What is a Carpenter and what do they do

[Eieio]

A carpenter is a craftsperson skilled in woodwork. There are several categories of carpentry, each involving a different skill set, so a carpenter might be adept at only one or several types of woodworking skills.

Rough carpentry: A rough carpenter performs work that does not require a finishing touch. Framing and roofing are two of the most common examples, hence roofers and framers are rough carpenters. They are skilled in quickly erecting skeletal structures of buildings, including beams, rafters and other large-scale work.

Finish carpentry: The opposite of rough carpentry, a finish carpenter might be skilled at making items like fine furniture, inlays, architectural models, or finely crafted wood instruments. The finish carpenter excels at extremely fine measurements and intricate, beautiful woodwork.

Cabinetry: Many craftsmen specialize in cabinetry. A carpenter that is a cabinetmaker will have a skill set that combines an element of rough carpentry with an element of finish carpentry all aimed towards cabinetry. A cabinetmaker can design and build a completely unique, functional and stylish set of cabinets for any kitchen, galley or office.

Trim carpentry: A trim carpenter specializes in moldings and other trims to spruce up a room. This includes baseboards, window trims, ceiling trim and mantles. It can also include cabinetry.

Ship carpentry: A ship’s carpenter is skilled at nautical carpentry and familiar with all phases of shipbuilding. A yachtsman might hire a ship’s carpenter to remodel a stateroom or repair a hull. Freighters or cruise ships normally keep a ship’s carpenter employed as a permanent hand in case repairs or maintenance is needed at sea.

A skilled carpenter can be the answer to a poorly designed room with too little closet space, or a kitchen with too few cabinets. If you’d like a cedar dresser with deep drawers, a carpenter can design one for you to the exact dimensions of the available space. In some cases the cost of hiring a carpenter is comparable to buying ready-made products from an outlet that are lesser in quality. Why not have a specially designed, professionally made piece for the same amount of money?

If hiring a carpenter to frame an addition or do any substantial building, be aware that city building permits might have to be obtained, and inspections might be called for. Before agreeing to a job it’s wise to get the quote in writing and ask for a business license and local references.

[Bodger]

I once read an article about the large amount of intricate dramatic staircases that exist in old homes in Boston.
Apparently, most of them were built by journeyman shipbuilders.

Also, "Turners" were a sub-culture of the carpentry trade way back when. Especially in the days when Windsor chairs were being mass produced. These guys would set up a spring lathe under a willow tree and turn chair legs and spindles all day.
Also known as "Bodgers" (Common definition: To mend clumsily) . Which some folks claim originated from the fact that were also called "Botchers", because so many of the green wood chair parts they made would split and peel due to the primitive lathe. They only got one spin at a time and had to pump a rope with their foot.

[naptownCr]

Ships carpenter is kind of like boatbuilding Which I intend to take up one day.
Boat building has been described as carpentry with funny curves.

I dream of a Haven 12 1/2
www.schleiffboatworks.com/haven.htm

May God rest Joel's soul he designed the prettiest boats.
His dad wrote pretty good books too EB White.

[Bodger]

Ships carpenter is kind of like boatbuilding Which I intend to take up one day.
Boat building has been described as carpentry with funny curves.

I dream of a Haven 12 1/2
www.schleiffboatworks.com/haven.htm

May God rest Joel's soul he designed the prettiest boats.
His dad wrote pretty good books too EB White.

I saw an episode of new Yankee Workshop years ago where Norm went to a boatbuilder's place up in Vermont or Connecticut, I don't remember which.

This guy had an old grist mill that had been in his family of boatbuilders for generations.

What a craft. This old boy had a collection of perfectly tuned Stanley Bedrock planes, and a collection of chisels and slicks that was out of this world.

Looked like mighty good duty to me.

[naptownCr]

in mho boatbuilding is the epitome of carpentry.

[Bodger]

in mho boatbuilding is the epitome of carpentry.

I saw a PBS series once about a custom Gondola builder in Venice. He would measure and weigh the gondolier, and build a custom craft, perfectly balanced to offset the weight of the gondolier who stands on one side of the boat.

British engineers had interviewed this guy to try to obtain the basic engineering method he employed to arrive at his "calculations". He did it all by eye and by feel. The engineers gave up and went home. They couldn't come up with a formula that worked, and they couldn't see and feel what this guy did.

He had a magnificent shop and spent his off hours carving Italian family crests.