I asked a friend when he was going to finish the basement renovation he started a few years ago. His response, "Are you crazy. If I finish this project, I'll have to start the next one."
I know it's not your usual content, but watching the staircase build was immensely satisfying. And the viewer that drove two hours to give you the nailguns and other gear is an absolute legend.
I am a general contractor and have been doing both residential and commercial building and remodeling for 30+ years and I can tell you that the quality of your work easily exceeds 80% of what I see so-called “professional contractors” doing these days. Don’t sell yourself short.
To be fair, most "professionals" are only called so because it's their profession. Doing the same thing every day makes you complacent, especially if it's only a very specific thing you do. That results in a lot of "ah that's good enough", or "I've seen worse, it'll do", or simply "I don't feel like fixing that for the 100th time this week". Most handy homeowners deliver better quality work than professionals, simply because it's their home they're working on, and they take pride in their work. They just take the time to do things right and put in some extra effort. For most contractors, it's just another job, they couldn't care less as long as they get paid. Obviously, there's always exceptions to the rule.
@@timderks5960 Most homeowners want the cheapest price, and that won't deliver the best work, then complain about the shit job they got. I've been doing carpentry for 26 years and no homeowner has ever said "do the best work possible regardless of cost".
The difference between an Amatuer and a Professional is that an *amatuer* practices until they get it right. A *professional* practices until they *don't* get it wrong. I wish I had the talent that is in Wes' small fingernail. That would make me quite content and would result in being able to make better things than the present abortions I produce. _Wood filler and paint make me look like the woodworker I ain't._ (except I know it's a far king mess) 🤬
Oh I *HATE* that stuff. In NZ it was called _insulfluff_ 60 years ago and it got blown into an old house we bought and any place that had the tiniest gap in the ceiling bled that far king crap into the living spaces. We were forever taping up those gaps to try and stop the rubbish coming in.
I’m a carpenter who is charged with building the stairs on our projects. You are correct, sir, when you say “3 times longer than framing the room.” You did a bang-up job, Wes! God bless the gentleman who brought you the nail guns!!!!
Doing fantastic Wes. If ever you wake up and think to yourself, “why do I even bother making these vids”? Just remember the guy with the nail guns. What an absolute star of a guy. You have such a well deserved following. Hopefully your shop will be back to some semblance of organisation soon. All the best.
Nice work! I`m surprised that in the USA pipes for electricity are steel. From safety point of view, steel is conductive. Why? PVC is for me a much better choice.
@@casparberends2719 The steel pipes (we call conduit) are grounded. So if a wire inside would have an insulation failure and touch the conduit, it would trip the circuit breaker in the panel to indicate there was a problem. But touching the conduit would still be safe, since it is grounded. PVC conduit is used in some places like wet locations or underground. But the metal conduit provides more protection to the wires inside in case something would hit the conduit. (Less likely to break or crush.)
About those ice cream machines.....they are ALL owned by the same company and can only be serviced by that company. And they usually run about 3 months behind schedule. I heard that on the radio a couple of weeks ago and thought about all the times our local MacD's has been down. SAD!
I must be the one guy who noticed you hammering all the nails but didn't tell you to get a nail gun. That said, it warms my heart that someone set you up with that stuff. I bought some pneumatic PC brad nailers a bunch of years ago but then bought a Milwaukee framing nail gun a few years ago for a minor finishing job under my stairs. It changes the job completely. You deserve it. Thanks to whoever the viewer was who gave them to you!
No, you were not the only one! When I saw him hammer that 1st nail in, I immediately thought, "nail gun." I spent 55 years as a new construction plumber and inspector. I did all my own home remodeling work, so I'm no stranger to the equipment.
Another one here who didn't comment, "NaIL gUN!!!11!!" Probably because I didn't grow up with a nail gun as an option, so don't tend to think of it. I mainly drill and screw.
I didn't say it either. I just finally bought myself a 21 degree framing nailer for some household repair projects I'm doing. Wow, what a difference! also have a brad nailer and a 15 gauge finish nailer for smaller projects and they are a must. I don't know if I'm just a butcher or what, but I don't know how people built entire houses and even did finish work with a hammer and punch without beating stuff to death.
I believe I thought it but also didn't say it. I wish I had a poofteeth of the talent Wes has. I wonder what he thinks of nail guns now that he has used one. 🤔
I'm a general contractor here in Tokyo, I think you did a bang-up job! The joy you got from the palm nailer put a smile on my face, they are a cool tool! You are a man of many talents!
You mentioning building stairs being an art form: Here in Germany, that is an actual profession. There are "Treppenbauer" aka stair builders that do NOTHING ELSE other than making stairs. All day, every day. These people are true masters of a craft.
There are no stair only builders anywhere outside of Germany? Funny enough that's not true at all. You Naz*s think you do everything perfectly well including rounding people up.
We have them here in the US as well!! Though, most don't hire them to do normal construction stairs. They are very common though in much higher end homes.
@@StreuB1 Ha, interesting to hear :D Here in Germany they're super common and you really should get their expertise. Sure you can just ask your local interior construction company, but generally you'd be much better off going to the experts. They also often even have multiple different stairs at hand you can check out and chose from - or have them come into your home to plan a complete new one.
@@paulsilva3346 Yeah, the ceiling looks fantastic and deserves to be in a living space in a home and enjoyed not an office where it won't be admired ay all and sundry.
Still by far my favorite channel on TH-cam. Making it work with what you have, not complaining about it and not needing a truckload of color-matched fresh out the box tools. Good to see some relatable content, appreciate it Wes
@@WatchWesWork I wonder if you realise how much we the viewers consider it's us that owe you. Your and others videos help me make it through the days. Thank You Mr J. You have no idea how much they are anticipated and appreciated. 👍👍
I did my attic here in MN to an R60 with blown in fiberglass insulation. Wear eye protection and breathing protection for both the loader and blower. After that, it is easy and goes pretty fast. I helped my uncle do his house and he helped me do mine. Best $800 I spent to make it warm in my place.
@@dennis2376 - Rockwool is amazing. I insulated my 16' x 24' shed/shop on the first floor underneath it, and it makes it very cozy year round with just a space heater or a window air conditioner. I wish I had done the whole thing with Rockwool. I insulated my garage walls with it, but it's not a conditioned space yet, so it just delays the temperature change in there by several hours.
