Carpenters have always been artists and craftsmen by trade. In the past, they could create complex furniture and wooden structures with a few tools and lots of craftsmanship. And as time went by, their tools developed, and their work changed, but their skills remained the same.
It can be frustrating when you are just starting in carpentry and are not sure what type of work is right for you. You may want to start with something easy, like basic repair work, or go all in with rough carpentry. If that sounds like something you would enjoy, then there are a few different types of carpentry skills that could help build your repertoire.
This article demonstrates all the key information about the carpentry skills needed for several types of carpentry. We’ll cover the following:
Basics Skills of Carpenter to Know
A good place to start is with basic carpentry skills, which will teach you the basics and how to accomplish various tasks with specific methods. This knowledge will prepare you for more advanced carpenter tasks, but it will also give you the skills needed for carpentry, especially in certain professions.
Math skills
The work of a carpenter is never done without the aid of a calculator or a tape measure. To accurately measure materials for cutting, carpenters need to do math calculations for things like surface area, circumference, perimeter, and cube volume to save time by calculating dimensions quickly and accurately, as well as save supplies by knowing which designs are most efficient for construction.
Carpenters usually require at least a secondary school level mathematics equivalent to the GCSE or States Equivalent Level 2, with some cases even requiring A-level equivalents or higher. That being said, some carpenters, such as those who manage finishing work, can do the job without any mathematics at all.
An eye for detail
Attention to detail is a crucial carpentry skill that separates a “good” carpenter from a “great” carpenter. The best carpenters pay attention to what they are doing and ensure everything is done well without rushing or cutting corners.
The common phrase “measure twice, cut once” is a rule of thumb for carpenters since a small mistake in measuring the length of a board or the width of a miter can drastically affect the quality of a project.
For example, if a woodworker spends too much time sanding down a piece of wood, it will have distorted or uneven edges and might not look as nice as it could have been if he had used less sandpaper at one point in the process.
Dexterity
Dexterity is the ability to make quick, precise movements with the hands and fingers to manipulate small parts of an object. In carpentry, dexterity is required to plan and execute detailed tasks using both hands efficiently. For example, when using a small saw or a sharp chisel.
Handling such tools with dexterity contributes greatly to the quality and speed of the final outcome. Some tools that require dexterity are woodworking tools such as saws, hammers, chisels, and drills. These hand-held power tools are designed for precision and to access tight spaces.
Problem-solving skills
Some tasks require not only manual dexterity but also problem-solving skills, and this is especially true when mistakes happen, or tasks have to be modified for unforeseen circumstances. Carpenters with good problem-solving skills have a better understanding of how their tools work and know how to optimize their performance to tackle any challenges.
The ability to solve problems efficiently and resolve discrepancies promptly separates an efficient workflow from a stalled project. When mistakes happen, problem-solving skills are necessary to identify the root cause of the issue and take corrective actions.
Skills Needed for Rough Carpentry
Rough carpentry is the most intensive form of building or construction. There are two main categories of skills for this profession:
Technical skills
These include knowledge of how to use power tools and hand tools, how to measure distances, angles, areas, etc.; As a rough carpenter, you are expected to be able to read and interpret blueprints or drawings and then transfer them onto an actual building or house that is being constructed.
You should also be able to cut surfaces and corners with a saw, drill holes, and nail boards together. The other part of your job will have you working with wood types like MDF or ply board, which means you need knowledge about what tools work best for those specific materials.
Soft skills
These include confidently communicating with clients, working as part of a team, and responsibly completing tasks on time. Unlike hard skills, which can be acquired through a certification course, soft skills must be learned by observation and practice.
Carpenters are expected to use their interpersonal and organizational skills to boost the team’s productivity, provide excellent customer service, handle multiple tasks easily, build relationships with clients and coworkers, and improve work processes.
Carpentry Skills Needed for Finish Work
Finishing work in carpentry combines various techniques to enhance the surface and appearance of a piece of wood. The details of the finishing work depend on the type of woodworking. In furniture making, for example, surface finishes include varnish or other protective coats for durability and a decorative effect.
In addition to the basic skills needed in carpentry, finish work requires the following carpentry skills:
Interpreting blueprints
In the carpentry and the finish work industry, blueprints guide various techniques, methods, and specifications that need to be applied. Carpenters must be able to interpret the blueprint to know what areas to cut or where additional material is required.
As a carpenter, you will not know what specific designs are included in the blueprint. For example, a window in a blueprint will tell you where and what dimensions it needs to be, but it won’t have any other design features, such as curtains or shutters.
Physical strength
Finish work requires the carpenter to be on-site and take responsibility for all the job phases. In most instances, they will need to be able to lift heavy items and work with an array of tools that are, at times, heavy and difficult to operate.
Carpenters may be required to remove old materials to replace them with new ones, which might require carrying heavy items. There are a lot of hands-on jobs that require a lot of physical strength and long hours to carry them out. For example, the pre-finishing stage or tackling jobs like door hanging, flooring installation, etc.
What skills do you need to put in a resume/CV?
There are many skills of a carpenter that are essential to include in a carpentry resume or CV. Some general skills involve accurately reading and interpreting blueprints and using hand tools such as chisels, hammers, saws, and screwdrivers, skills you can utilize in various carpentry jobs. With these skills, a carpentry worker will have the edge over other applicants when applying for a job.
Generally, a carpentry resume or CV should have a combination of both technical and soft skills:
Technical Skills:
- Hand tools and power tools
- Basic woodworking principles and joinery techniques
- Wood finishing
- Drilling and framing
- Furniture building
- Repair and maintenance
- Creating and interpreting blueprints and drawings
Soft Skills:
- Detail orientation
- Effective communication
- Problem-solving
- Teamwork
- Project management
Other skills needed if you are planning to start a carpentry business
If you are looking to start a carpentry business, the first question to ask is what type of woodworking you would like to do. The type of woodworking you choose will determine the required tools and skills.
The key skills needed for a carpentry business include the following:
Finance and accounting skills
Any business needs to keep track of its costs, income, assets, and liabilities to determine how well they perform in the industry. Finance and accounting skills contribute to making sound decisions about how to approach money and maintain accurate records on all the received invoices, receipts, and payments.
Material inventory
Material inventory means maintaining an up-to-date list of all the materials used in the carpentry business. It tracks what materials are being used and how much of them is left to plan for a project accordingly.
Customer service
Customer service is a business’s front line with customers. To provide high-quality customer service, you must commit to your business values and be willing to provide top-notch customer care. Respond quickly when contacted; be friendly, informative, and helpful during every interaction.
Organization
In order to make the right decisions and better plan and organize their workflow, carpenters need to have excellent organizational skills, which are essential if you aspire for success in this business.
Leadership skills
Leadership skills have many definitions, but they all revolve around influencing and motivating others to achieve particular goals. A good carpenter must be able to lead their team and show them how to execute a task.
‘This includes teaching them how to make the necessary cuts or instructing them on what needs to be done with the wood, for example.
Technology skills
Carpenters skilled with technology can update their portfolio more quickly than those who only know how to use traditional tools and techniques. They can post photos of their work online for potential clients without having a physical portfolio lying around everywhere (especially if you are traveling).
Summary
Carpenters are often diversified in the type of carpentry work they can perform due to the ever-evolving nature of the field. So, carpenters need to be well-rounded in every aspect of carpentry and determine which skill sets and qualifications they require to succeed in the field.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio