I turned 60 last birthday and there is one thing I would share with my younger self above everything else: while the days are long, the years are short. So enjoy the day, there won't be another quite like it.
I too just turned 60 . Spent 40 years as a carpenter /builder before life came along . Stage 4 cancer . Part of my love of building was sharing my knowledge and discoveries. As skill related , I have told many . Don't pigeon hole yourself . Learn all types of carpentry . Timber , Frame , Trim , Cornice , Form , Learn from books , learn from others and cross train each skill . Never accept that you can't and the most powerful weapon in my tool belt .. Is Math.. Math can solve so many things and take your skills to another level . And the greatest advice I can give.. Don't chase the money and forsake the work and always give thanks To God for the abilities you have . They are a Gift
Regarding travel, in Germany it's tradition to go traveling as soon as you completed your apprenticeship. you are banned from your home town for 3 years and one day. it's called Wandergeselle, those who practice this tradition are in traditional black clothing and carry only a small bag.
I always smiled at other builders and tradies that didn't look tidy or keep a clean worksite, the amount of work they missed out on and I got by simply looking presentable and respecting my clients homes or work sites was massive.
It really does matter yeah. Clients can tell when someone gives a shit. Same for mistakes, it's not necessarily the mistake that matters but how you deal with it. If you make sure to do right by the client, they're not gonna remember how something was botched, they're gonna remember how you fixed it.
That’s one thing I appreciated when we built, it meant there was hardly any construction waste in my yard before I prepared for the lawn. Nothing worse than a lawn that won’t thrive because there’s crap all through the soil. We built with a major group builder and their supervisor was excellent at keeping everything tidy, and what quality problems we had he took seriously (I’m on the extreme side of picky).
I remember whe I started working in UK Clients were shocked when I started cleaning behind me. I always try to keep job site tidy as much as possible. Also, look after my tools.
You do get a lot of callbacks to do more work for being tidy which was a surprise to me but then again I’m an electrician so I was more worried about giving people heart attacks if they saw me with a broom in my hand. 😂
@@sniperfi4532 Simple human nature to be appreciative of those that treat you and yr home or project/site with respect. I ended up building my own company from ongoing client relationships at the start and taught my guys that those professional qualities were as important as the work itself. I thought all sparkies wore 3 piece suits to work and had butlers to clean up after them lol
I am a builder and My family and I have just moved to Nelson from the US and we’ve been following your channel for about 3 years. my kids are 3 & 5 and when we got here they said “when are we going to see Scott brown here”. We love it here and hope to run into you at some point. Keep up the good work
Robbie, I'd be really curious to hear about your experience repatriating to NZ, the joys of working in metric, etc. I run a one man show, woodworker in Seattle and want to travel to build when I can.
@@mc6212 we just got here a few weeks ago from Portland, OR. I haven’t sorted out the visa situation yet to start working, measuring for furniture and appliances etc has been a lot of converting!! I would definitely recommend traveling to gain more tricks of the trades!!
I met a successful Irish builder here in NZ and he told me the secret to success as a tradie in NZ was "turn up on time and do the job you said you were going to do", which seems like a low bar but unfortunately far too many don't even do that and so according to this Irish builder just doing these basic things made him look better than the competition.
Im 23 years old currently in my first year in Uni after my 1 year experience in construction and I’m going for my carpentry qualifications here in nz! Your videos are motivating to me mate! Keep it up and wish me luck!
I'm not a builder, hell I barely even DIY, but I have immensely enjoyed watching your videos. There's huge value in learning what's involved with carpentry and building, even if you're only ever destined to hire professionals. Thanks Scott and your awesome crew!
It's crazy how much you can learn from just watching YT. I'm renovating my laundry at the moment and I'm doing it all myself. The lights/electricals, the plumbing, putting in a birch ply ceiling (like Scott did at the client), making the cabinets and tiling the splashback. My garage looks almost like a commercial workshop with full-size cabinet table saw, band saw, jointer, thicknesser and pretty much any tool you might need. And I'm a computer programmer.😆
A tip I have as a builders is: Give the trades you employ a Quality Control Checklist for their part of the job. I give it to them before they arrive onsite. It gives them clear direction of your expectations and it helps them not to forget parts of the scope. I'll have different QCC for each trade, it does take a while to make them initially, but once you've done them, they just need tweaking from time to time. When I create them, I'll ask the different trades, what they require for their job to be done efficiently, so I can put in other trades QCC their needs. It really helps everyone learn to be better traddies.
Yes thats a great idea - i agree with the comment above, could you share some ideas of what you could add to it other than stay tidy and wear ppe etc. thank you!!
The tip of "Your body is a tool and needs maintenance" is a great one. This goes right along with another saying I've heard. Be kind to your body when you're young, you will miss it when you are old.
i am old now, and i can assure you that what once never bothered you catches up. i rode horses for many years when younger and would hate to try and add up the number of times i landed on the ground. yes i never broke a bone, but even so my shoulders especially really do creak.
@@TaylerMade Yep, I concur. I went way too hard on motorbikes in my teens and while I felt ok in my 20s painting cars, now that I'm in my 30s and doing carpentry, my body hurts like hell. My knee popped today at The Warehouse and it just about made my eyes water
Scott, over in the United States in Winona Lake, IN. A world away but I feel so connected to you as a fellow builder who has been on a similar journey and learned these same lessons. It’s a pleasure following your journey.. keep up the good work! Hopefully one day my wife and I will make it to NZ!