I was taught how to layout stairs by a retired carpenter neighbor when I was 17. I thought it was going too be really hard but he knew tricks that made it easy. I have only done that job a handful of times in my life (I was an accountant for my career) but every time I have layed out and constructed stair they have been a success so his instructions in 1971 were right on.
until your wrist and hand ache after a couple of hours, next day you elbow joins in the ache fun too, next day the knees have rather had enough, pads or not... am to old for this now, I'm not going to build another workshop... 😐
You are an electrician after my own heart! I have 2 truisms, among many but, you can never build a big enough building AND you can never, NEVER have too many outlets!! Great work Wes!
We built a 226 square metre home & garage and I quadrupled the number of outlets the builder had included in the design. After moving in I converted many of the twin outlets to quads. I had a SOHO with twenty-four outlets on their own circuit (I did IT so wanted to avoid and dirty power caused by the household appliances) and the second item I went to plug in had to be connected with a powerboard / powerstrip due to the overly large power adapter it had. Un far king believable. Our house ended up with about 137 internal power outlets / sockets and I still have one corner of it that is missing a power point. 🤬 Amazingly they have all been used at one time or another.
18:43 My parents' farm house was built in 1927 for my great grandparents. There were 2 carpenters, one left handed and 1 right, 1 of their dad's sat under a nearby shade tree cutting all the boards by hand. They'd yell down measurements and he'd cut. They'd give the old man too much shit, he'd go on strike, so they'd have to climb down and cut their own boards. Good to know that much hasn't changed in the last 100 years.
@@centauri61032I sense your sarcasm lol but there's lots of hammering jobs(lots of regular jobs too) where a left handed or right handed man is the right man for the job.
@@paisleyprince5280 Agreed. Been in the business (framing, not finish work), and know what you're saying. And even the best tradesman that I know today can't raise a finger to those guys in the past.
My dad was a carpenter (long before nail guns) and he was naturally left handed, but the school teachers and others thought he needed to learn to be right handed, so he ended up being able to do things with either hand. When one arm got tired of driving nails he would just switch to the other hand.
Great to see how you cut the stringers and switching saws so there were no over cuts. I’ve seen many people get lazy and just use the circular saw and weaken them. All of your videos are interesting as you mix them up. Good to see your family helping out too.
It's good to see at least one person who knows how to staple kraft faced insulation to the wall studs! I was a residential electrician for 23 years and not once did I see anyone do it correctly. They always stapled it to the inside of the stud, losing the vapor barrier and compressing the fiberglass which lowers the R value. Looks real good from here, Wes!
Not to nitpick but it wasn't quite right actually. The kraft paper should actually be pulled up to the tie plate and end on the sole plate. You don't get much of a vapor barrier if you leave the ends open.
We had the carpet replaced with floorboards *three* years ago and I still have my old office chocka block full of all the crap that suddenly appeared when the carpet needed to be ripped up.
As soon as you started talking about the nail gun issue I started cracking up. Yes I was one of the 1200, god bless the man who delivered the box of tools to you! When I saw the palm nailer I knew you were going to dig it. They always put a smile on my face. Such a cool tool.
Very nice of the person that gifted the nail guns, what a nice guy ! I have worked on quite a few home builds and remodels in my life and I can tell you that your sheetrock work was better than 85% of the professionals doing it. Finishing your rock would have been a cake walk. Nice work Wes.
Wes you definitely need a mini-split to go in the new office. I recommend it as a HVAC technician. They are so easy to install and very energy efficient.
Heat during their harsh winters and warm during those days that go stupid hot. Climate is changing so it will be good insurance to have. Our summer has gone from really hot, which I like, to stupidly mild. Some days were like winter and the met forecasts that used to be accurate to 1°C over 7 days are now not that accurate for the next day. Their historical computer models have been all thrown out the window.
No harm going out of your "comfort zone", that's how we learn. Hat tilt to the donator of the air tools, bravo Sir. We (the comment section) are always happy to help any way we can (opinions vary based of geographical location) LOL.. Nice work Wes, your getting there, bit by bit. Cheers and stay safe!
Great job. I have suffered through rehabbing rental houses. I still remember working one Saturday afternoon and the pro who we had hired for the floor work was also there to finish up his work on the floor. He asked me if I knew the difference between a “do it yourselfer” and a professional. I said, “Please tell me”. He said we know how long it takes to do things. Do it “yourseldfers” think it will go a lot faster than it really does. That is so true.
when your wife makes faces while you use your new tools and see you smiling, well, you know you are a very happy man, spacially with the pneumatic hand hammer; that thing makes every man happier. you are the boss wes, keep going!
5/8/24..#1 big thanks to guy who donated all those air Framing nail guns +matching angle air nails, trim nail guns, staplers & palm nailer✅️...& whole bunch of 'matching angle' nails. Send him some Swag ! Great job on your stairway Wes! Very nice...maybe solid, 1" thick (Pine?) Treads with bull nose. So your shop is looking kinda crowded...hummm...is all this carpentry activity the hint of future Shop Expansion?? We viewers will...Watch Wes Work...& work.. & work...💪🪚🔨 Stay safe, get rest, hope that camera is ok..& carry on!🔧⚙️👍🍺😊
Forget the naysayers. I was very impressed with your hammering skills. I watched you killing those 16d sinkers with three effortless blows. That takes some ability, and you're a natural.
I also thought it was pretty damn good. Especially for just a weekend builder. I build and fix quite a bit of shit and he was hammering better than me.
Absolutely amazing work, I am a carpenter in the uk and honestly not blowing smoke here your work is so much better than 90% of what's done by 'trained professionals' on sites these days! And don't beat yourself up over the stairs.. 30+ years into my career and I still scratch my head every time I build staircases!! 😂 😂
WELL DONE WES!!!!! Even though stairs can be troubling, knowing what to do, measure properly, cut accurately, you have proven that stairs can be done correctly. Again WELL DONE WES!!!!!
You said hopefully you can have it completed in part three. I don’t know about others opinions, but for me if it took three more videos to complete I would be perfectly happy. You show the steps and the process in involved in good detail which for me makes good viewer content. Either way thanks for bringing us along with this project wishing you and the family much happiness in the future!
That insulating material you put under the floor looks to be evil stuff. I was scratching myself raw just watching you. Great work; you are a very versatile man.
