DOMES NORTHWEST

KEN KEARN'S HOME BUILDERS' TEST

CARPENTRY

There is something basic about the nature of homebuilding, and carpentry (the building of the actual structure out of wood) is probably the most basic and often the most enjoyable part of homebuilding. A house takes shape quickly, giving a stimulating feeling of great accomplishment. Needed is the ability to work with the hands and to measure, cut, and fit together the pieces that make up the structure. The techniques can be learned by reading and by asking questions. If you would like a home of your own enough to learn, don't worry if you cannot claim credit on every questions.

1. Are you good with a hammer and nails? (1 point if you are.)

2. Can you saw a board along a line? (Give yourself 1 point if you can.)

3. Can you read a rule or tape measure? (Score 1 point for a yes to this. Actually this is a skill that can be developed through practice.)

4. Can you read blueprints? (Here's THAT one again. Only 3 points this time.)

5. Give yourself half a point for each of these carpentry tools you own: hammer, saw, square, two-foot or longer level, plumb line, chalk line, set of chisels, 6-foot or longer steel tape measure or 6-foot folding rule, linoleum knife, hand plane, hand drill, brace and bits (or wood bits for electric drill), putty knife, carpenter's framing square.

6. Take one point for each of these power tools you have: electric drill, portable saw, sander, drill press, bench or table saw, band saw, jigsaw, radial saw, shaper, joiner-planer, router, wood lathe, grinder. (You could build a home without using any of these tools; they make the job quicker and easier and they indicate your interest in building things.)

7. Chalk up half a point for each of these simple projects you have built that turned out well: plastic scale model, doghouse, sandbox, or simple projects.

8. Score one point for each of these you have built that turned out successfully; boat, cabinet or other piece of furniture, wall or partition, steps, wooden fence, wooden scale model, other involved project of wood.

9. Have you ever built a garage or room addition? (Give yourself ten points if you were in charge and if it turned out well. Three points if you helped with the carpentry.)

10. Would you tear out a wall you spent several hours building if you discovered that it was not right? (Score 3 points if quality won out.)

11. Do you know someone you can go to for advice on carpentry when you need it? (Take 3 points if he is a good source of accurate information.)

12. Are you willing to read, listen and learn about the principles of carpentry? (4 points if you are.)

Add up your score for this section. Score 13-passing, 20-good 27 - excellent, 35 - superior.

The important thing to remember is that if your score is low, you should have answered yes to question 12 because you have some extra work ahead of you learning about carpentry, which represents a large part of the labor on your home.

If you score less than 13 on this section, you'd do well to hire a skilled carpenter, at least to advise you and to inspect your work on a do-it-yourself home project.

Part 4

Hugh and Theresa Mayhew
5209 E. Oregon Road
Elk, WA 99009
509-292-9709
Hugh@domesnorthwest.com

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