When you were talking about safety, I instantly thought of Jamie from Perkins Builder Bros! Not that his accident has stopped him carrying on. Good lessons in the video. I thought the one about asking how to price things was a good lesson. It means the apprentice knows what its costing the boss if they spent 1/2hr on their phone instead of working! 🙂
Well, a couple of people in this comment section didn't get excited by this video but I thought it was great. It's important every now and then to step back and take a look at the overall picture of what we are doing. Tip 17 - Learn about the dangers is (in my experience) the big one. Sawdust is my enemy. Cuts, scrapes and bruises are no fun but buggered lungs are a lot worse. The battery on my powered respirator failed and I was slow to replace it. A few minutes of sawing without protection 10 days ago and I've been coughing, nose blowing and wheezing ever since. It's the legacy of growing up in an unventilated workshop. No more woodwork until my new $500+ (dammit) battery arrives...
Having taken care of the "old guard" in my work as a nurse, i can attest to the havoc the masters put their lungs through. Mechanics, carpenters, roadworkers, chemicals, abesthos, dust, sawing.. I wouldnt go near a site without full PPE, christ. I dont wish it upon anyone to need a 20min breather after taking a piss, but thats someone reality, for a load of different reasons. OSHA was made with gallons of blood and misery.
This really brings back memories. It was your skate board adventures that got me hooked on your channel. On taking risks, I recently got two upscale bathroom faucets for free and thought "How hard could it be?" A few hours, tight spaces, and a lot of cussing... I got them installed. Figuring that out gave me more confidence in my woodworking ability. Go figure!!
Great stuff! For me, the most important thing is never stop learning. It keeps you motivated and makes you a more valuable asset. I've been building since 1970 and still find new things to learn all the time. I'm now retired, and during Covid I decided to try hand tool woodworking. This week I made my first inlaid dovetail box and it was a blast to learn a new skill.
Congratulations - lots of worthy tips - quite applicable to many jobs. And especially have a go at something you like, that you feel you're good at and be prepared to see where it takes you - rather than thinking I'm going to join XYZ Co. & have a job for life! I never suspected I'd work in Chicago or end up in Australia at virtually the bottom of the world. And I do LIKE the tip about making people happy, whether it's having a good smoko space for your tribe or cleaning up before you jazz off home - if your employees & clients are happy, then you will be too! Have a great Next Twenty-Years, Scott!
More 🔥 Skate videos please. I'm a 58 year old building contractor, still skating vert half pipes 😮 Content idea, build a quarter pipe in the driveway. ❤ your videos.
Great tips, I´ve gotten so many good tips throughout the years from your videos that I made as standards for my own workflow/safety! and also very nice to see you getting more back into skating! I been thinking to suggest an idea for your videos to build something skateable at home in the driveway if you´d like. Maybe integrate a little concrete quarterpipe together with a planter or something together with the garden! Thanks for the great content!
Was a great tip about cotton, I used to work in the outdoor education industry and we called cotton death wool as wet cotton is a fast track way to getting properly hypothermic, I actually found when I was working on building sites to wear merino instead of cotton based products, so much more comfortable and less smelly too!
Thanks for another great video Scott. Your videos are so cool. They have a really enjoyable and mellow vibe and I learn heaps from them. Im a 2nd year mature age apprentice chippy. You’re like my 2nd tafe teacher 😂
Great video! Really enjoyed your reminiscing though time. I have always admired and agreed with your “Be Tidy” work ethic. That little bit of vacuuming while sanding will make a HUGE difference in the end. And I will now incorporate, “If the blade slips, where will it go” into my everyday life. (Am currently sporting a thumb injury from slicing into a Hot Cross Bun.)
Completely agree with all of them, well said, and thanks for all the videos - 20 years as a carpenter will be coming up for me in just a few years, hard to believe.
You have come a long way Scott, and as a cabinetmaker nearing retirement I'm glad to have been on some of your Journey, having watch your channel from 5 years ago. All the best in your future.
Skill Builder, especially with Robin Clevett or Dan Cox or James something. Robin now has his own channel but he is getting a bit long winded. The Tall Carpenter.
Big fan of Mr A Builders - quite different work than we typically see here in New Zealand, but the Brummy accents are a delight, and they're such happy, honourable guys.
Very wise and helpful tips , ive been framing for about 10 years now and i just turned 26 years old , i love everything that im doing and it helped me provide for my little family , cheers mate carpenter is life
Excellent! Once you reach a certain age, or level of experience, you have the opportunity to look back on these lessons. My experience says never stop learning!
Another tip is if you see someone on site struggling and you can help them please try it works most times. Great video. Greetings to both of you from Scotland.
Great video. I stick with "be tidy" as the most important and traditionally the least taken into account. And I also think that's the reason why your videos are so enjoyable. Keep up the great work Scott!
Very good pieces of advice. As always, you stay very humble and it is very satisfying to watch/hear. As a DIY builder here, I already learned many things from your content. Keep doing such great things. Cheers from Belgium 😊
This guy is wise, and understands patience. This is my first year as a builder. This is encouraging because I do great work but don’t always have jobs lined up. Your message is helping me remember, patience and persistence are with people who enjoy be successful and love their work!
