Timber framing as a career.

[robgil]

Probably not the best place to ask about courses but i am going to sign up for a course in carpentry, i have to do this one before i can move on to level 2,

http://www.hotcourses.com/uk-courses/Carpentry-and-Joinery-Level-1-Diploma-courses/page_pls_user_course_details/16180339/0/w/52450720/page.htm

What do you guys think , is this the right path? I cannot find any college courses specifically to do with framing so i thought i would have to do a carpentry course first then do smaller courses in framing.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Rob - I suppose it depends on what you want to do at the end of it?

This is a full time course which might be hard to accommodate with the little one and working on the house too? Do they do evening courses?

Much of the syllabus might be geared towards modern building site consturction jobs, rather than period/conservation work.

I wonder whether local conservation trusts/NT might be a place to look for placements, or local period builders? You've already built up a portfolio of skills informally, and I would imagine your maturity and responsible approach would appeal to many employers over a school-leaver who may well possess the certificates but not the life-experience you have. Maybe they will take you on for some unpaid experience and on the job learning with a period woodoworker?

That might be more tailored to what you need, and although unpaid, presumably wouldn't cost in the same way that a course would. Alternatively is there a period apprenticeship you could sign up for with day release at college?

I think Biff posted a thread a few months about conservation-related employment opportunities funded by the Lottery. Maybe search for that?

Whatever you do - your irepressible enthusiasm about everything is an inspiration to us all. Good luck!

 

[robgil]

Thanks FW , the course is two evenings a week for a year as is the second year course. The problem i am faced with is i cannot find any courses for timber framing apart from courses geared towards skilled carpenters, so i think i first have to become a carpenter and work as one as i qualify then look for work as a framer and work on my timber framing skills as i go. I also need paid work , i wish i could work for free.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

That course says it's full time... mind you two evenings a week is considered a full timetable by most students nowadays... :shock: ,

 

[robgil]

I think its like a day release spread over two 4 hour evenings. When i did my plumbing NVQ it was a day release thing once a week.
I wish now i did this instead of plumbing, i was reading too much into the 40k a year plumbing adverts. Still , at least now i can fix a dripping tap and still go on to learn to do something i would actually enjoy doing.

 

[biffvernon]

The timber framers I know haven't been on courses or collected certificates.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

The timber framers I know haven't been on courses or collected certificates.

TSK - just think how much better they'd be at it Biff, with a clutch of City and Guilds* under their belts.

* This may show my age - they're probably called something else now.

 

[Penners]

two evenings a week is considered a full timetable by most students nowadays.

:lol:
You sound old before your time, FW!

Rob - this might give you a few pointers: http://www.spab.org.uk/education-training/careers-information/

 

[middi]

The timber framers I know haven't been on courses or collected certificates.

Biff's comment is spot on.

Timber framing is a one day theoretical training and a few timber frame repairs/rebuilding experience under the belt in order to become profecient enough to make a reasonable living.
The biggest stumbling block is lack of aptitude in the use of woodworking tools.
One can obtain a BA or MA in a classroom, these degrees are totally useless if have not aquired that profeciency in using a hammer, saw and chisels. This will only come with experience.
As a matter of fact a lot of the "shipwrights" of their day could not even read or write.

This does not mean that today's "wannabees" could not speed things up quite a lot from a theoretical point of view. Experience, there isn't a short cut.
One has to start somewhere, and hope they do otherwise all the old skills would be lost.
It is also important to strongly bear in mind it is not a case for qualifications and it will all be fine.
Actually it appears to be the attitude of todays young society, if youngesters are lost for direction they seem to believe that you can obtain as many "ologies" as they can under their belt and it will all be fine.

Rob, You shoud certainly do what you would like to do in your life, provided that any of your beloved ones do not suffer because of your decisions.

Good luck

Middi

 

[robgil]

Cheers guys , I think i need to do what i did to get my plumbing quals, get in with a firm and work the job while doing the college coarse.
Surely guys the timberframers with no quals were at least trained as carpenters first?
Those spab courses are not really appealing to me at this stage,at a guess i would say there are literally thousands of people out there who can work on older period homes without the need of a spab course behind them. I also think i would have a much better chance if i were qualified and more experienced, same applies for these guys.

http://www.buildingbursaries.org.uk/whatsnew.html

 

[Penners]

work the job while doing the college coarse.

I think you're more likely to get high marks if you do the college genteel.

 

[Flyfisher]

Qualifications are mainly useful when trying to convince someone, typically an employer or customer, that you have certain level of ability - if only the ability to pass some exams. Such qualifications are usually quickly superseded by experience and a proven track record, i.e. being able to demonstrate the results of your work, quickly becomes far more valuable.

I think it's a great pity that apprenticeships fell out of favour, although I'm pleased to read that they seem to be making something of a comeback. What finer way of learning a skill than to be able to work alongside a master craftsman? Of course there's a place for paper qualifications, of all types, but they can never be a substitute for demonstrable skills borne out of actual experience.

 

[robgil]

When i was doing my plumbing we would sit our exams and our tutor would inadvertently give us the answers. The reason being he knew it was a load of old toss , he knew that we were all working in the field and learning what we neede3d to kn ow rather than what a curriculum thought we needed to know.
As you say the problem is no body will take you on without the necessary qualifications. A lot of the time you also have to prove you can do the job through experience , thats why a lot of these fast track courses (just for Penners ) send out a lot of bad tradesmen into the work place, while they know how something works in theory they have no idea how to apply this knowledge practically and their problem solving ability's will most likely come from sitting in front of the customers house reading a book or on the phone to a friend.

 

[Penners]

courses (just for Penners )

10/10. V.G.

:wink:

 

[robgil]

Thank you sir, ive also brought you in an apple today sir.
Even though it is half term, thats how keen i am, sir.

 

[ian]

Robgil, below are what I attempted, and achieved, having done the Essex ounty council courses for timber framing and wattle and daub.
http://www.essex.gov.uk/Activities/Heritage/Pages/Traditional-Building-Courses.aspx
3days and two days respectively, if I remember correctly. Looked treat when lathed over and plastered. I don't make a living at it - but maybe this qualifies what Middi and Biff were saying.

 

[robgil]

That looks like a tidy job Ian , thank you for posting your photos. The course you went on looks interesting, I shall see if they plan on doing something like that again , could be worth going down there for it.

Edit , they are running one in may.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

And (hullo Fred) they are also doing the excellent brickworks visit and walk round Bury St Edmunds in March, for non-timber-frame types.

 

[robgil]

There is a brick works in Bury?

 

[Gareth Hughes]

No, the tour is of Bulmer brick and tile near Sudbury, then up to B St E for (v. good) lunch and a walk round, finishing in time for anyone who wants to to have a peek at the cathedral etc. All guided by the excellent Peter Minter.
I went last year and it was one of the best conservation jollies I've been on for years, despite the freezing weather and very early start from Norwich.