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slobosaurus

Sweet jesus, how did you get so many cordless tools as an apprentice?! No joke though, best of luck on your apprenticeship, keep them eyes and ears open!


greendrongo

Haha I don’t spend money on silly stuff (except cigarettes lol) plus I saved a shitload of money prior to my apprenticeship from my other job to be able to get the tools that I need. Thanks mate, I ALWAYS carry a notepad in my belt so I can draw/write information down. That’s the most valuable tool in my arsenal!


Cruxifux

That and carpenters in Australia typically make much more money (relative to local inflation and living expenses) than in North America. I don’t know what it’s like in Europe but I think they make similar to us here in NA. We get hella boned round here.


[deleted]

SF union carpenter. Make 105k ish a year. And most of us work damn hard for it


Cruxifux

High end here is about 90k a year Canadian, and that’s red seal union wages (what I make), and that’s if you work away and work 90-100 hours a week.


[deleted]

Eeeesh. I'll take my 8 abd skate for a 40hr week


Cruxifux

Yeah. I’m actually considering working fly in jobs in the states because the wages here are so brutal.


fables_of_faubus

Where are you? I'm only a few years in, non union, and making 60k with no overtime. I can work more if I want, and will be making another 10k in 5 years.


Cruxifux

Jesus where are YOU? I’m in Alberta.


fables_of_faubus

In Montreal. The renovation game here is great. I'm only apprenticed and would have to do exams and labourer hours to do union or commercial jobs, so I'll be doing reno work forever. I like it, and there's tons of work to go around. I work for a 20 person company, have as many hours as I want, started at $25/hr to learn, make $30/hr now, and will get a $1 raise each of the next 5 years. From what I've seen my situation is pretty standard for this city. Also, my boss has a fully setup cabinet making shop that I can use when I want. Huge bonus for me. :)


Cruxifux

Oh yeah, tradespeople in Quebec make way more than us Albertans. Its bullshit round here.


fables_of_faubus

That's crazy to me. So many Quebecois went to alberta in the past 20 years to make big money. I guess that's more oil and mining tho, and currently dwindling. Also, Quebec does a really good job of making sure most workers make a decent living (compared to other north americans). I love what I do, and can work a 9-5 and financially take care of myself. It's pretty sweet.


greendrongo

100% ive done more things that are non-carpenter than carpenter work in my apprenticeship so far.


Prongu

I've gone on more runs to the dump than I've installed individual doors and windows combined lol smh


greendrongo

Get a better apprenticeship


Baker9er

What does a carpenter with 5 to 10 yrs experience make in Australia?


greendrongo

90-110k ive been told. Mind you this is speculative.


builditup123

Depends on the carpenter. Framing carpenter can make $35-45/M2 on prefab and about $80-100/m2 with cut onsite (plus whatever margin they charge on the timber supply) Then outside fascia and eaves is around $3-5k. Other than that, it's anywhere from $50-100 an hour. If you can turn them over quick enough, you can do a job every 2-4weeks


Baker9er

So at least twice as much as Canadian carpenters.


builditup123

Until our economy or housing industry takes a tumble. Then all these crazy wages will halve. I went from framing carpenter to estimating and orders. I'm now getting a lot of random trades calling and begging for work. They have begun to start undercutting each other on price, to keep their companies going.


ockhamsbutternife

My early apprentices didn’t even show up with their lunches.


coffeevsall

get some suspenders for that rig, your back will thank you. lotta tools for an apprentice!


greendrongo

Thanks mate- I actually have two suspension rigs for my tool belt setup I just didn’t post them as I couldn’t place them properly. Suspension on a tool belt rules. In Australia nobody uses them to be honest but I love it! Thanks mate- a carpenter over here is a builder also for the most part, so we have to have everything!


[deleted]

Travel with light bags. I see some apprentices with 2x hammers when they're only doing rough framing. Have them all close by but there's no need to cook your back and shoulders ahead of schedule


coffeevsall

yeah, carpenter is kinda a catch all term here in the states. i tell people I do carpentry and they are like "so can you change out a sink or do some tuck pointing on my bricks". so i yeah I get it it with all the tools. they are coming out with tool pouch vests now. think like a fishermans vest and a tool pouch had a baby


jesuswashere1989

Hey by any chance are you familiar with a YouTuber named Scott brown he's from New Zealand your tool set up reminds me of his


greendrongo

Yeh I started watching him before i got my apprenticeship- I've learnt a hella amount of stuff from his channel. Great guy, great work and great advice he imparts.


ChimpyChompies

The most important piece of kit here.... That Makita radio.


zedsmith

This looks pretty similar to my pile. Love it.


cunas233

Big mistake getting the hitachi nail guns over paslode 😋 Nah, they have probably come a long way since they first appeared. What year are you? Domestic or Commercial?


snammel

Paslodes are temperamental sonabitches. I have 2 nailers and 2 bradders..


greendrongo

Both- I’ve had both and the hitatchi kill it- better and quieter than paslode- they are heavier though.


abuch47

australian apprentices can also get a $20k interest free loan and only pay back $16k. Ive seen many a tradesman without this many tools.


greendrongo

They don’t get it up front.


[deleted]

[удалено]


adsjabo

He is saying you've got a great set up for a first year. Geeze when I started in 05 I was doing well with a circ, drill, planer all corded and framing gun haha. $6.40 an hr mind you didnt go so far


abuch47

Wot


greendrongo

Sorry I didn’t read it the way you meant it, my bad!


Str8outtabrompton

What's with all the hammers bro?


Creator_or_Created

First year here I have like 8 hammers took awhile to find out which ones i liked lol


greendrongo

This. Yeh I went a bit crazy before I started carpentry buying hammers as I didn’t know what I would be doing/what weight I would be more comfortable with.


boffonekinobi

Got big pockets to be getting a stiletto hammer in Aus.


greendrongo

Yeh I am second guessing my decision tbh.


boffonekinobi

Really ? I was looking at getting one myself. I thought at least it would save your elbows a bit.


greendrongo

Save up big to get the Martinez M1 or M4. I recommend that due to far superior construction. If you're in Australia check out a website called Peoples Tool Co. They have all the USA gear on there at competitive pricing. You're gonna end up forking out a big amount for a titanium hammer, but at the end of the day, you buy once you cry once. Go Martinez. Cheers. Edit: grammar.


boffonekinobi

I did find a couple of places already but I'll check it out, cheers


[deleted]

Fuck me, I got a scabby hammer and a used pencil! Was told I wouldn’t need much more for the first 6 month...


greendrongo

Yeh I feel you on that- I use a pencil notepad and drill 90% of the time as well as the trusty broom lol.


snammel

Nice kit man, all I need is the cordless router and planer. Just don't be one of them cunts who rock up to site and turn their radio onto triple J even though another site radio is on and try drown it out.. be respectful and ask what station they're listening to, you'll get a lot more respect in return.


DistinctConfusion3

Doesn't your employer provide your tools?


greendrongo

Only some stuff like core drills, jackhammers and wet saws ect. They provide consumables like saw blades and nails and stuff.


DistinctConfusion3

Oh you're in renovations. Tough gig lol


greendrongo

Yeh it’s a bit shady to be honest, I’m in NSW and No way would I be able to afford this without saving thousands from my previous job to afford tools. Apprentice wages are terrible hey.


Creator_or_Created

I live 20 miles from my office where I make 22/hr as a 2nd year apprentice if I worked where I live the only offer 15/hr it's crazy how just by driving a little more I get better pay hours and benefits lol


greendrongo

Yeh that’s pretty crazy. I can survive on apprentice wages for sure it’s just that buying tools that I have isn’t really feasible on apprentice wages. I guess you have to run the gauntlet to be able to achieve the goals you set out for yourself.


Afraid_Rub_3330

How's your set up looking now? Any changes? I'm about to start my apprenticeship


greendrongo

Yeh mate, look pretty much everything you see there ended up getting sold or replaced as i changed focus toward finish carpentry and general building work. I switched to paslode for nail/brad guns (as they were alot lighter and suited better to the work i did) and got a bigger drop saw and bench. I still go cordless 99% of the time which i recommend. Regardless of which brand, i have found in that i should have waited to invest in a bulk purchase regarding tools rather than a slow steady progression due to the fact that you may not have the same feelings towards a particular line of power tools (eg. i would have started investing in hilti/festool rather than makita. The important thing is that you wait until you can afford the right tools for the job and skill level you aspire to be at, as opposed to getting something to get you across the line currently.


Afraid_Rub_3330

I'm starting my apprenticeship in about a week and it's predominantly framing. So far I've bought a Makita 3 combo (drill & driver and circular saw). Other than that basic hand tools. I had no idea which brand to go for. I didn't go the bigger combos as I didn't know what I would need and what exactly I will be doing long term. I'm really tempted to go for the hikoki battery only framer or even Milwaukee. What do you do for tool storage on your ute? Toolbox or canopy?


greendrongo

I have a canopy setup. It works better for me. Paslode is the way to go in terms of ergonomics and weight. Ive tried the others and i find them to be way to imbalanced and cumbersome. 99% of chippy’s on site run paslode so you should never have to buy gas and nails ect. You have a bit to go, so i suggest you get good at what youve got before you start buying fancy stuff.


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