@@WatchWesWorkoh man you should've seen me when I did my solar install last year. In the attic, barely 5ft tall and a foot of blow-in insulation. Had to feel for each rafter when crawling through there... Under the roof in blistering heat to pull a cable three stories up through a conduit which already had three other cables inside. Didn't get through the first three attempts... I looked like Santa Clause each time I cam down from the attic. In short: i now have a deep hatred for blow in insulation.
As a trade carpenter, I was always taught to master hand tools first and then incorporate pneumatic/electric tools. Good on you for swinging a hammer! And that is a very generous donation toward your build. The Bostitch framer is a good gun. All the best!!
Kudos to you Wes for tackling something out of your comfort zone. I'm sure it'll work out fine as you don't cut corners. Keep up the fine videos please. Thank you
It looks like your building it as good or better than a professional. I added a loft in my shop, I installed a I-Beam on the outside edge for support and to install a small chain hoist on. The stairs were the hard part for me as well. I grew up on a farm and am a Commercial HVACR Service Technician, not a carpenter, but occasionally played one on the weekends at friends houses growing up and eventually my house when we first bought it. You will always see your small mistakes, most people will not. I appreciate the viewer that donated the nice pneumatic presents. You can never have enough tools, AKA Adult Toys. Thanks for the Videos, Wes.
There was 2 carpenters working at my school in the 70s, they made two 5 room 2 story classroom blocks, extended existing buildings and all the internal cabinetry. They did all of it during school hours without power tools. Lots of Zzzzzzzt- zzzzzt- zzzzzzt- zzzzzzt of a handsaw and knock knock knock of hammers. They worked there for years.
Great job Wes. I'm a Project Manager for Weatherizing low-income homes. Your solution to installing the "blown in" insulation was quite creative. Not sure your plywood treads will hold up to much traffic. But the build is solid even without adding another post. Looking forward to part three.
I worked in a shop with plywood stairs for the loft. It got a lot of traffic and seemed to hold up pretty well. I guess we'll see. I can always cover them.
Eh, plywood holds up surprisingly well as a floor in my experience. One of my clients used plywood for the floors and walls of all their office space in their factories and even ~30 years later water damage is more of a problem than wear and tear.
There will only be 10 feet using those stairs and I don't see the 4 that Max has causing much wear & tear on them so I figure they're more than sufficient.
Really nice job there Wes!! Yes a nail gun is faster and easier than the ole manual way!! but since you didn't have one at the time, well you have them now!! Thanks to that viewer that brought them to you!! That's a nice set of steps you assembled too!! I agree that steps are a challenge!! Stay safe and i'm looking forward to part 3!!
Mate, stop putting yourself down. You have done a fantastic job thus far and will continue to finish it in true Wes style. Good on you. Kudos mate. Well done that man.
WOW, Wes, that kid is shooting up.! Next summer, you'd better have the VW ready for him to drive.! LOL... Growin' like a weed. OH, 6-foot support for stairs STRINGERS, A perfect place for a cupboard/LOCKER.??? I'm enjoying the building of The CISTERN CHAPEL.!
Hey, If Wes likes it, I like it ! Doesn't matter what any one else thinks ... unless they like it too. I am 77 & a retired GC. You sir 100 % pass inspection! Keep up the good work!
Hey Wes, I don't know how far along you are in this project, but I've got an idea for you if you're interested. If you're not going to paint/cover your stairs, have your kids put on some old shoes that are ready to be thrown out. Have them step in some paint and walk up the stairs leaving their footprints all the way up. They'll only be small for a short while and I guarantee you'll still smile looking at those footprints when you climb those stairs in 20 years. We did something similar in my Dad's shop when my sister and I were small. Cheers!
Wes, you are a talented and gifted man no matter what you are working on in your shop. It was nice Mrs. Wes and son dropped by to inspect your work. Blessings to you.
Plywood was actually used earlier than the 1950s Plywood was introduced into the United States in 1865 and industrial production there started shortly after. In 1928, the first standard-sized 4 ft by 8 ft (1.22 m by 2.44 m) plywood sheets were introduced in the United States for use as a general building material.
Grea progress!!! Palm nailers may have a limited use, by hands down they are the most "fun" tool in the toolbox! I'm always impressed by their power for their size ... and the noise they make is somehow almoat therapeutic. Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦
Watching you work on insulating the ceiling joists gave me the willies. I once build a Sugarhouse and cut out the sub roof on black paper for a cupola. The next day, being in a rush went walking on the black paper and my arm pits were the only things catching me from a 20 foot fall to concrete. Nice work Wes.
Enjoyed this, as always on your channel. "Electrical is boring, but here's me stapling in insulation." 😆 Wes' Blown Insulation Co. will not be getting my business. The square stops were a great tip! Didn't know those existed: will definitely need to find a pair. Thanks for sharing, Wes!
The vapour barrier is the tar paper glued to the insulation hence you have a vapour barrier. These current days often the insulation bats are naked, no tar paper, are applied between the studs and then entirely covered by a plastic film vapour barrier with staples. No worries you did it correct. You dun good lol 😂
Wes, remember what Mr. Harley said to Mr. Davidson "what's good is what works!" I'm among those who are glad you now have nail guns and staplers! I'm old enough to have done framing with a claw hammer but as soon as they were available I switched! Your son is growing up fast! Both of my grandsons have driver's licenses and my grand daughter just turned 29! It'll feel like a week from now your son will graduate from high school. Enjoy him while you can! Great video!
I think you are a good example in terms of safety equipment usage. Most contractors that frame shoot nails all day without hearing protection. Good job.
Great job, Wes! I love seeing you make CAD models first, and then adapt as necessary. Very much what I did in the later stages of my career as a fixture designer/builder in an automotive part test lab.
Great video! Thanks for including us in your shop upgrades. I’m betting there will be a part 4! A wise man once told while building a house when the Sheetrock is done the house is 50% time and effort wise. That’s been my luck. I haven’t finished my office in my shop for over a year! Took me only two weekends to frame, insulate and Sheetrock it. I haven’t done the taping or texturing yet. Got busy using it and don’t want to make a mess of all my crap. Maybe be that’s just as far as it will ever go! Good luck you’re doing great work.
