The difference....#1residential or commercial cabinet maker. #2A furniture maker or craftsman... #3 differences between them all...

Some can do both well. 

 

2 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

Some can do both well. 

So is there a difference between a craftsman and a furniture maker?

Depends on what craft. Craftsman could any building skill with the hands

Specify?

Craftsman is anything....

 

Some craftsmen are furniture makers. Not all furniture makers are craftsmen. 

A craftsman is often defined as one highly skilled in his/her chosen field or medium. 

Edited March 7, 20206 yr by Gene Howe

There are 4 letters needed to be added.....s  h  i  p......Craftsmanship......

That's alright. It's just a waste of my time

Craftsman is a very general term needing another word to define the craft as Gene said. You will have craftsman in all types of trades but that term does not define the level of craftsman, hence we will apprentice or master.

 

Or the old saw "jack of all trades but master of none"

1 hour ago, BillyJack said:

That's alright. It's just a waste of my time

Hardly, don't give up so quickly.  I saw this post earlier but was at work.

 

Interestingly enough someone from the other side of the world that reads post, but is not a member, inquired about this post via messenger this evening.  He doesn't speak English well so this fascinated him. 

 

His insights, a craftsman is someone who works with his hands.  The word used by itself only tells you the person works with his hands.  Craftsmanship describes the quality of the work being done.  Again, only the type of work, not specific work.  A furniture maker may be great at making furniture but unable to say build you a house with the same care and quality of work.  Perhaps not in his skillset.  A General Carpenter might be great at roughing work in and such but be terrible at applying a multilayered figured finish on a Chest of Drawers.

 

Or a person can be able to apply things he has learned doing all the above and do each, perhaps not to a high level of quality but enough to get the job done.  Most of my Ukrainian friends are such craftsmen.  They survive by being able to do a bit of everything, perhaps some things well, or just enough to keep the wife happy.

 

By the way he complimented you on the work you have posted and checks on this site daily.  Sometime when I ask a question that appears odd it is because one of such friends has asked. They will read replies and translate as possible, or just message me.    

 

 

 

There are furniture makers that work for Ikea setting up floor displays.

20 hours ago, BillyJack said:

The difference....#1residential or commercial cabinet maker.

 I don't think there would be a difference between the two when your speaking of the "maker". I think the difference is in the application were the material would change for a commercial use. If building cabinets for a print shop the construction would be similar to kitchen cabinets but the material and hardware would change for hard use in a commercial setting.

21 hours ago, BillyJack said:

#2A furniture maker or craftsman...

  If you would call yourself a "furniture maker" I think or would hope that you could build any type of item that would be use as furniture. This would cover a wide range of construction knowledge from simple jewelry boxes to the frame of a couch or chair and knowing what types of joints & material would apply where. Anyone can build a chair with arms but knowing how to build it in a way that when someone uses the arms to help themselves get up they are strong enough to withstand the use.

 I think a "craftsman" is a broad term and can be use to describe any person that uses their hands to make something & does it well. Cement, dirt, thread, flour, wood, all materials used by a craftsman but each have their own title, mason, gardener, seamstress..... 

Is there a category for piddling and fiddling? I'm a master in both those areas. Plus, procrastination. 

Edited March 7, 20206 yr by Gene Howe

8 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Is there a category for piddling and fiddling? I'm a master in both those areas. Plus, procrastination. 

Well I have a certificate program we can make one up and you can be "certified master" in it.

21 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Is there a category for piddling and fiddling? I'm a master in both those areas. Plus, procrastination. 

...Master Piddler/Fiddler/Procrastinator! 

 

37 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Is there a category for piddling and fiddling?

 

Not if it's happening in your pants.

18 minutes ago, HandyDan said:

 

Not if it's happening in your pants.

Depends.

There was an older term, from long ago.....Joiner

 

In the Summer months, a Joiner would be building Barns, out-buildings, Houses, fences.    In the Winter months, they would be inside, building furniture for those buildings.  It might have been done in the houses, might have been in a drafty barn, they MIGHT have had their own shop, or worked and taught down at the Guild Hall.    Some would pack up their tools, grab their walking stick, and Journey from town to town, keeping a "logbook" of all the work they had done, and for whom they worked for.

 

Look up the French version of the Journeyman.    And see IF you could do such work, as they are still at it, today.

As for me.....I just putter around, trying to stay busy...and out of the Boss' hair.....