Carpentry and related trades

[AwDeOh]

Hey guys,

I've decided I need to make a career change. I've been up in Mount Isa for a couple of years in the Copper Smelter at Xstrata... good money and a few other benefits here, but I just had a pretty big shake up after having a large copper lump nearly kill me. Since that's the second time I've cheated death, I'm not sticking around for the third. In the last 8-10 months in my spare time I've been pretty much obsessed with wood, working on building a guitar and various other little projects, setting up a woodshop, and I could definitely see that as something I'd be happy doing for a job. So..

I'd really like to hear from any tradies or guys that know about the industry - cabinet making, joinery, carpentry and whatever other fields there are. I'm at the point in my life here I've done quite a few things, have a few qualifications, but for all that I don't have a "trade" as such that allows me to move to anywhere I want and pick up work.

Anything ya'z want to throw in is welcome, highlights/downsides to the job, average salaries, apprenticeship experiences, etc. Also, any ballpark figures of what each of the qualified trades are worth (per hour or salary) would be good to know. Cheers guy

[RufflyRustic]

......Since that's the second time I've cheated death, I'm not sticking around for the third. ....

Damn good idea

check these out as a start: I did a quick search for apprenticeship

https://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=44712
https://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=44712
https://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=47368
https://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=41285
https://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=29838
https://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=29822


cheers
Wendy

[gnu52]

You can do an apprenticeship as a mature age apprentice, you may find an employer who is prepared to sign you off a little quicker than full term if you show you are fully capable & after the tech component is completed.
A group training scheme may take you on, this is good in that you experience a wide range of work.
A qualified carpenter in this area probably expects $30/hour as a base wage. ( not as good as it sounds considering the cost of tools/utes etc)
You can upgrade to a residential builders licence after qualifying as a carpenter by completing cert. 4 & undertaking an assessment process. I think this costs just under $3000, but sets you up with a licence.
I hope this is of some help to you, you may find a call to Master Builders Assn. worth while.
Best of luck, Bill

[Wild Dingo]

Or you could do as Im planning... do the degree course through Dwellingup school of wood and start your own business doin what you love ... if it works goodoh if not then whackoh no worries either way! learn some really good skills and gather some brilliant knowledge set to work as a business or go work for someone else eithers good.

Of course somehting like that costs money... then theres the travel... I thought it would be a journey from Brunswick Junction to Dwellingup every day but man youd be pushin it to travel from Mt Isa to Dwelly every day!

But for me... for now... its

hiho hiho its back to the mine I go

Well as soon as the ol knee sorts itself I will be off again... gotta rejuvinate the ol bank accounts somehow!

[AwDeOh]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the replies.. looks like I didn't search far enough back when I did a search for apprentice Judging by the talk in the threads above, I get the impression that 'fine woodworking', such as handmade furniture and the such isn't such a big industry these days.

Having thought about it, I think I might go back to my original Plan A of doing personal trainer qualifications via correspondence while I work up here, and keep the plan of building guitars for sale on the side, eventually to the end of training part-time, luthiery part time.

Dingo, where abouts are you mining mate?

[boatchippy]

Hi

I've been slogging it out in the woodworking trades for twenty years, coming from a trade background in boatbuilding and joinery. Timberwork was the base of boatbuilding trade when I started out, not any more.

I'm in business now. (marine joinery/repairs, shop fitout, stairs, furniture and patternmaking)

Manufacturing in wood/joinery/furniture is a hard business to crack.
Though, I've had some successes and worked on some very rewarding projects, also had some miserable, depressing times, with not much income and alot of bills.
As the saying goes: I started with nothing and I've still got most of it.
But I've had some fun
My experience in the building industry wasn't too bad, luckily I worked for a couple of good contractors, generally good pay, but long hours.

Pay and work opportunities seem to be far higher in the cities than in outer regions. They're the places to be imo - Brissie/Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne etc. Businesses seem to be much more flexable in reguards to taking on mature age trainees/apprentices and you'll have more options for training/study as well as career choice.


All in all... I think if I had my time again, woodwork would just be an enjoyable hobby.
If I found a job tomorrow with a dignified wage I'd shut the door of my workshop. I'd hand you the keys...



Cheers