8:48 Tip 16, where does the blade go. This is a very good tip. I had this with a handsaw. I was sawing a beam when a cat jumped over the fence where I was. It scared me and in a reflex I looked up and 'slipped' with the saw. It went just like Scott's knife in my thumb. But, and this is a big one, It was a big beam and bought a new saw with big coarse teeth and this was it's first time use. The teeth were still sharp as sharp can be and because the beam was so big, I was going at it like crazy and went so fast that when I slipped at the pull, I also did another push. I had two strokes with the saw at my thumb. I know for sure it wasn't a full contact cut, otherwise my thumb would have been cut off, but it were deep enough grazes to mess my thumb up real bad. Stitching it was nearly impossible. The flesh was a real havoc of fluffy flocks, bits and pieces and dripping that stitching-substitute glue in an open wound with flesh-smoothie also wasn't an option. My thumb still works flawless, but it looks like more scar then anything else ánd once in about 2 months it gets infected, swollen and hurts quite a lot. This is because underneath all the scars, there are still hair follicles trying to push little hairs out, which they can't. And believe it or not, I also had something like this with a drill. I was pressing to hard on a real tiny drill and it broke. When it did, the broken part in the handdril sort of skid to the side, right in the side of my index finger, which I used to hold the small item I was drilling in and the broken drill hit the bone. For about a day or three, it hurt like a hammer smashed my entire finger every 10 seconds. Trust me, I learned my lessons! Don't make the same mistakes I did and take tip 16 real seriously. Beware where the blade/drill/saw goes when you slip!
Thanks for making something that I want to show my 18 year old son. He doesn't't know what to do yet (but is working two jobs). Re the 12 min comment below, maybe they aren't in your shoes at this exact moment. Thanks for making me smile at 3am. From the West Island of NZ. (We only nominally identify as Australians).
We started building the exact same year! Everything you mention I 100% agree with. The Travel part is super high on my list. I worked in Papua new guinea for 5 years then the States for a couple before returning back to Aus. It was like learning a new trade, I learnt so much in those years it has completely changed the way I build.
The #1 thing I tell newer carpenters, especially in remodel/repair work is that everything in carpentry is about water, water vapor, and the elements. You have to keep the water away or your work will fail, or even worse you could make somebody's home uninhabitable if water gets into an undesirable part of the home. Learn to think like water and how to flash, prime, caulk and seal things properly or else you could lose big money or hurt someone
I live in the U. S., and no matter how many of his videos i watch it still gets me to see cars driving on the left hand side of the road. Makes no sense to feel that way, but there it is.
Scott, thanks for the special episode on reflections. Your advice about sticking to the plan for the first year was especially relevant to me atm as I am three months into a new business F/T after a year of P/T trial. It’s terrifying. First venture into small business in my late 50’s. Totally nuts. Totally wild. A mix of fun, anxiety, exhaustion and freedom. Including the freedom to fail. Anyway. I heard you. I’m grateful. More power to you. … and Me 😊. Loved Nelson when I was there back in the 1990’s. Fascinating place.
Hi Scott. You probably already know this, but looking at you loading your Hiace with the backdoor open and a bit "low", you might not. If you twist the struts (there are some arrows) the backdoor goes up a bit further. I'm 6,5 (not Dutch, but close) and I've always used this function.
On the 100 series Hiace you can do that, but the 200 and 300 series don't have these gas struts. I'm 6'1" and use a dirty old LH113 Hiace, and the two position gas struts are a godsend.
Hello Scott, I've changed from IT manager to builder 5 years ago. Wish I did this much earlier! I enjoy watching your videos especially when Ray comes in. We're both Dutch... Greetz from Frans
totally agree with everything you have said Scott😃👍, just one more important things to remember , add a couple of kids to the mix and teach them all you know, the enjoyment you'll get from that alone is priceless .
I have the same scar, for the same slip, from about 1987! I use these tools every day and I still think which part will spurt blood when I use blades! Good 20 lessons.
Splendid. Excellent words of wisdom. Looking forward to hearing your next 20 lessons in another 20 years! I also highly recommend reading (or listening) to ‘How to build impossible things’ by Mark Ellison. A carpenter who works for the high & mighty in NYC.
To add in the clothing section, use very good and comfortable shoes, I had old shoes that were my renovation or work shoes, because they were old and I could get plaster or paint and not car, but now I'm all about good new shoes and I replace them when worn, it's made a huge difference
A builder is a carpenter who's running their own business and doing their own jobs. The builder coordinates the sub trades on a job, deals with the client, architect and the council and basically takes overall responsibility. A builder also has to be able to run a small business.. There's a lot to it and it requires a different skill set and temperament from carpentry. I've met some excellent carpenters over the years who can't run jobs. I've also met some pretty average carpenters who are excellent builders.
The other one I learnt working in construction industry is being honest and owning up if you do stuff up and make a mistake. Most often when you do this your boss is prepared to work with you to fix it.
Scott, this is a great video I think. I agree with all of the tips, I think I already follow them pretty much, but I wasn't aware of most of them, and awareness is everything. You present them without judgement or morale but with good explanation. Great work.