Hi Wes. well like the first time you get laid, the first project you use a nail gun, well you understand now! WOOHOO!! You have made remarkable progress for a do it yourself project. KUDOS to the Wisconsin guy who gave you your guns, you will find more things to put together, it's an addiction! The stairs look sweet, ain't that palm nailer a hoot! Great idea farming out the mud work, looks like the guy did a first rate job! Really looking forward to the next chapter! Stay positive!
Different than your usual content for sure, but Thanks for sharing another side of your life as a small business owner. These are very real everyday things that we all must deal with. My daughter once asked me, "why do you do so many different things?" I replied, "you either learn to do things yourself, or you need to pay someone to do it for you, the real skill is knowing what you can handle, and what to pass on to another tradesman." It looks like you're doing a great job. Personally though, I was less wondering about you using a hammer, than I am about that Chevy on your lift. I'm hoping there will be a video on that in the future, great looking car! Looking forward to part 3.
Epic job Wes welcome to the modern world I worked 50 years with out air hammers I’ve only had 3 hammers a carpenters hammer a ballpien and a masons hammer but I wish I’d had a nail gun
Those palm nailers are great for tight spots, and kind of fun to use, we used them a lot when we would do hanger and tie down retrofits on older structures. Stairs are a pain but you did a great job👍
One of the first rules my grandad and dad taught me was “ if man made it” a mechanic can fix it! 🤔🧐🥰 Rule number 2. If a mechanic can fix it a “ engineer” can modify it 🤔🧐🥰! Nice job sir 🥰 Hi from Texas
No one NEEDS a pneumatic nailer. Until you have one. Very fast! But come on guys, don't badger people. And... come on, Wes. Experience the speed and ease!
Honestly I was feeling bad for you Wes - nailing everything by hand. Working alone it can take forever. Glad a viewer helped you out. Agree 110% on what you said about staircases. Truly like cabinetry when done well. I met a contractor once who built high end homes. He had one guy that only did staircases. They were a focal point of the home and works of art.
Good day You are much more skilled than you admit. I have been. Watching your channel for about a year. I have enjoyed your video's very much. I am one if the people who has gone back and watched your videos back 4 years. I want to compliment you on your ability to explain and research very difficult Projects on many vehicles as well a constructing many projects I also enjoy the family aspect to most of your videos. In today's world this is a rare occurrence. Your office and second floor storage is looking great.. keep going forward as I enjoy your varied content. May God bless you and the family
Love the workmanship, Wes. The nail gun commentary was hilarious. But that doesn't mean we were wrong. I just did the drywall ceiling in my shop. But I chickened out and paid a guy to hang it and finish it. In my defense, it is 30x50, 10 feet high. Even with a lift that's a lot for one guy. Your office looks great, and the stairs, too. I'm a SolidWorks user these days. But when I retire I'll have to check out Fusion360. It looks quite capable. Thanks, as always, for sharing.
Great job on the stairs Wes, I always cut the stringers in pairs that way I can screw up two expensive pieces of wood at once cause I'm a wood butcher not a carpenter. Kudos to the gentleman who gave you the nail guns, A man of my own heart, Get rid of these tools so I don't have to use them again.LoL.Gord Ontario Canada
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what a great guy whoever donated the nail guns - real gentleman!!
Absolutely!
yeah, must get me one of those. Totaly cheating though lol
Respect
Yes, if for no other reason than to protect Wes from the horrible, soul-killing shame of having to use a hammer to drive nails! 🙄
Yes. Great gesture.
I love the disappointment when he finds out you're not breaking the glass.
I thought the same 😄
That conversion was comedy gold. 😂
I asked a friend when he was going to finish the basement renovation he started a few years ago. His response, "Are you crazy. If I finish this project, I'll have to start the next one."
I know it's not your usual content, but watching the staircase build was immensely satisfying. And the viewer that drove two hours to give you the nailguns and other gear is an absolute legend.
Depending on the terminology of where one lives on our _pale blue dot_ he most definitely is a bloody *champion!* 👍
I am a general contractor and have been doing both residential and commercial building and remodeling for 30+ years and I can tell you that the quality of your work easily exceeds 80% of what I see so-called “professional contractors” doing these days. Don’t sell yourself short.
To be fair, most "professionals" are only called so because it's their profession. Doing the same thing every day makes you complacent, especially if it's only a very specific thing you do. That results in a lot of "ah that's good enough", or "I've seen worse, it'll do", or simply "I don't feel like fixing that for the 100th time this week".
Most handy homeowners deliver better quality work than professionals, simply because it's their home they're working on, and they take pride in their work. They just take the time to do things right and put in some extra effort. For most contractors, it's just another job, they couldn't care less as long as they get paid.
Obviously, there's always exceptions to the rule.
@@timderks5960 Most homeowners want the cheapest price, and that won't deliver the best work, then complain about the shit job they got. I've been doing carpentry for 26 years and no homeowner has ever said "do the best work possible regardless of cost".
Agree, your integrity pushes through in everything you do. Good job.
The difference between an Amatuer and a Professional is that an *amatuer* practices until they get it right. A *professional* practices until they *don't* get it wrong. I wish I had the talent that is in Wes' small fingernail. That would make me quite content and would result in being able to make better things than the present abortions I produce. _Wood filler and paint make me look like the woodworker I ain't._ (except I know it's a far king mess) 🤬
I agree... But the comic relief coming from Wes' self short selling is quite obvious...
Watching you mess with that blown-in insulation was making ME sneeze
😂
those machines are heavy at the bottom and all plastic, but this mix looks like ground meat and the camera was hungry
Wes' cheese eating friends will be happy with their new home
Oh I *HATE* that stuff. In NZ it was called _insulfluff_ 60 years ago and it got blown into an old house we bought and any place that had the tiniest gap in the ceiling bled that far king crap into the living spaces. We were forever taping up those gaps to try and stop the rubbish coming in.
I’m a carpenter who is charged with building the stairs on our projects. You are correct, sir, when you say “3 times longer than framing the room.” You did a bang-up job, Wes! God bless the gentleman who brought you the nail guns!!!!
Doing fantastic Wes. If ever you wake up and think to yourself, “why do I even bother making these vids”? Just remember the guy with the nail guns. What an absolute star of a guy. You have such a well deserved following. Hopefully your shop will be back to some semblance of organisation soon. All the best.
