how you always seem to come up with relevant information to pass on to us..... but you do :) Tks...

Thank you for sharing mate. Cheers 👍🇦🇺

The thumbnail tells me carpenters are Canadian, and that's really all I needed to know

Great video, learned something new today thanks

I hear lots of sighs, lol. Thanks for the information!

I started with laying carpet and vinyl however Im a painter and drywall finisher by trade but I do everything for builders and remodeling hanging drywall,framing, finish carpentry, tile, siding, concrete, insulation,a little plumbing and electrical but not licensed but I guess I'm mainly a painter I wear whites and did a five year apprenticeship I can do residential, commercial, industrial and new construction and am chemical coating application certified so I'm rare good brush skills and spraying conventional,help,but mainly airless of course

Interesting. My Canadian brother in law( a residential carpenter) doesn’t consider me a carpenter since I mostly do structural concrete.

Very interesting. Thank you for the knowledge 😊

I moved in Vancouver area 7 years ago, and after purchasing my house (new built) with inspection as subject of purchase, I realized the finishing quality was very poor. The inspector never flagged any obvious defects. I’ve redone most of them myself using your channel. Thank you for all your knowledge how to do it right. The housing market is shockingly expensive and quality of craftmanship (in my case) ain’t just there.

That was a really well said explanation.

I like that even though these jobs are similar to each other, yet they match with very different personality types. I hate drywalling and finish carpentry jobs, because it needs finesse, attention to details, so it is more of an art. I’m more like an engineer type, so I prefer building structures.

So my dad was a carpenter… also handyman when true carpentry was lean. I personally love your channel because I never know what’s next. The dry wall videos were amazing, I feel I can face any reasonably seize home repair drywall and have because of you. Your content on door hinges ( rhymes with oranges 😉 ) also great. Fixed drawers great! Skateboard something or other shelf thingy, also great. … i coukd go on and on … Just do you, I’ll watch. Do the pateon thing ( see Rex Krueger not much math to see he us killing it there). Long story short, thanks for the content!

Also a difference between residential and commercial- wood vs steel stud, baseboard vs cove base, doing suspended ceilings, metal knock down door frames etc.

I feel your pain in those chuckles

Me putting flashing tape on windows: “this isn’t really carpentry is this?” My dad without missing a beat: “who else is going to do it the night crew?”

Thanks Vancouver I often wandered what you were :)

Thanks for this informative video. I have learned a great deal from you and it shows in my household diys. Could you do another video about your trade schooling? Why you decided on that career, what was the curriculum like? What about certifications and unions where you live? I am from a different career field and am curious about the trades. Thanks.

Very well said.

Great video. It can be a little confusing to the uninitiated. I like woodworking and framing.

This was a pretty good break down, but definitions change from region to region. In Ontario, commercial carpenters are split into two groups, form and scaffold guys, and framing and drywall guys. So here, drywall is a carpenters work

Always say if I were to do any other trade (electrician by trade) 100% would've been carpentry, either framing or finish maybe both if possible. Always loved it and found it interesting. Wish in Ontario you could do the in school training without being registered. I know we all learn more on the job but at least in trade school you learn more of the theory and structuring of parts.

A great explanation. At least three times a year I get that phone call "You carpenter, you come fit my new carpets!"

thank you!

Assembly system specialist!!! ASS. HA HA HA! Put that on your business cards and you can charge 5X times more :). Thanks for your video, I did thought that carpenter were only working woods

General contractor from Wisconsin…. I love this guy!

Not sure what a “woodworker” is, but does it matter? I think I’ve heard one of the differences between framer, finish carpenter, and cabinet maker expressed as tolerances (1/8”, 1/16”, etc). What expectations/requirements did you actually run into as you moved between types of work? And what would you call the craftsmen who used to build built-in cabinets on site - and those who install shop made cabinets? Thanks for the video.

Good Stuff😎

I would never connect cement form with be considered part of Carpenter but it makes sense

if you can assemble 2 pieces of wood together in a way that they don't brake or fail, congratulations you are a carpenter.

The way ive always looked at it is, if you work primarily with wood, but couldn't do your job without metal hardware, you aren't a woodworker (and are probably a carpenter of some type). Not that all woodworking is, or practically should be, done without hardware (there are times and places when cut nails, brackets, etc. are good and useful), but it could. To me, that's the difference (and yes, that would mean timber-framers are woodworkers in my book, but I know others would call them carpenters/builders, or something different, but im okay calling them woodworkers).