WRT #3, I do believe that they're soon going to allow Builders to disconnect/reconnect electrical fittings if they're in the way, so a bit of an idea about what is required will help you to not burn down someones house. 😊 As to working together with other trades, I found it quite helpful to bribe the guys doing lining and plastering with a box, that way my flush boxes didn't get missed or filled with mud. 😂
I will in the future hinge the door into the jamb, before installation between the studs. That's with a temporary corner brace and😮 bottom Blessings and happy Easter Scott and Jess from Sydney Australia.🐇✝️
Definitely look after your body, building isn't as heavy as it used to be but take advantage of all the improvements, your back knees and joints will thank you later, so when the delivery arrives on site late and its only a few bags take time to go get the trolley jack or wheel barrow or what ever and don't just soldier on, go find the right tool etc etc. At 64 my back is fine but I have replaced a knee and arthritis is eating at hand's and feet mostly due to not using the right tool for the job.
What I think is interesting is now - from what I can gather from your videos - your main income is from TH-cam and the building part is now building your own home. The recession has hit many businesses in NZ in the building sector. It makes me wonder how people like Ray are doing in finding work as people cut back on building projects and consents for new builds take a decline. And really not going to be better until they bring back the interest rates to sensible figures.
I've also learned that it's safer to have sharp blades because it requires less power to cut. With less power you need less effort, and less effort means that if you slip you slip 2 cm instead of 20. It's not bullet-proof, but lessens the risk of both cutting yourself, and cutting yourself bad. I've never had any bad cuts with knife so far
Great video, Scott. While my personal add to your #17 is, "...and that includes NOT skateboarding anymore," good for you keeping the ability. Here's one I picked up in the military: "You can learn as much from idiots as you can from talented experts - if you pay attention."
I’d add a variation to “don’t do the work you don’t want to do (even if you don’t have anything else to do.” Don’t negotiate price. You’ve figured out what you need to make for your time and how much time a specified job will take. (Maybe you decided to throw in a loss leader.). If a customer wants to pay less, they have to work with you to figure out what part of the requested work you won’t do.
The tidiness and safety aspect of it are so monumental on a psychological level. Any client walking by as you’re hanging off a ladder with one foot while chopping a rogue nail holding an angle grinder one handed with no guard, no safety glasses, and no ear muffs spraying molten shards across the work site while puffing away on a cigarette….it says a few things immediately. 1.) they don’t care about their own safety, why would they care about mine? 2.) it doesn’t look like they can even use their tools correctly, are they right for this job? 3:) if they’re apathetic to how much mess they’re making, why should I believe they’ll clean it up? On the flip side, the client turns the corner and you’ve got a hard hat, ear plugs, safety glasses, respirator, and a safety tape and cones preventing them from wandering onto the job site. You have a shop vac connected to a shroud guard on the grinder, a friend holding the ladder with similar PPE, and not a speck of debris to be found because you clean as you go. The choice is easy for any client at that point.
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I turned 60 last birthday and there is one thing I would share with my younger self above everything else: while the days are long, the years are short. So enjoy the day, there won't be another quite like it.
This one hits. That’s good advice. I’m about to turn 40 and this words at this age have some deep meaning. Thanks 🙏
I too just turned 60 . Spent 40 years as a carpenter /builder before life came along . Stage 4 cancer . Part of my love of building was sharing my knowledge and discoveries. As skill related , I have told many . Don't pigeon hole yourself . Learn all types of carpentry . Timber , Frame , Trim , Cornice , Form , Learn from books , learn from others and cross train each skill . Never accept that you can't and the most powerful weapon in my tool belt .. Is Math.. Math can solve so many things and take your skills to another level . And the greatest advice I can give.. Don't chase the money and forsake the work and always give thanks To God for the abilities you have . They are a Gift
@@Sjwolosz321 Thank you for a wise reply. I have prayed for you. Please pray for me.
In my first year of building right now and i must say, your tip "don't be discouraged by the first year" is really what I needed.
The Chef Paerau segments were a welcome blast from the past!
I often wonder how he's doing
We miss Paerau!!
We need Paerau back, just for his cooking segments!
@@jimobrien1944 He can work remotely. C'mon, Scott, we have the technology!
Where is he these days? Anyone know?
Regarding travel, in Germany it's tradition to go traveling as soon as you completed your apprenticeship. you are banned from your home town for 3 years and one day. it's called Wandergeselle, those who practice this tradition are in traditional black clothing and carry only a small bag.
That's where the English term Journeymen comes from, I think.
As someone of similar age who's also coming up to my 20th year as a carpenter, I'd say you nailed those tips Scott.
Heres to the next 20 years
I always smiled at other builders and tradies that didn't look tidy or keep a clean worksite, the amount of work they missed out on and I got by simply looking presentable and respecting my clients homes or work sites was massive.
It really does matter yeah. Clients can tell when someone gives a shit. Same for mistakes, it's not necessarily the mistake that matters but how you deal with it. If you make sure to do right by the client, they're not gonna remember how something was botched, they're gonna remember how you fixed it.
That’s one thing I appreciated when we built, it meant there was hardly any construction waste in my yard before I prepared for the lawn. Nothing worse than a lawn that won’t thrive because there’s crap all through the soil.
We built with a major group builder and their supervisor was excellent at keeping everything tidy, and what quality problems we had he took seriously (I’m on the extreme side of picky).
I remember whe I started working in UK
Clients were shocked when I started cleaning behind me. I always try to keep job site tidy as much as possible. Also, look after my tools.