Totally agree!
Working at a lumberyard, I can tell you insulation blowers are broken three times as much as a McDonald's ice cream machine...
They lead a rough life!
Nice work! I`m surprised that in the USA pipes for electricity are steel. From safety point of view, steel is conductive. Why? PVC is for me a much better choice.
@@casparberends2719Grounded steel, my friend. Grounded :)
@@casparberends2719 The steel pipes (we call conduit) are grounded. So if a wire inside would have an insulation failure and touch the conduit, it would trip the circuit breaker in the panel to indicate there was a problem. But touching the conduit would still be safe, since it is grounded. PVC conduit is used in some places like wet locations or underground. But the metal conduit provides more protection to the wires inside in case something would hit the conduit. (Less likely to break or crush.)
About those ice cream machines.....they are ALL owned by the same company and can only be serviced by that company. And they usually run about 3 months behind schedule. I heard that on the radio a couple of weeks ago and thought about all the times our local MacD's has been down. SAD!
I must be the one guy who noticed you hammering all the nails but didn't tell you to get a nail gun. That said, it warms my heart that someone set you up with that stuff. I bought some pneumatic PC brad nailers a bunch of years ago but then bought a Milwaukee framing nail gun a few years ago for a minor finishing job under my stairs. It changes the job completely. You deserve it. Thanks to whoever the viewer was who gave them to you!
No, you were not the only one! When I saw him hammer that 1st nail in, I immediately thought, "nail gun." I spent 55 years as a new construction plumber and inspector. I did all my own home remodeling work, so I'm no stranger to the equipment.
I believe I was in the few who didn't say anything about a nail gun
Because sometimes you just gotta swing that hammer
Another one here who didn't comment, "NaIL gUN!!!11!!"
Probably because I didn't grow up with a nail gun as an option, so don't tend to think of it. I mainly drill and screw.
I didn't say it either. I just finally bought myself a 21 degree framing nailer for some household repair projects I'm doing. Wow, what a difference! also have a brad nailer and a 15 gauge finish nailer for smaller projects and they are a must. I don't know if I'm just a butcher or what, but I don't know how people built entire houses and even did finish work with a hammer and punch without beating stuff to death.
I believe I thought it but also didn't say it. I wish I had a poofteeth of the talent Wes has. I wonder what he thinks of nail guns now that he has used one. 🤔
Good job! You were smart to hire out the drywall taping!
I'm a general contractor here in Tokyo, I think you did a bang-up job!
The joy you got from the palm nailer put a smile on my face, they are a cool tool!
You are a man of many talents!
You mentioning building stairs being an art form: Here in Germany, that is an actual profession. There are "Treppenbauer" aka stair builders that do NOTHING ELSE other than making stairs. All day, every day. These people are true masters of a craft.
There are no stair only builders anywhere outside of Germany? Funny enough that's not true at all. You Naz*s think you do everything perfectly well including rounding people up.
We have them here in the US as well!! Though, most don't hire them to do normal construction stairs. They are very common though in much higher end homes.
The circular stuff with multiple landings....now that's skill
Do they lose their job if they _step out of align?_ 🤦♂Sorry, I shall leave now.
@@StreuB1 Ha, interesting to hear :D Here in Germany they're super common and you really should get their expertise. Sure you can just ask your local interior construction company, but generally you'd be much better off going to the experts. They also often even have multiple different stairs at hand you can check out and chose from - or have them come into your home to plan a complete new one.
Sincerity and humility make your channel a true gem. Keep shining.
And deadpan sarcastic humour…
Outstanding 28:22
@@paulsilva3346 Yeah, the ceiling looks fantastic and deserves to be in a living space in a home and enjoyed not an office where it won't be admired ay all and sundry.
The paper side of the insulation is the vapor barrier. You're doing great.
Still by far my favorite channel on TH-cam. Making it work with what you have, not complaining about it and not needing a truckload of color-matched fresh out the box tools. Good to see some relatable content, appreciate it Wes
Your viewers appreciate you quite a bit! ❤
Too much.
Cutting insulation...ASMR. I love it. 😅
@@WatchWesWork I wonder if you realise how much we the viewers consider it's us that owe you. Your and others videos help me make it through the days. Thank You Mr J. You have no idea how much they are anticipated and appreciated. 👍👍
I've never worked with blown insulation and after watching your video I plan to keep it that way.
I keep to Rockwool, next time I build something. :)
I did my attic here in MN to an R60 with blown in fiberglass insulation. Wear eye protection and breathing protection for both the loader and blower. After that, it is easy and goes pretty fast. I helped my uncle do his house and he helped me do mine. Best $800 I spent to make it warm in my place.
@@dennis2376 - Rockwool is amazing. I insulated my 16' x 24' shed/shop on the first floor underneath it, and it makes it very cozy year round with just a space heater or a window air conditioner. I wish I had done the whole thing with Rockwool. I insulated my garage walls with it, but it's not a conditioned space yet, so it just delays the temperature change in there by several hours.
I was taught how to layout stairs by a retired carpenter neighbor when I was 17. I thought it was going too be really hard but he knew tricks that made it easy. I have only done that job a handful of times in my life (I was an accountant for my career) but every time I have layed out and constructed stair they have been a success so his instructions in 1971 were right on.
People underestimate how much fun hitting stuff with a hammer is.
Eh it gets old after the 400th nail
until your wrist and hand ache after a couple of hours, next day you elbow joins in the ache fun too, next day the knees have rather had enough, pads or not... am to old for this now, I'm not going to build another workshop... 😐
You are an electrician after my own heart! I have 2 truisms, among many but, you can never build a big enough building AND you can never, NEVER have too many outlets!! Great work Wes!
Truisms are built from idiocy.
@@meateater4life551 luckily I’m and idiot in recovery
Double the outlet estimate. There are never enough, and do not forget internet wiring.
We built a 226 square metre home & garage and I quadrupled the number of outlets the builder had included in the design. After moving in I converted many of the twin outlets to quads. I had a SOHO with twenty-four outlets on their own circuit (I did IT so wanted to avoid and dirty power caused by the household appliances) and the second item I went to plug in had to be connected with a powerboard / powerstrip due to the overly large power adapter it had. Un far king believable. Our house ended up with about 137 internal power outlets / sockets and I still have one corner of it that is missing a power point. 🤬 Amazingly they have all been used at one time or another.
