My first carpentry mentor (and boss) in 1983-84,
Daryl Weiser,
now a Timber Framers' Guild workshop teacher
Memorable phrases: "A so-called carpenter can do something all
his life, and he can do it WRONG all his life!"
"Just because you have been doing something all your life doesn't make it
right." Most anything will stand for ten years. It's after ten years that the
properly built houses prove their worth. Properly built houses are also built to
make future maintenance and renovation possible. A good carpenter should always
question the premises of his building techniques.
After my first week working with him, he made me buy my first worm drive
saw, and said: "Even if you aren't a carpenter yet, you can at least look like
one." Daryl made me see the value of every job on a building project. Every part
of the job has an effect on the whole. The building is only as good as it's
weakest part. I'll never forget my first job building a barn in Brookton, GA in
105 degree heat and busting the concrete from around several poles that were an
inch out of square to the rest of the building. Daryl's love for good
workmanship throughout the building was contagious, and hopefully, remains so.
Another great teacher as well as foreman, Larry Winn, "Lorenzo," 1987-88
A great teacher and foreman, Larry "Larenzo" Winn. More than anyone else, Larry taught me how to work hard seriously and joke along while doing it. He taught me the finer properties of wood and tools, from chisel sharpening to mortising; and he taught me to enjoy concrete form-work too. There was nothing that Larry couldn't build out of wood and concrete. To top it off, he could draw anything like Walt Disney, and then get someone else to build for him. Happy Trails Larry!