You do get a lot of callbacks to do more work for being tidy which was a surprise to me but then again I’m an electrician so I was more worried about giving people heart attacks if they saw me with a broom in my hand. 😂
@@sniperfi4532 Simple human nature to be appreciative of those that treat you and yr home or project/site with respect. I ended up building my own company from ongoing client relationships at the start and taught my guys that those professional qualities were as important as the work itself.
I thought all sparkies wore 3 piece suits to work and had butlers to clean up after them lol
I am a builder and My family and I have just moved to Nelson from the US and we’ve been following your channel for about 3 years. my kids are 3 & 5 and when we got here they said “when are we going to see Scott brown here”. We love it here and hope to run into you at some point. Keep up the good work
"Keep up the good work." Do you follow the Essential Scott as well?
Robbie, I'd be really curious to hear about your experience repatriating to NZ, the joys of working in metric, etc. I run a one man show, woodworker in Seattle and want to travel to build when I can.
@@mc6212 we just got here a few weeks ago from Portland, OR. I haven’t sorted out the visa situation yet to start working, measuring for furniture and appliances etc has been a lot of converting!! I would definitely recommend traveling to gain more tricks of the trades!!
@@kiwigrunt330 do you mean the essential craftsman?
@@robbiehollister1588 Yes, I do.
I met a successful Irish builder here in NZ and he told me the secret to success as a tradie in NZ was "turn up on time and do the job you said you were going to do", which seems like a low bar but unfortunately far too many don't even do that and so according to this Irish builder just doing these basic things made him look better than the competition.
An uncle of mine once told me “All you have in this world as a man is your balls and your word. Keep them both and you’ll go far”
Im 23 years old currently in my first year in Uni after my 1 year experience in construction and I’m going for my carpentry qualifications here in nz! Your videos are motivating to me mate! Keep it up and wish me luck!
I'm not a builder, hell I barely even DIY, but I have immensely enjoyed watching your videos. There's huge value in learning what's involved with carpentry and building, even if you're only ever destined to hire professionals. Thanks Scott and your awesome crew!
It's crazy how much you can learn from just watching YT. I'm renovating my laundry at the moment and I'm doing it all myself. The lights/electricals, the plumbing, putting in a birch ply ceiling (like Scott did at the client), making the cabinets and tiling the splashback. My garage looks almost like a commercial workshop with full-size cabinet table saw, band saw, jointer, thicknesser and pretty much any tool you might need. And I'm a computer programmer.😆
A tip I have as a builders is: Give the trades you employ a Quality Control Checklist for their part of the job. I give it to them before they arrive onsite. It gives them clear direction of your expectations and it helps them not to forget parts of the scope. I'll have different QCC for each trade, it does take a while to make them initially, but once you've done them, they just need tweaking from time to time. When I create them, I'll ask the different trades, what they require for their job to be done efficiently, so I can put in other trades QCC their needs.
It really helps everyone learn to be better traddies.
Can you give examples of what you would put on the qcc? I think it's a great idea I want to do it know too
Yes thats a great idea - i agree with the comment above, could you share some ideas of what you could add to it other than stay tidy and wear ppe etc. thank you!!
Killer idea. Will adopt this in Cali.
The tip of "Your body is a tool and needs maintenance" is a great one. This goes right along with another saying I've heard. Be kind to your body when you're young, you will miss it when you are old.
i am old now, and i can assure you that what once never bothered you catches up. i rode horses for many years when younger and would hate to try and add up the number of times i landed on the ground. yes i never broke a bone, but even so my shoulders especially really do creak.
@@TaylerMade Yep, I concur. I went way too hard on motorbikes in my teens and while I felt ok in my 20s painting cars, now that I'm in my 30s and doing carpentry, my body hurts like hell. My knee popped today at The Warehouse and it just about made my eyes water
Scott, over in the United States in Winona Lake, IN. A world away but I feel so connected to you as a fellow builder who has been on a similar journey and learned these same lessons. It’s a pleasure following your journey.. keep up the good work! Hopefully one day my wife and I will make it to NZ!
Hey Scott thanks for being encouraging and pumping out this fabulous content.
When you were talking about safety, I instantly thought of Jamie from Perkins Builder Bros! Not that his accident has stopped him carrying on. Good lessons in the video. I thought the one about asking how to price things was a good lesson. It means the apprentice knows what its costing the boss if they spent 1/2hr on their phone instead of working! 🙂
It simply is a joy to follow your journey Scott.
Well, a couple of people in this comment section didn't get excited by this video but I thought it was great. It's important every now and then to step back and take a look at the overall picture of what we are doing. Tip 17 - Learn about the dangers is (in my experience) the big one. Sawdust is my enemy. Cuts, scrapes and bruises are no fun but buggered lungs are a lot worse. The battery on my powered respirator failed and I was slow to replace it. A few minutes of sawing without protection 10 days ago and I've been coughing, nose blowing and wheezing ever since. It's the legacy of growing up in an unventilated workshop. No more woodwork until my new $500+ (dammit) battery arrives...
Having taken care of the "old guard" in my work as a nurse, i can attest to the havoc the masters put their lungs through. Mechanics, carpenters, roadworkers, chemicals, abesthos, dust, sawing.. I wouldnt go near a site without full PPE, christ. I dont wish it upon anyone to need a 20min breather after taking a piss, but thats someone reality, for a load of different reasons. OSHA was made with gallons of blood and misery.
