Carpentry Vocational Experiences at Triangle Cross Ranch, LLC

Christian Program for boys that also offers vocational experiences!

When looking for a school that can lead your young boy, ages 10-17, to a successful and productive career, please consider Triangle Cross Ranch, LLC.

While enrolled at Triangle Cross Ranch, LLC, your boy will explore many vocation and job options that fit his personality and gifts, learn new skills, and gain valuable work experience that can lead to his best career. Here’s an example of what your boy may do after enrolling in our vocational experiences at Triangle Cross Ranch, LLC—become a Carpenter!

Who is a Carpenter?

A carpenter works with wood and other materials to construct, install, and maintain buildings and other objects like cabinets or furniture. They can work on residential (homes, apartments, etc.), commercial (hotels, offices, etc.), and industrial (bridges, power plants, etc.) projects. 1

Carpenters tend to be predominantly realistic individuals, meaning they often enjoy working outdoors or applying themselves to a hands-on project. They also tend to be conventional, meaning that they are usually detail-oriented and organized and like working in a structured environment. 6 

Different types of carpenters: 

Residential Carpenter: When it comes to homes, residential carpenters are the professionals who will install floors, cabinetry, framing, siding, and pretty much everything else that makes a house functional.

Commercial Carpenter: Commercial carpenter has to take specialized courses because they work on more significant scale buildings than homes, which means the materials they use may differ entirely. Commercial carpenters work on structures such as schools, houses of worship, bridges, and tunnels.

Industrial Carpenter: Industrial carpenters work in industrial settings. They will build scaffolding, and they will set the forms for where the concrete will be poured. Industrial carpenters set records for structures other than buildings, such as tunnels, bridges, sewer construction, and power plants.

Rough Carpenter: Rough carpenters are skilled in following blueprints or oral instructions to create irregular structures such as scaffoldings, supports for tunnels and bridges, temporary frame shelters, and billboard structures.

Finish Carpenter: Finish carpenters are brought in on the final phase of various projects. The finish carpenter installs the trim work and frames around features such as windows, walls, and staircases. The finish carpenter completes projects that need that last touch to look good and finished. 7 

Each type of carpenter has been formally trained and has the appropriate skill set for the part of the industry they work in.

Skills needed:

Because carpenters deal with various aspects of construction, they must possess the necessary skills to succeed. Some of these skills include:

Manual dexterity: A carpenter uses various tools and must use them with precision and accuracy.

Mathematical: Carpenters typically use basic math daily to ensure that there are enough building materials and that they are the appropriate size.

Physical stamina: Carpenters may be required to handle heavy tools and building materials for long hours. They will need to sustain themselves throughout the workday with energy physically.

Physical strength: Building materials are often heavy and must be carried or repositioned. A carpenter should be strong enough to help maintain and place building materials when required.

Business: Many carpenters are self-employed and must possess business skills to manage their business. This includes customer service and marketing.

Problem-solving: Construction and building projects do not always go according to plan. A carpenter must be able to identify potential prevention problems and fix them as they arise. 5  

Carpenters often take on and complete the following tasks on-site:

• Read blueprints as well as take direction from verbal and written descriptions
• General framing – Construct the wooden structure for a building (walls, floors, and doorframes)
• Build staircases
• Concrete formwork – Molds for pouring concrete
• Install windows, doors, and siding
• Install interior finish and trim
• Install cabinets and countertops
• Build cabinets and other custom woodwork (mill-working)
• Remodeling/repairs – Inspect and replace damaged frameworks or other structures and fixtures
• Instruct and direct laborers/other construction helpers.  
• Reading comprehension (follow complex written instructions)
• Communication (talk, listen, understand). 1

Because carpentry work demands vigorous exertion, carpenters must be physically fit, strong, and have a good sense of balance. Carpenters must be able to work long hours standing, climbing, bending, and kneeling. Additionally, carpenters must be detail-oriented, with good hand-eye coordination and strong problem-solving skills. As carpentry work can be stressful, they must also be able to manage tension and handle workplace pressures. Carpentry work often involves physical risks, like falling and slipping injuries, bruises, and cuts from working with sharp tools and rough, heavy materials. Weather conditions and exposure can also pose dangers for carpenters working outdoors. 4 

Other essential requirements one must complete to become a carpenter include having a high school degree or GED. This ensures you have the basic math and communication skills needed to start the trade. One of the most common ways to enter the field is through a formal trade apprenticeship program. 2 

All carpenters must pass the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10-hour safety course. 4

How to Learn Carpentry:

Carpenters typically learn on the job or through apprenticeships. They often begin doing simple tasks, such as measuring and cutting wood, under the guidance of experienced carpenters or other construction workers. They then progress to more complex tasks like reading blueprints and building wooden structures.

Another way to begin is to get hands-on experience working under a carpenter. This can happen on-site, as a carpenter’s assistant, in a carpenter’s workshop, or a school’s trade shop. While learning to work with your hands, you can also grow your knowledge of work-working through educational videos online.

So, you can start your training through an apprenticeship, a trade school, or a community college, then complete an internship and become a journeyman carpenter. 7

Carpentry benefits:

The job outlook for carpenters is strong. Employment is expected to increase by 8% between 2018 and 2028, higher than the national average of 5% for all occupations.

Median pay in 2020: $49,520 per year, $23.81 per hour. 3 

Carpenters held about 1.0 million jobs in 2019. The largest employers of carpenters were as follows:

Self-employed workers 28%

Residential building construction 21%

Nonresidential building construction 13%

Building finishing contractors 12%

Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors 10%

The carpentry field offers many employment and advancement opportunities for workers with solid educational backgrounds and training. As work and educational experiences enhance your skill sets, you may earn the chance to advance to more responsibility and a higher salary. For example, you could be promoted to a general construction supervisor within a larger company.

Many carpenters become independent contractors after acquiring adequate funds, skills, and tools. Additionally, carpenters with specialized or versatile skills often enjoy ample job opportunities. 4  

Where to Learn Carpentry Skills

Triangle Cross Ranch, LLC Vocational Skills Program in rural WY helps young boys take control of their lives and develop independence. Young boys grow a wide variety of job skills in various industries, as well as build a foundation in general life skills. Our long-term residential ranch environment and western “Cowboy Culture” promote honesty, integrity, responsibility, and determination.

That’s why we offer young boys hands-on exposure to various vocational skills training such as agriculture management, crop irrigation, carpentry, welding, heavy equipment operations, mechanics, horsemanship/horse training, and animal husbandry.

Call to learn more about our program for boys, ages 10-17, in Powell, Wyoming. We accept young boys year-round. Call us at (307) 645-3322 today!!

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Sources:

One https://www.workyard.com/article/carpentry-guide-the-basics-to-becoming-a-carpenter

Two https://www.thebalancecareers.com/carpentry

Three https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/carpenters.htm#tab-1

Four https://www.thebestcolleges.org/how-to-become-a-carpenter/

Five https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-become-a-carpenter

Six https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/carpenter/personality/#big-five

Seven https://careerschoolnow.org/careers/carpenter