I would bet most carpenters can build a cabinet and most cabinet makers could work on a framing crew.  It depends on what you choose to do.

Most Carpenters are also required to form up foundations ( BTDT) and how about a ShipsCarpenter?   

 

A "Trade " is a type of Profession one enters into.    I think I even "Made Trade"   a few years ago.   

2 hours ago, Wichman3 said:

I wonder what the most famous "Carpenter" would think of the disparaging comments

I think He has thicker skin that that. The spikes prove it.

3 hours ago, Ralph Allen Jones said:

Also the pieces we make are put on display for all to see however as already stated a carpenters work is mostly covered up in the end.

Sort of like my profession - Site Work Excavation. Our best work is always covered up by AC, concrete, buildings, etc

Edited October 30, 20169 yr by Chips N Dust

Any work that requires a heavy dose of training, classical or otherwise, could rightfully be called a profession. There's no reason that a person so trained couldnt also be a tradesman and have his job labled as a profession.

12 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Any work that requires a heavy dose of training, classical or otherwise, could rightfully be called a profession. There's no reason that a person so trained couldnt also be a tradesman and have his job labled as a profession.

Philosophically maybe. But there is a clear definition. There is a separation.

carpenters get paid union wages, woodworkers don't get paid for their talent.

I worked as a carpenter in a "Merit Shop"  for a long time.  Only once did I ever see "Union Wages".......at a "Prevailing Wage"  job site.    Was paid as a Carpenter #1 on their scale.

 

Been a Wood Worker since high school.    other than the items I sold over the years, not much money made.   But.....IF the house needed something made, or fixed, I was the one doing the work.

 

The only real difference to me was what was being done.   

1 hour ago, DAB said:

carpenters get paid union wages, woodworkers don't get paid for their talent.

Not all carpenters get union wages.  There are a lot of carpenters working for non-union shops/companies

Edited October 30, 20169 yr by Chips N Dust

Carpenter vs woodworker, professional vs tradesman, Woodturner (craft) vs artist (art) yes that is an argument or discussion also. One side will never be convinced as to the others statements so.....we are stuck on two sides of the fence.

 

Then there is another statement I learned in college. Teacher said " you are not druggists (meaning to sell drugs) you are pharmacists (meaning to deep to go into)"

I wish I would have been told that 54 years ago, I would have studied harder and been an attorney.

Herb

I'm glad you didn't do that Herb. I hate lawyers 

2 minutes ago, It Was Al B said:

I'm glad you didn't do that Herb. I hate lawyers 

me too....

4 minutes ago, It Was Al B said:

I'm glad you didn't do that Herb. I hate lawyers 

Till ya need one!!!! @Cliff where are ya!

Hey guys, it was never my intent to dis carpenters. I'm sitting in a fine house that was built by a very competent one 50 years ago. 

Hey all, in my opinion the difference between a carpenter and a wood worker has more to do with the specialization of trades than anything else.  Years ago a carpenter may build a house, barn, chicken coop, and also cabinets.  There are lots of examples of site built cabinets and built ins that are still in use today.  Today in most places you are either a framer, sider, roofer, trim carpenter, cabinetmaker, etc. and thats all you do.  The true carpenter is able to work in all fields and know the difference between the degree of accuracy needed for each field.  For example : form carpenters, framers, drywallers, trim carpenters, cabinetmakers, furniture makers all need a understanding of accuracy needed to make an acceptable product.  Some carpenters can work equally at ease in all fields, some can't.  In my area of the country, for the most part, we are not specialized into one trade, I for example do a complete job from footings to interior trim, if a client wants custom cabinets, built ins or furniture made, we can take care of that also. On a side note when someone asks me what I do, the first thing I tell them is that "I make sawdust", lol.

9 minutes ago, Paul Whitmarsh said:

Hey all, in my opinion the difference between a carpenter and a wood worker has more to do with the specialization of trades than anything else.  Years ago a carpenter may build a house, barn, chicken coop, and also cabinets.  There are lots of examples of site built cabinets and built ins that are still in use today.  Today in most places you are either a framer, sider, roofer, trim carpenter, cabinetmaker, etc. and thats all you do.  The true carpenter is able to work in all fields and know the difference between the degree of accuracy needed for each field.  For example : form carpenters, framers, drywallers, trim carpenters, cabinetmakers, furniture makers all need a understanding of accuracy needed to make an acceptable product.  Some carpenters can work equally at ease in all fields, some can't.  In my area of the country, for the most part, we are not specialized into one trade, I for example do a complete job from footings to interior trim, if a client wants custom cabinets, built ins or furniture made, we can take care of that also. On a side note when someone asks me what I do, the first thing I tell them is that "I make sawdust", lol.

That sums it up nicely. Carpenters have to know how the build scaffolds, shore up buildings,finish small concrete jobs, erect metal studs,Accustic ceilings ,metal door jams,and doors, welding in lots of cases lay flooring plus drywall and cluding taping.

In the high end offices all that fancy trim in bank executive suites,and attorneys offices and board rooms are installed by carpenters. And a lot of that is as fancy as fine furniture. And if he is a journeyman carpenter he is expected to do any and all of it.

Herb

A woodworker can take a $2500.00 table saw, a $75.00 square, an $800.00 jointer and/or planer and  a few hundred dollars worth of clamps and under ideal conditions make a 12" x 12" box to within 1/32" of square.

A carpenter can take a $25.00 tape measure and a piece of string while working in the mud and layout a 200' X 200' foundation to within 1/4" of square.

A woodworker can make a chest of drawers that will hold  socks and underwear.

A carpenter can build a concrete form that will contain and restrain several tons of concrete, the goods one will make the forms easy to remove after the concrete is cured.

A woodworker will find a mistake in a ten dollar plan and whine about it.

A carpenter is responsible for finding and fixing mistakes in blueprints that span dozens of pages, addendums, and revisions compiled by a team of architects making thousands of dollars a year more than a "mere" carpenter.

A formally trained carpenter will understand load, will be comfortable computing volume measurements, rise and run, he will understand degrees, minutes, and seconds. A formally trained carpenter will have a working knowledge of general math, geometry, and trigonometry. He will understand grade, feet and tenths, elevations, blue prints, not just framing but also from the mechanical, electrical, and stone trades. More than likely when a person sees a large construction project, a carpenter, or former carpenter will be in charge.

 

Steve

 

@Steve Krumanaker Well when you put it that way...you're right!  Excellent perspective!

Weell said, Steve.

Herb