How true!
18:43 My parents' farm house was built in 1927 for my great grandparents. There were 2 carpenters, one left handed and 1 right, 1 of their dad's sat under a nearby shade tree cutting all the boards by hand. They'd yell down measurements and he'd cut. They'd give the old man too much shit, he'd go on strike, so they'd have to climb down and cut their own boards. Good to know that much hasn't changed in the last 100 years.
Wow! So they must have had separate sets of tools for each of the guys then? Left and right handed hammers, saws, measuring tapes, etc? 🙂
@@centauri61032 Yup, and lots of buckets of steam.
@@centauri61032I sense your sarcasm lol but there's lots of hammering jobs(lots of regular jobs too) where a left handed or right handed man is the right man for the job.
@@paisleyprince5280 Agreed. Been in the business (framing, not finish work), and know what you're saying. And even the best tradesman that I know today can't raise a finger to those guys in the past.
My dad was a carpenter (long before nail guns) and he was naturally left handed, but the school teachers and others thought he needed to learn to be right handed, so he ended up being able to do things with either hand. When one arm got tired of driving nails he would just switch to the other hand.
Great to see how you cut the stringers and switching saws so there were no over cuts. I’ve seen many people get lazy and just use the circular saw and weaken them.
All of your videos are interesting as you mix them up. Good to see your family helping out too.
It's good to see at least one person who knows how to staple kraft faced insulation to the wall studs! I was a residential electrician for 23 years and not once did I see anyone do it correctly. They always stapled it to the inside of the stud, losing the vapor barrier and compressing the fiberglass which lowers the R value. Looks real good from here, Wes!
Funny enough I've never seen an electrician make the box perfectly even with the drywall, or install a box extension when needed.
But what if I want to glue my drywall to the stud or joist? Won’t do much good to glue to paper.
I stapled my fiberglass insulation to the stud face as you said, and the drywaller complained about it. It's always something.
Not to nitpick but it wasn't quite right actually. The kraft paper should actually be pulled up to the tie plate and end on the sole plate. You don't get much of a vapor barrier if you leave the ends open.
Wes makes me feel better about the unorganized mess in my garage.
It has to get worse before it gets better.
We had the carpet replaced with floorboards *three* years ago and I still have my old office chocka block full of all the crap that suddenly appeared when the carpet needed to be ripped up.
As soon as you started talking about the nail gun issue I started cracking up. Yes I was one of the 1200, god bless the man who delivered the box of tools to you! When I saw the palm nailer I knew you were going to dig it. They always put a smile on my face. Such a cool tool.
I absolutely love that somebody sent you an entire air nailer kit with the required fasteners! You are Loved by all, my friend!
Very nice of the person that gifted the nail guns, what a nice guy ! I have worked on quite a few home builds and remodels in my life and I can tell you that your sheetrock work was better than 85% of the professionals doing it. Finishing your rock would have been a cake walk. Nice work Wes.
Shout out to the guy that brought the nail guns, kudos sir. You’re a champ!
Wes you definitely need a mini-split to go in the new office. I recommend it as a HVAC technician. They are so easy to install and very energy efficient.
Heat during their harsh winters and warm during those days that go stupid hot. Climate is changing so it will be good insurance to have. Our summer has gone from really hot, which I like, to stupidly mild. Some days were like winter and the met forecasts that used to be accurate to 1°C over 7 days are now not that accurate for the next day. Their historical computer models have been all thrown out the window.
The noises of joy when you tried the palm nailer the first time were outstanding.
This Buds for you, Mr. Nailgun donator guy!! You are a prince among men.
Oh no, not Tranny Fluid! 🏳⚧🍺 But yes, the good old days are missed when Bud Light's Real Men of Genius was a thing
Love that little pneumatic air hammer and judging by the happy chuckles so did you. Great content Wes. Thank you.
No harm going out of your "comfort zone", that's how we learn. Hat tilt to the donator of the air tools, bravo Sir. We (the comment section) are always happy to help any way we can (opinions vary based of geographical location) LOL.. Nice work Wes, your getting there, bit by bit. Cheers and stay safe!
Great job. I have suffered through rehabbing rental houses. I still remember working one Saturday afternoon and the pro who we had hired for the floor work was also there to finish up his work on the floor. He asked me if I knew the difference between a “do it yourselfer” and a professional. I said, “Please tell me”. He said we know how long it takes to do things. Do it “yourseldfers” think it will go a lot faster than it really does. That is so true.
I always heard the difference between an amateur and pro is a pro knows how to hide his mistakes!
I think the pros don’t paint them selves into a corner as much!
It’s a whole new world with the air nailers. That was a SOLID!
And those 1920’s balusters are LIT!
Repect to the gents who gave all those goodies 👍
How about a car comment? I like the two muscle cars in the shop! Maybe a video on one of those?
There will be.
when your wife makes faces while you use your new tools and see you smiling, well, you know you are a very happy man, spacially with the pneumatic hand hammer; that thing makes every man happier. you are the boss wes, keep going!
5/8/24..#1 big thanks to guy who donated all those air Framing nail guns +matching angle air nails, trim nail guns, staplers & palm nailer✅️...& whole bunch of 'matching angle' nails. Send him some Swag !
Great job on your stairway Wes! Very nice...maybe solid, 1" thick (Pine?) Treads with bull nose.
So your shop is looking kinda crowded...hummm...is all this carpentry activity the hint of future Shop Expansion?? We viewers will...Watch Wes Work...& work.. & work...💪🪚🔨
Stay safe, get rest, hope that camera is ok..& carry on!🔧⚙️👍🍺😊
Forget the naysayers. I was very impressed with your hammering skills. I watched you killing those 16d sinkers with three effortless blows. That takes some ability, and you're a natural.
I also thought it was pretty damn good. Especially for just a weekend builder. I build and fix quite a bit of shit and he was hammering better than me.
Absolutely amazing work, I am a carpenter in the uk and honestly not blowing smoke here your work is so much better than 90% of what's done by 'trained professionals' on sites these days! And don't beat yourself up over the stairs.. 30+ years into my career and I still scratch my head every time I build staircases!! 😂 😂
WELL DONE WES!!!!! Even though stairs can be troubling, knowing what to do, measure properly, cut accurately, you have proven that stairs can be done correctly. Again WELL DONE WES!!!!!