Ok, the advice is priceless, but Jess’s website comment was so perfectly timed.
This really brings back memories. It was your skate board adventures that got me hooked on your channel. On taking risks, I recently got two upscale bathroom faucets for free and thought "How hard could it be?" A few hours, tight spaces, and a lot of cussing... I got them installed. Figuring that out gave me more confidence in my woodworking ability. Go figure!!
Great stuff! For me, the most important thing is never stop learning. It keeps you motivated and makes you a more valuable asset. I've been building since 1970 and still find new things to learn all the time. I'm now retired, and during Covid I decided to try hand tool woodworking. This week I made my first inlaid dovetail box and it was a blast to learn a new skill.
Congratulations - lots of worthy tips - quite applicable to many jobs. And especially have a go at something you like, that you feel you're good at and be prepared to see where it takes you - rather than thinking I'm going to join XYZ Co. & have a job for life! I never suspected I'd work in Chicago or end up in Australia at virtually the bottom of the world. And I do LIKE the tip about making people happy, whether it's having a good smoko space for your tribe or cleaning up before you jazz off home - if your employees & clients are happy, then you will be too! Have a great Next Twenty-Years, Scott!
Wise words. That safety message ties in with so many other tips, stay well, live well.
Great to see cameos by Paerau! And thought for sure you were sending that skateboard off the bridge.
More 🔥 Skate videos please. I'm a 58 year old building contractor, still skating vert half pipes 😮 Content idea, build a quarter pipe in the driveway. ❤ your videos.
Ohhhh Jess, that Squarespace segue was masterful!
Great tips, I´ve gotten so many good tips throughout the years from your videos that I made as standards for my own workflow/safety! and also very nice to see you getting more back into skating! I been thinking to suggest an idea for your videos to build something skateable at home in the driveway if you´d like. Maybe integrate a little concrete quarterpipe together with a planter or something together with the garden! Thanks for the great content!
Was a great tip about cotton, I used to work in the outdoor education industry and we called cotton death wool as wet cotton is a fast track way to getting properly hypothermic, I actually found when I was working on building sites to wear merino instead of cotton based products, so much more comfortable and less smelly too!
Thanks for sharing, so many of your comments I learned going through my apprenticeship starting in 1977. Still true to day. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for another great video Scott. Your videos are so cool. They have a really enjoyable and mellow vibe and I learn heaps from them.
Im a 2nd year mature age apprentice chippy. You’re like my 2nd tafe teacher 😂
Thanks mate. And best of luck with your apprenticeship!
Great video thank you for sharing life lessons😊😊😊
Great video! Really enjoyed your reminiscing though time.
I have always admired and agreed with your “Be Tidy” work ethic. That little bit of vacuuming while sanding will make a HUGE difference in the end.
And I will now incorporate, “If the blade slips, where will it go” into my everyday life. (Am currently sporting a thumb injury from slicing into a Hot Cross Bun.)
RR buildings is great. Been watching for years.
Completely agree with all of them, well said, and thanks for all the videos - 20 years as a carpenter will be coming up for me in just a few years, hard to believe.
You have come a long way Scott, and as a cabinetmaker nearing retirement I'm glad to have been on some of your Journey, having watch your channel from 5 years ago. All the best in your future.
Kyle at RR is fantastic. The Perkins Brothers are excellent as well. Happy you mentioned them.
Essential Craftsman.
Any other channels you can recommend? I’m feeding on all this TH-cam videos and haven’t found anything as good as PBB, RR, awesome framers and SBC
Skill Builder, especially with Robin Clevett or Dan Cox or James something. Robin now has his own channel but he is getting a bit long winded. The Tall Carpenter.
Big fan of Mr A Builders - quite different work than we typically see here in New Zealand, but the Brummy accents are a delight, and they're such happy, honourable guys.
I watch all those , victory concrete is good too
Very wise and helpful tips , ive been framing for about 10 years now and i just turned 26 years old , i love everything that im doing and it helped me provide for my little family , cheers mate carpenter is life
Ok...seriously....you guys need to do a separate YT channel showing people how to do transitions to the sponsor ads. You are the BEST at them!!!!
I agree 100%, that transition was a masterclass!! The video was definitely worthwhile in it's advice 👍 thanks for sharing your 20.
Please no I pay up for no commercials but they have found a way to force them on me.
You will have tens of dozens of viewers
Thank you Scotty for sharing your past building lessons they could be use for many other things in life. Cheers
Excellent! Once you reach a certain age, or level of experience, you have the opportunity to look back on these lessons. My experience says never stop learning!
Another tip is if you see someone on site struggling and you can help them please try it works most times. Great video. Greetings to both of you from Scotland.
Great video. I stick with "be tidy" as the most important and traditionally the least taken into account. And I also think that's the reason why your videos are so enjoyable. Keep up the great work Scott!
There's nothing worse than tripping over a bunch of crap all day that doesn't need to be there
Very good pieces of advice. As always, you stay very humble and it is very satisfying to watch/hear. As a DIY builder here, I already learned many things from your content. Keep doing such great things.
