Interview with a Master Carpenter

My interview with a Master Carpenter for over eleven years. He works in the Dutchess County area of New York and enjoys what he does.

Q. Define your job to me, what is a Carpenter?
A. A Carpenter is a woodworker who builds basic dwellings, homes, buildings, barns whatever needs to be built.

Q. What made you want to become a Carpenter?
A. Well I became a Carpenter because I needed a job and someone was willing to hire me just before I turned 18.

Q. What do you find most rewarding or like the most about it.?
A. There are two things I like a lot about it. One is that I'm creating something beautiful. Two is the fact that I'm creating something that memories will be built in.

Q. Describe the typical Carpenter persona?
A. Is usually an intelligent, intuitive, good with their hands, but not very grounded. A typical Carpenter is never one to be put into an office and sit in a chair all day, not that they would rather be doing that but they just can't.

Q. What kind of coworker relationships do you have with each other?
A. Coworker relationships are good not only because you rely on each other for safety but you also rely on each others skills and knowledge. When you spend a lot of time with your coworkers you get to be good friends because you spend a lot time close with them all day long you learn about them and their personal life.

Q. What do you dislike most about it?
A. The hard work in the extreme temperatures. The summers are extremely hot and the winters are really cold. Sometimes there is not enough work that needs to be done and we run out of work.

Q. Any area you feel you particularly excel in?
A. I find that I myself excel as a Framer as opposed to a Sider or a trim Carpenter. I excel at doing intricate roofs that other might find more challenging, but that is why I like to do it because they are challenging.

Q. Any area you feel you want to do better in?
A. Ah, in actuality I would like to learn different aspects of building and construction in general; plumbing, electric work, heating, make things a little more diverse.

Q. Would you say it is a job anyone could do, why or why not?
A. I do not think that anyone can do it. The reason being is because it takes a certain amount of discipline.
That I don't think everyone can handle, hard work, hours, time management, extreme temperatures etc..

Q. Do you consider this just a job or more of a passion?
A. Both, sometimes it's just a job but other times it can be something to get really passionate about. Depends on how routine the job is but when it is something unique or I'm doing something for the first time than I'm much more passionate. Ultimately I'm pretty happy to get up and go to work in the morning.

Q. How are you at dealing with the occasional irate customer?
A. I personally find that the customer has to be right, after all it's their home it's their time and their money they can be as irate or picky as they want, it's their vision, if they are not happy about the job I've done then I am not happy with it either.

Q. Do you think you will always do this or will you eventually move on to a different career path?
A. I would like to move on to something similar to what I am doing. Maybe move from the field to the office but still be able to manage the work that my name is a part of.

Q. Any advice you can give to someone thinking of becoming a Carpenter.
A. I would say that I think that is a good idea the world needs more skilled craftsman. My advice would be to dress appropriately.

Q. Thank you for your time, any last remarks?
A. No thank you, it's been pleasant thank for the interview.

Jason Oakes was kind enough to share some of his pictures with me for this article, please take a moment and look at the pictures of some of the work he has done.