Not whatizit but Whowazit.

[formariz 11,863]

The subject of handsaws posted by @bcgold in another thread reminded me of something interesting and unusual that I was fascinated by in my younger days.In my early 20s I worked for a little while in house construction. I met there another carpenter who was a specialist. Never really met another one ever . He was up there in age (compared to me)probably in his late 60s. I am thinking he was the last of that type. I was incredibly impressed by his efficiency, and economy of tools at what he did. He came to the job site expressively for that function and when he completed it he left. It was all he would do moving from site to site and was eagerly waited for. They would have a long bench made for him and a set of plans. Watching him, he basically looked at the plans for a few minutes and then put them away never to look at them again and went to work.He came with a long skinny bag around his shoulder containing the few tools he used. I recreated in the photo the tools he had and that was it.They are all very similar to what he had minus the bag. One specifically, I got from being inspired by him which is pretty rare and have only come across probably half a dozen of them in my life, owning one of them.

 

Edited May 29, 2020 by formariz

[bc.gold 3,399]

6 minutes ago, formariz said:

I met there another carpenter who was a specialist

 

Perhaps a stair maker.

 

We could have used a couple here in Manitoba, most of the older houses have risers on the stairs which are really awkward.

Edited May 29, 2020 by bcgold

[pacer 3,159]

I have a similar experience.....

Some 12-14 yrs ago I got interested in metal working having come upon an old South Bend lathe. Trying to teach myself was frustrating, so I found a site for "Home Shop Machinist" on the web and promptly joined up. Within a few days I was reading a post and noticed the poster showed his name and location (similar to the way we do here) which was near me. I promptly went to google and found his address & phone and gave him a call --- Turns out he was a highly skilled machinist by trade and still liked to work in his 'home shop' We quickly became friends and he sort of became my 'mentor' Needless to say my learning curve went up quickly. Most every Sat or Sun I was over at his shop watching him--- fascinating!!

 

As time went by I would have occasion to tell someone about knowing Lane and how he had mentored me and the usual response was "you mean to tell me Lane is doing that??" Seems in his trade he was rather reserved and somewhat ... standoffish. Turns out I was his 2nd 'student' the first one had only known him a few months.

 

As is happening in many trades the computer came to the "hands on" machinist and the last 3-4 years he would get laid off as more and more shops were going to computerized machining. At one point I asked "whatre you doing", he said "sitting on a stool waiting for something to need fixing" That was the last place he worked, he had passed 62yrs and despite not wanting to retire, he decided that "sitting on a stool" wasnt getting it. Again, as so often happens, since he wasnt working he slowly lost interest in -- most everything, and along with that his health started going (he was/is a heavy smoker and it caught up with him) I started encouraging him to get rid of his beautiful machinery and not leave his wife to contend with it - and earlier this year he did that and now sits on his patio having difficulty just walking..... This guy was so skilled it was almost scary, he was an artist in metal.

 

Its really sad these type of highly skilled trades are fading away -- I would wonder if your carpenter is still sought after.

 

Since I turned 80yrs, and my wife of 60yrs is in a nursing home with dementia I find myself having to give me a kick in the butt to stay motivated.

[stevasaurus 22,233]

Definitely, all the tools you need to do stairs, although, I would like my full square for cutting the rise and runs.  BTW, I love cutting stairs. 

 

[formariz 11,863]

50 minutes ago, pacer said:

Its really sad these type of highly skilled trades are fading away -- I would wonder if your carpenter is still sought after.

I can tell that over all the years I have been in this craft I have watched many do that job with great sadness . The end result although hidden shows the lack of skill and understanding of it and in many cases reduced structural strength due to it’s sloppiness. Sometimes it is actually comical watching some individuals trying to figure things out for that task.

This man used no power tools even at his age although they were there if he wanted them. The tape measure shown was only used to take essentially two dimensions in the beginning being then put away.

Edited May 29, 2020 by formariz

[The Tuul Crib 7,332]

Cas you play saw and l play drums ! 
Two Travelin' Carpenter !!  I like your story about the old Carpenter it brings to mind a couple of old folks I worked with growing up. He showed up with a long wooden box. A brace and bit ,couple of squares a bunch of pencils that were never dull. That's kind of what I remember. Thanx 

for sharing! 

[SylvanLakeWH 24,175]

Something to do with setting the main beam for trusses?

[formariz 11,863]

4 hours ago, stevasaurus said:

although, I would like my full square for cutting the rise and runs.

What do you mean by “full square “?

[formariz 11,863]

12 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Something to do with setting the main beam for trusses?

Getting there.

[SylvanLakeWH 24,175]

Hhhmmm...Only unusual tool I see is the two part square... if it’s not the main beam for trusses...got me stumped...

[formariz 11,863]

2 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Hhhmmm...Only unusual tool I see is the two part square... if it’s not the main beam for trusses...got me stumped...

Keep in mind that this was over 40 years ago. Certain things then just were not used yet.

[stevasaurus 22,233]

Framing Square    16" x 24"  Cas...that is what I meant.

Ya know, you could cut rafters with those tools.  I don't think I would want to cut Jack Rafters by hand though.   

 

[formariz 11,863]

15 minutes ago, stevasaurus said:

Framing Square    16" x 24"

There is a full framing square in set. A more complete one than most.

[stevasaurus 22,233]

I was thinking that went together...just hard to tell.    I've got 2 framing squares like in my picture.  One was my Grand Father's and one was my Dad's...They have some age to them and they have all the numbers for cutting rafters and such engraved.  Come to think of it, I've been using them since 1977.  

[formariz 11,863]

It goes together and locks with a device on other side. Makes it easy to transport without also damaging it.

[stevasaurus 22,233]

So...was it rafters that this guy cut??

[formariz 11,863]

41 minutes ago, stevasaurus said:

So...was it rafters that this guy cut??

There you go. His specialty was roof framing. His complete understanding on how to use a framing square allowed him to determine all lengths, angles and cuts necessary regardless of what roof member it was without ever using a tape measure. He basically took a few dimensions of the building before he started, looked at the plan for a few minutes and that was it. Give a framing square to most carpenters  today and ask them to do just that and watch in amusement.Heck give them a handsaw too. Everything that he cut by hand fit with a precision that would make any cabinetmaker jealous. Never saw him try anything that he cut that is how confident he was. As for cutting by hand, he had a rip and a crosscut saw which sliced through the green lumber effortlessly. After laying out each type that was needed he would cut it and use that one as a template for all the others. He would about once a day, sit down, place handsaw handle under his arm pit,  the other end between his knees and touch up the saws with a file. The man never rushed and had a constant smooth work ethic with no wasted motion. He did not install what he cut, others would do that. He came to the job site shortly after foundation was done and deck installed. By the time framers were ready for the roof pretty much almost everything would be ready for them.

I have never met anyone else with that knowledge and understanding of a framing square. The one I own is identical to the one he had. They are marked a bit differently than modern ones, in my opinion easier to work with.

I have spoken to other elderly carpenters that remember men like that from their younger days. I really believe that I probably met one of the very last ones to have that specialty.

Edited May 30, 2020 by formariz

[Marv 845]

On 5/29/2020 at 1:49 PM, pacer said:

Since I turned 80yrs, and my wife of 60yrs is in a nursing home with dementia I find myself having to give me a kick in the butt to stay motivated.

I empathize with you. That is me too. But once I get started I manage ok until the next start.

Marv