Cheers from Belgium 😊
Great to hear that you’re still skateboarding 👍👍👍
Congrats on 20 years, and thanks for the lessons. 🙂
Friday is now made with this upload, keep up the great work.
That hammer video I think was the first video I saw of yours, Scott. Thanks for the years of education and entertainment!
This guy is wise, and understands patience. This is my first year as a builder. This is encouraging because I do great work but don’t always have jobs lined up. Your message is helping me remember, patience and persistence are with people who enjoy be successful and love their work!
Congratulations on twenty years of carpentry!
I think Scott sort of already knew a lot of these things because he had faith in himself.
yeooow !! its been rad skating with you dude ! see yah on thurstday!!
8:48 Tip 16, where does the blade go. This is a very good tip. I had this with a handsaw. I was sawing a beam when a cat jumped over the fence where I was. It scared me and in a reflex I looked up and 'slipped' with the saw. It went just like Scott's knife in my thumb. But, and this is a big one, It was a big beam and bought a new saw with big coarse teeth and this was it's first time use. The teeth were still sharp as sharp can be and because the beam was so big, I was going at it like crazy and went so fast that when I slipped at the pull, I also did another push. I had two strokes with the saw at my thumb.
I know for sure it wasn't a full contact cut, otherwise my thumb would have been cut off, but it were deep enough grazes to mess my thumb up real bad. Stitching it was nearly impossible. The flesh was a real havoc of fluffy flocks, bits and pieces and dripping that stitching-substitute glue in an open wound with flesh-smoothie also wasn't an option.
My thumb still works flawless, but it looks like more scar then anything else ánd once in about 2 months it gets infected, swollen and hurts quite a lot. This is because underneath all the scars, there are still hair follicles trying to push little hairs out, which they can't.
And believe it or not, I also had something like this with a drill. I was pressing to hard on a real tiny drill and it broke. When it did, the broken part in the handdril sort of skid to the side, right in the side of my index finger, which I used to hold the small item I was drilling in and the broken drill hit the bone. For about a day or three, it hurt like a hammer smashed my entire finger every 10 seconds.
Trust me, I learned my lessons! Don't make the same mistakes I did and take tip 16 real seriously. Beware where the blade/drill/saw goes when you slip!
What can be a boring and condescending enumeration is, what it feels by this video, some true and honestly humble advices (😄). Thank you !
Thanks for making something that I want to show my 18 year old son. He doesn't't know what to do yet (but is working two jobs).
Re the 12 min comment below, maybe they aren't in your shoes at this exact moment. Thanks for making me smile at 3am.
From the West Island of NZ. (We only nominally identify as Australians).
love the linen shirts when i saw you start wearing them i bought a few and i enjoy wearing them more than most shirt
We started building the exact same year! Everything you mention I 100% agree with. The Travel part is super high on my list. I worked in Papua new guinea for 5 years then the States for a couple before returning back to Aus. It was like learning a new trade, I learnt so much in those years it has completely changed the way I build.
The #1 thing I tell newer carpenters, especially in remodel/repair work is that everything in carpentry is about water, water vapor, and the elements. You have to keep the water away or your work will fail, or even worse you could make somebody's home uninhabitable if water gets into an undesirable part of the home. Learn to think like water and how to flash, prime, caulk and seal things properly or else you could lose big money or hurt someone
I live in the U. S., and no matter how many of his videos i watch it still gets me to see cars driving on the left hand side of the road. Makes no sense to feel that way, but there it is.
Great channel Scott - just stumbled across it and am really enjoying it.
This was great, Scott! Thanks for passing on some wisdom. I’m 3 weeks off being qualified and plan to travel soon! Keep up the great work 👌🏻
Really fine video. I've watched for several years. Your tips are exportable to other parts of life. Thanks.
Bro you are the man! I have learnt heaps from watching you build. I like how you explained things and now I am a better builder cause of these things.
Have a plan, sketch...don't go after a vision without a sketch..try a temp layout ...get a feel for the layout/sketch.
Then follow the drawings
Scott, thanks for the special episode on reflections. Your advice about sticking to the plan for the first year was especially relevant to me atm as I am three months into a new business F/T after a year of P/T trial. It’s terrifying. First venture into small business in my late 50’s. Totally nuts. Totally wild. A mix of fun, anxiety, exhaustion and freedom. Including the freedom to fail. Anyway. I heard you. I’m grateful. More power to you. … and Me 😊. Loved Nelson when I was there back in the 1990’s. Fascinating place.
Most tips apply to life in general, not just to a career in building. ❤
Exactly. Most of these tips apply for most trades, jobs, sports and life in general
Scott, that ad placement was smooth af
Enjoyed this episode good advice, great skate boarding clips , memories 😊
Great video, Scott!
Hi Scott. You probably already know this, but looking at you loading your Hiace with the backdoor open and a bit "low", you might not. If you twist the struts (there are some arrows) the backdoor goes up a bit further. I'm 6,5 (not Dutch, but close) and I've always used this function.
On the 100 series Hiace you can do that, but the 200 and 300 series don't have these gas struts. I'm 6'1" and use a dirty old LH113 Hiace, and the two position gas struts are a godsend.
Hello Scott, I've changed from IT manager to builder 5 years ago. Wish I did this much earlier! I enjoy watching your videos especially when Ray comes in. We're both Dutch... Greetz from Frans
If it ain't Dutch, it ain't much.
totally agree with everything you have said Scott😃👍, just one more important things to remember , add a couple of kids to the mix and teach them all you know, the enjoyment you'll get from that alone is priceless .