I've looked back through 4 years of your videos and was wondering if you could do a video on finishing baseboard? You have a few but I have a long run and was wondering is it better to do as long as possible or miter pieces together? When dealing with the really long pieces it bows out when too long and always seems to be impossible to get it just right. Any hints?

Great job I see you’re in the top ten percent of carpenters with an interprovincial ticket like myself. As you said about general contractors our trade needs to be a certified trade to work in like electrical or mechanical.Also to own a construction company it should be mandatory to be ticketed .

I agree with you should know A bit of the trade before you and know a bit of the trade after you. I say it all the time

Difference between a carpenter and a woodworker... 1/16th of an inch. Old joke, I know.

Okay. So, I just came across this. One important question: How were those pallets built into seating areas? That is great! Please, let me know. I subscribed a long time ago but I don't know how to contact you directly. OR.., anybody can answer my question. Thank you and thank you for a multitude of great instructional videos!!

A long time ago the red seal was optional in my trade in Ontario. If you got less than 65% on the final test then you failed and didn't get your ticket. If you got 65% or above, but less than 75% then you would have a ticket for Ontario but you wouldn't have the red seal allowing you to work in any other province of the country. Nowadays, if you get less than 75% you just fail. It's red seal or nothing. I'm guessing it's that way with carpentry, too. I'm a millwright, and I got my red seal, but have yet to actually 'need' it.

Well said

No, we are carpenters, though it is carpenters that DO the building, the builder is responsible ( and not always smart ). Gc are licensed builders. I learnt plastering because after a reno it was difficult getting someone to do me setting. I also learnt how ti install cabinet and replace benchtops because i knew how the systems work. In the US there are guys that start doing trim work amd call themselves carpenter. This isnt so. I can pitch a roof from lumber from scratch. I can also make coffee tables and book shelves.

That definition is what most of the world understands it as. In Canada, it is apparently defined as people that hang and finish drywall. Facts! I’ve seen it on KZfaq!

Totally agree.

I’m glad I only do framing. Other trades seem like more work.

What training, coursework, or tests did you have to take in order to get your carpentry card?

I was looking through your lots and lots of videos looking for one that showed me how to compute the correct compound miter cuts. For example, I want to build a ramp off of a deck. The ramp slopes at 2º, so I would lay the joist flat on my compound miter and set the angle at 2º and done! But a complication is that the ramp is also angled from the perpendicular by 7º, so is this just a matter of setting the miter to 2º and the blade tilt at 7º? Or is it more complicated than that? I’ve seen lookup tables for crown moulding that would suggest the angles I need to cut are much more complicated. How do I figure out which angles to set on my compound miter saw?

A carpenter is the guy that literally does everything on the job site

BEN, I HOPE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE DOING WELL ...

Good video. I've always understood the difference between carpenters and woodworkers but see no difference between woodworkers and cabinet makers. BTW I think the framers are the most skilled carpenters.

I'm an ASS, but I know nothing about contracting 😂

Very interesting.I am a carpenter with 30 years and more experience And I have to say you will learn alot more than other trades as carpenter. First you will become the foreman over all trades and on to general foreman. Management

hey carpenter or carpintero, got a question, estrange for me, was in my bedroom and I listened a noise like a balloon pop out in the kitchen , later was around the stove and saw a whole on the wall, big like a size of big orange, do you have any idea of how that can happens? is a drywall. thank you.

I'm a software engineer but when I really want to impress people I pull out my Kentucky Certified Surface Miner card. In order to install systems in the KY coalfields I had to take miner safety classes, had to wear a hard hat and steel toed boots. Just driving around in an open mining operation is dangerous. The trucks that haul coal can be the size of semis or the size of buildings. They could drive right over your vehicle and not even notice. Trucks ALWAYS have the right of way. And you have to learn which side of the road to drive on. Signs will tell you to switch lanes. Going down hill with heavy loads trucks will drive on the side next to the rock wall so that if their brakes fail they can steer into the wall. There are no guard rails to stop you from going over the cliff. And the road you drive on today may be gone tomorrow. I almost drove off a cliff following a truck in a dust cloud. I've been buried up to the axle in mud, had to wait until dark for it to freeze before I could get out, and then had to scrape the frozen mud off the headlights with a 2x4 so I could see. I've shown up on a job site and wondered why no one was around and then seen the side of a mountain blown up and rocks come raining down. Oh, that's why nobody is here. And most of the trucks, even the semi sized ones are not road licensed, and the drivers do not require a driver's license since the trucks never use public roads. Many of the driver's can't even read. You have to use colored lights or horn sounds at the truck scales to tell them where to go. And then you get to train them how to use a computer. Every job is an adventure!

Proud to be a red seal A.S.S 😂