This week I've seen Colin's missus out helping him with his gargantuan project and now yours, what treasures you both have.
You said hopefully you can have it completed in part three. I don’t know about others opinions, but for me if it took three more videos to complete I would be perfectly happy. You show the steps and the process in involved in good detail which for me makes good viewer content. Either way thanks for bringing us along with this project wishing you and the family much happiness in the future!
Watching you put up insulation is more exciting than watching you wiring, I enjoy all your content.
Yeah yeah...
Don't quit your day job. This was fun to watch.
That insulating material you put under the floor looks to be evil stuff. I was scratching myself raw just watching you. Great work; you are a very versatile man.
I absolutely hate insulation. That being said, you’re a true professional in whatever you do.
Yeah the itch is hardly worth it.
@@WatchWesWorkWes, try Roxul insulation. It’s not itchy, and it cuts great with just a breadknife. Fire resistant too.
@@gregholloway2656 Or Rockwool which I think is the samething.
@@dennis2376 yup, same thing. Acts as a sound deadener too.
@@WatchWesWorkoh man you should've seen me when I did my solar install last year. In the attic, barely 5ft tall and a foot of blow-in insulation. Had to feel for each rafter when crawling through there... Under the roof in blistering heat to pull a cable three stories up through a conduit which already had three other cables inside. Didn't get through the first three attempts... I looked like Santa Clause each time I cam down from the attic.
In short: i now have a deep hatred for blow in insulation.
The hammer summary was hilarious Wes. You’re a stud bro. Great progress on this project for sure!
As a trade carpenter, I was always taught to master hand tools first and then incorporate pneumatic/electric tools. Good on you for swinging a hammer! And that is a very generous donation toward your build. The Bostitch framer is a good gun. All the best!!
Kudos to you Wes for tackling something out of your comfort zone. I'm sure it'll work out fine as you don't cut corners. Keep up the fine videos please. Thank you
Spencer Lewis is a you tuber for stairs and finish carpentry, a true craftsman. Shout out to the generous viewers!!!
whoever he is, that viewer is a real king. keep up the wonderful work, wes!
It looks like your building it as good or better than a professional. I added a loft in my shop, I installed a I-Beam on the outside edge for support and to install a small chain hoist on. The stairs were the hard part for me as well. I grew up on a farm and am a Commercial HVACR Service Technician, not a carpenter, but occasionally played one on the weekends at friends houses growing up and eventually my house when we first bought it. You will always see your small mistakes, most people will not. I appreciate the viewer that donated the nice pneumatic presents. You can never have enough tools, AKA Adult Toys. Thanks for the Videos, Wes.
There was 2 carpenters working at my school in the 70s, they made two 5 room 2 story classroom blocks, extended existing buildings and all the internal cabinetry.
They did all of it during school hours without power tools. Lots of Zzzzzzzt- zzzzzt- zzzzzzt- zzzzzzt of a handsaw and knock knock knock of hammers.
They worked there for years.
Great job Wes. I'm a Project Manager for Weatherizing low-income homes. Your solution to installing the "blown in" insulation was quite creative. Not sure your plywood treads will hold up to much traffic. But the build is solid even without adding another post. Looking forward to part three.
I worked in a shop with plywood stairs for the loft. It got a lot of traffic and seemed to hold up pretty well. I guess we'll see. I can always cover them.
Eh, plywood holds up surprisingly well as a floor in my experience. One of my clients used plywood for the floors and walls of all their office space in their factories and even ~30 years later water damage is more of a problem than wear and tear.
There will only be 10 feet using those stairs and I don't see the 4 that Max has causing much wear & tear on them so I figure they're more than sufficient.
Worst case scenario, you can soak the nose of the treads with some CA glue to stop them from splintering and wearing the occasional sliver off.
Really nice job there Wes!! Yes a nail gun is faster and easier than the ole manual way!! but since you didn't have one at the time, well you have them now!! Thanks to that viewer that brought them to you!! That's a nice set of steps you assembled too!! I agree that steps are a challenge!! Stay safe and i'm looking forward to part 3!!
Mate, stop putting yourself down. You have done a fantastic job thus far and will continue to finish it in true Wes style. Good on you. Kudos mate. Well done that man.
WOW, Wes, that kid is shooting up.! Next summer, you'd better have the VW ready for him to drive.! LOL... Growin' like a weed.
OH, 6-foot support for stairs STRINGERS, A perfect place for a cupboard/LOCKER.???
I'm enjoying the building of The CISTERN CHAPEL.!
You’re my favorite channel on TH-cam. You constantly mix your content and keep it interesting. 👍😎
It amazed me how things got built before the internet. That lasted hundreds, if not thousands of years, and without all the fancy tools.
Hey, If Wes likes it, I like it ! Doesn't matter what any one else thinks ... unless they like it too. I am 77 & a retired GC. You sir 100 % pass inspection! Keep up the good work!
Hats off to the GigaChad that gave you all that gear. That is quality stuff! ❤
Blowing that insulation would have gotten it all over the shop anyway. You had the best solution.
Hey Wes, I don't know how far along you are in this project, but I've got an idea for you if you're interested. If you're not going to paint/cover your stairs, have your kids put on some old shoes that are ready to be thrown out. Have them step in some paint and walk up the stairs leaving their footprints all the way up. They'll only be small for a short while and I guarantee you'll still smile looking at those footprints when you climb those stairs in 20 years. We did something similar in my Dad's shop when my sister and I were small. Cheers!
Cool idea. 👍👍
Wow, that young man is really growing up. You two are doing great.
Wes, you are a talented and gifted man no matter what you are working on in your shop. It was nice Mrs. Wes and son dropped by to inspect your work. Blessings to you.
Plywood was actually used earlier than the 1950s
Plywood was introduced into the United States in 1865 and industrial production there started shortly after. In 1928, the first standard-sized 4 ft by 8 ft (1.22 m by 2.44 m) plywood sheets were introduced in the United States for use as a general building material.
Very nice! Even though you don't consider yourself "skilled carpenter", you are a true craftsman at whatever you do. 👍
Grea progress!!!
Palm nailers may have a limited use, by hands down they are the most "fun" tool in the toolbox! I'm always impressed by their power for their size ... and the noise they make is somehow almoat therapeutic.
Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦
Watching you work on insulating the ceiling joists gave me the willies. I once build a Sugarhouse and cut out the sub roof on black paper for a cupola. The next day, being in a rush went walking on the black paper and my arm pits were the only things catching me from a 20 foot fall to concrete. Nice work Wes.
Enjoyed this, as always on your channel. "Electrical is boring, but here's me stapling in insulation." 😆 Wes' Blown Insulation Co. will not be getting my business.
The square stops were a great tip! Didn't know those existed: will definitely need to find a pair. Thanks for sharing, Wes!
The vapour barrier is the tar paper glued to the insulation hence you have a vapour barrier. These current days often the insulation bats are naked, no tar paper, are applied between the studs and then entirely covered by a plastic film vapour barrier with staples. No worries you did it correct. You dun good lol 😂
Wes I loved your response to the hammer comments. You’re a pretty funny guy. You have had me rolling quite a few times. Thanks for the video brother.
Can't wait for part 3 Wes. Thanks for bringing us along and take care!
Wes, remember what Mr. Harley said to Mr. Davidson "what's good is what works!" I'm among those who are glad you now have nail guns and staplers! I'm old enough to have done framing with a claw hammer but as soon as they were available I switched! Your son is growing up fast! Both of my grandsons have driver's licenses and my grand daughter just turned 29! It'll feel like a week from now your son will graduate from high school. Enjoy him while you can! Great video!
Saved this vid for Monday breakfast. Another great show from 3-DUB!!! Don’t ya just love that palm nailer?
I think you are a good example in terms of safety equipment usage. Most contractors that frame shoot nails all day without hearing protection. Good job.
Great job, Wes! I love seeing you make CAD models first, and then adapt as necessary. Very much what I did in the later stages of my career as a fixture designer/builder in an automotive part test lab.
Looking good Wes. Humble as ever. Big thanks also to anonymous donor x
Hell of a guy that delivered the nail guns! ...Would like to buy him a beer.
Great video! Thanks for including us in your shop upgrades.
I’m betting there will be a part 4! A wise man once told while building a house when the Sheetrock is done the house is 50% time and effort wise. That’s been my luck. I haven’t finished my office in my shop for over a year! Took me only two weekends to frame, insulate and Sheetrock it. I haven’t done the taping or texturing yet. Got busy using it and don’t want to make a mess of all my crap. Maybe be that’s just as far as it will ever go! Good luck you’re doing great work.
You will never reap the rewards of victory, if you don't accept the challenge. Very nice work Wes. It will be great when it is finished.
A much bolder man then I ... recording and publishing stairs being built.. great job Wes let the haters boil through their keyboard's
Hi Wes. well like the first time you get laid, the first project you use a nail gun, well you understand now! WOOHOO!! You have made remarkable progress for a do it yourself project. KUDOS to the Wisconsin guy who gave you your guns, you will find more things to put together, it's an addiction! The stairs look sweet, ain't that palm nailer a hoot! Great idea farming out the mud work, looks like the guy did a first rate job! Really looking forward to the next chapter! Stay positive!
Different than your usual content for sure, but Thanks for sharing another side of your life as a small business owner. These are very real everyday things that we all must deal with. My daughter once asked me, "why do you do so many different things?" I replied, "you either learn to do things yourself, or you need to pay someone to do it for you, the real skill is knowing what you can handle, and what to pass on to another tradesman." It looks like you're doing a great job. Personally though, I was less wondering about you using a hammer, than I am about that Chevy on your lift. I'm hoping there will be a video on that in the future, great looking car! Looking forward to part 3.
Epic job Wes welcome to the modern world I worked 50 years with out air hammers I’ve only had 3 hammers a carpenters hammer a ballpien and a masons hammer but I wish I’d had a nail gun
Those palm nailers are great for tight spots, and kind of fun to use, we used them a lot when we would do hanger and tie down retrofits on older structures.
Stairs are a pain but you did a great job👍
NIce job Wes, I failed woodwork at trade school so you have my full admiration for building those stairs. 😁💪
One of the first rules my grandad and dad taught me was “ if man made it” a mechanic can fix it! 🤔🧐🥰 Rule number 2. If a mechanic can fix it a “ engineer” can modify it 🤔🧐🥰! Nice job sir 🥰 Hi from Texas
No one NEEDS a pneumatic nailer.
Until you have one. Very fast!
But come on guys, don't badger people.
And... come on, Wes. Experience the speed and ease!
damn sight better than any DIY you'd get out of me. Looking good!!
That belt feed screw gun was nice!
Honestly I was feeling bad for you Wes - nailing everything by hand. Working alone it can take forever. Glad a viewer helped you out. Agree 110% on what you said about staircases. Truly like cabinetry when done well. I met a contractor once who built high end homes. He had one guy that only did staircases. They were a focal point of the home and works of art.
Well done, great progress. It’s going to be a real asset when it’s finished. Lucky you looked busy when the management did their inspection….
Good day
You are much more skilled than you admit. I have been. Watching your channel for about a year. I have enjoyed your video's very much. I am one if the people who has gone back and watched your videos back 4 years.
I want to compliment you on your ability to explain and research very difficult
Projects on many vehicles as well a constructing many projects
I also enjoy the family aspect to most of your videos. In today's world this is a rare occurrence.
Your office and second floor storage is looking great.. keep going forward as I enjoy your varied content. May God bless you and the family
Love the workmanship, Wes. The nail gun commentary was hilarious. But that doesn't mean we were wrong. I just did the drywall ceiling in my shop. But I chickened out and paid a guy to hang it and finish it. In my defense, it is 30x50, 10 feet high. Even with a lift that's a lot for one guy. Your office looks great, and the stairs, too. I'm a SolidWorks user these days. But when I retire I'll have to check out Fusion360. It looks quite capable. Thanks, as always, for sharing.
Great job on the stairs Wes, I always cut the stringers in pairs that way I can screw up two expensive pieces of wood at once cause I'm a wood butcher not a carpenter. Kudos to the gentleman who gave you the nail guns, A man of my own heart, Get rid of these tools so I don't have to use them again.LoL.Gord Ontario Canada
I bet I am a bigger wood butcher than you. I have to measure four times and cut three and I really wish that wasn't true. 😣
Love to see the progress you are making.