Beautiful video, I'm 42y but still inspired with this video.
I have the same scar, for the same slip, from about 1987! I use these tools every day and I still think which part will spurt blood when I use blades! Good 20 lessons.
Love your channel Scotty!
Best video and advice ever 👍🏻
Thanks Scott. Great vid.
Splendid. Excellent words of wisdom. Looking forward to hearing your next 20 lessons in another 20 years! I also highly recommend reading (or listening) to ‘How to build impossible things’ by Mark Ellison. A carpenter who works for the high & mighty in NYC.
That guy's visceral reaction to a Ryobi circular saw was hilarious.
To add in the clothing section, use very good and comfortable shoes, I had old shoes that were my renovation or work shoes, because they were old and I could get plaster or paint and not car, but now I'm all about good new shoes and I replace them when worn, it's made a huge difference
A builder is a carpenter who's running their own business and doing their own jobs. The builder coordinates the sub trades on a job, deals with the client, architect and the council and basically takes overall responsibility. A builder also has to be able to run a small business.. There's a lot to it and it requires a different skill set and temperament from carpentry.
I've met some excellent carpenters over the years who can't run jobs. I've also met some pretty average carpenters who are excellent builders.
Congrats with the 20 years of builder
The other one I learnt working in construction industry is being honest and owning up if you do stuff up and make a mistake.
Most often when you do this your boss is prepared to work with you to fix it.
Good stuff, learnt something . Cheers
Nice segway to add guys! Keep up the great work, I learn something new each vlog!
Scott, this is a great video I think. I agree with all of the tips, I think I already follow them pretty much, but I wasn't aware of most of them, and awareness is everything.
You present them without judgement or morale but with good explanation. Great work.
WRT #3, I do believe that they're soon going to allow Builders to disconnect/reconnect electrical fittings if they're in the way, so a bit of an idea about what is required will help you to not burn down someones house. 😊
As to working together with other trades, I found it quite helpful to bribe the guys doing lining and plastering with a box, that way my flush boxes didn't get missed or filled with mud. 😂
I will in the future hinge the door into the jamb, before installation between the studs. That's with a temporary corner brace and😮
bottom
Blessings and happy Easter Scott and Jess from Sydney Australia.🐇✝️
Definitely look after your body, building isn't as heavy as it used to be but take advantage of all the improvements, your back knees and joints will thank you later, so when the delivery arrives on site late and its only a few bags take time to go get the trolley jack or wheel barrow or what ever and don't just soldier on, go find the right tool etc etc. At 64 my back is fine but I have replaced a knee and arthritis is eating at hand's and feet mostly due to not using the right tool for the job.
AWESOME life lessons. Cheers bud
Nice snappy edit thanks for the tips Scott. And nice frontside ollie grab thing at the end.
What I think is interesting is now - from what I can gather from your videos - your main income is from TH-cam and the building part is now building your own home. The recession has hit many businesses in NZ in the building sector. It makes me wonder how people like Ray are doing in finding work as people cut back on building projects and consents for new builds take a decline. And really not going to be better until they bring back the interest rates to sensible figures.
This is the best Squarespace segue yet
I've also learned that it's safer to have sharp blades because it requires less power to cut. With less power you need less effort, and less effort means that if you slip you slip 2 cm instead of 20. It's not bullet-proof, but lessens the risk of both cutting yourself, and cutting yourself bad. I've never had any bad cuts with knife so far
Sharp blades = cleaner cut, both through timber and through flesh. Its much harder to heal a gnarly wound than a clean cut
Great video, Scott.
While my personal add to your #17 is, "...and that includes NOT skateboarding anymore," good for you keeping the ability. Here's one I picked up in the military: "You can learn as much from idiots as you can from talented experts - if you pay attention."
It hits home. Well done. 🎈👍
I’d add a variation to “don’t do the work you don’t want to do (even if you don’t have anything else to do.” Don’t negotiate price. You’ve figured out what you need to make for your time and how much time a specified job will take. (Maybe you decided to throw in a loss leader.). If a customer wants to pay less, they have to work with you to figure out what part of the requested work you won’t do.
The tidiness and safety aspect of it are so monumental on a psychological level.
Any client walking by as you’re hanging off a ladder with one foot while chopping a rogue nail holding an angle grinder one handed with no guard, no safety glasses, and no ear muffs spraying molten shards across the work site while puffing away on a cigarette….it says a few things immediately.
1.) they don’t care about their own safety, why would they care about mine?
2.) it doesn’t look like they can even use their tools correctly, are they right for this job?
3:) if they’re apathetic to how much mess they’re making, why should I believe they’ll clean it up?
On the flip side, the client turns the corner and you’ve got a hard hat, ear plugs, safety glasses, respirator, and a safety tape and cones preventing them from wandering onto the job site.
You have a shop vac connected to a shroud guard on the grinder, a friend holding the ladder with similar PPE, and not a speck of debris to be found because you clean as you go.
The choice is easy for any client at that point.
Give these 2 a hammer because they nailed that square space transition! Nice!! 🤣
Squarespace transition: 10 out of 10 for this one.
Episode 425 and still nailing it!
Awesome video.
Good points thank you