How to Become a Trim Carpenter

A trim carpenter, also referred to as a finish carpenter, is responsible for the finishing touches on a project that makes a room, building or piece of furniture stand out and be admired. Trim carpenters are very detailed-oriented and have an eye for the art of making and placing wood in just the right places.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Journeyman card Tools

1. Find a program such as those available at the local community college or specialty technical schools like the Northeast Technology Center that offer special courses in trim carpentry. Learn how to estimate jobs, how to use the tools of the trade and the related math required to figure out difficult measurements, how to install interior trim, how to do exterior finish and cabinetmaking skills.

2. Join the local chapter of a trade group, such as the Construction Employers Association, that matches students with skilled carpenters. Sign on to become an apprentice to a skilled trim carpenter to learn the intricacies of the trade while completing your classroom training. Most apprenticeship programs last about three or four years, during which time you can earn a salary.

3. Develop an eye for trim so that you can place a board against a surface and mark it correctly without using a measuring tape. Even straight rulers can leave tiny differences in space so that the trim does not lie evenly with the surface. Instead use pencils and your own practiced eye to mark the boards where they need to be cut.

4. Obtain a journeyman's card following your apprenticeship through the skilled trades division of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. The department has the sole authority nationally to issue journeyman cards to those who have completed an accredited apprenticeship program or who can prove more than eight years of working in a professional capacity as a carpenter.

5. Create a resume that focuses on your experience and training. Include areas in which you specialize, in techniques from crown molding to cabinetwork and new construction. Show employers that you have developed a reputation by citing difficult or extraordinary projects that you have completed. Enclose pictures of your work, and offer references from well-known sources.

Tips & Warnings

• Build an inventory of tools that you'll need on the job. Most carpenters carry their own tools, and trim work requires special tools, such as razor knives and blades, miter saws, a wood rasp, assorted chisels and finish nailers.
• Beware of working with construction companies that push for quantity rather than quality, especially when you are first starting out. You can develop a poor reputation if the work receives complaints and has to be redone.

Resources

• United Auto Workers

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