Book Review: A Carpenters Life ECP 20

[@elizabethhaun3224]

FYI, Larry didn't mention in his book his 10 years as a Catholic priest and later his involvement in Buddhism. He was also an avid hiker in and around all the places he lived, including Coos Bay. He is dearly missed by his family.

[@alaskanken2132]

Hello Elizabeth, Thanks for the insight to a very respectable man. I have enjoyed watching his videos on the web his skill, hard work and positive attitude on the jobsite. He seemed like a very gentle man who could swing the hammer like he was 10' tall. It sounds like you may have been close can you share a little of your story with Larry? Thanks.

[@grandpa6535]

Ma'am, he had the best training videos. A lot of folks he never met miss him.

[@elizabethhaun3224]

I’m glad to hear that. He would be glad to hear that.

[@elizabethhaun3224]

Larry was my favorite uncle (sorry uncle Joe!). My dad, Jim, And my uncles, Larry And Joe, were so much fun to grow up with. When they would get together, their Nebraska drawl would come out.

[@Dan.50]

I have much respect for Larry and Joe just from watching their videos.

[@psidvicious]

-Talking about Larry’s boss cutting his hammer handle off, reminded me: Back in my early/mid twenties, I worked with a rough bunch of characters doing roof trusses. We had the idea to replace our factory, wooden hammer handles with sledge hammer handles that we cut to exactly 22.5”, from top of the head to tip of the handle. We would use the hammer to gauge the exact spacing between trusses as they were being flown in by the crane. Then you could pinch the 1x4 cleat to the truss with your other hand and drive the pre-set nail into the cleat to secure the truss. It worked pretty good! It also had the affect of proving to everyone else that we had the biggest, bad-ass hammers around! Which truth be told was probably the prime motivation in the first place. But, we were young (and dumb) and the fingers on our left hands healed quickly. -Did you mention the next book being reviewed?

[@danielguy2156]

LMAO reading this... we really never get past 15yrs old in some ways...🤣🤣🤣🤣...lol love it

[@wgiles51]

The way that Larry Haun ties into Essential Craftsman for me is that I discovered the Essential Craftsman Channel while watching Larry Haun videos on KZbin.

[@dudemcmann6936]

I actually did too. In my opinion, EC took the torch from Larry and is carrying on a legacy he started: the humble, talented, down to Earth craftsman that puts more importance on sharing his knowledge than boasting about it. That, along with their otherworldly magic with the Skilsaw make the comparisons inevitable.

[@maeglin8725]

Same

[@alaskanken2132]

"Because that's the code".

[@josephhuether1184]

I’m a 67 year old architect who’s a bit late to the Larry Haun fan club but have really enjoyed his videos and writings. One thing I will say is that he and Joe really did a phenomenal amount of crouching in their work. I guess that comes with the territory with production framing but got sore just watching these guys. Larry really had phenomenal physical strength and dexterity. Respect!

[@giacomocapodellago3246]

I was very fortunate ot be in the class of '73 to '79, Jim Haun Const..in one of the book introductions Larry mentions a 32 unit apartment complex that we framed complete in 4 days..it was a story I have been relating since..we were too fast for our own good..efficiency in real time like high speed photography..I apprenticed under Larry and it was always the best feeling..loved him and Joe and the most revered respect..supplying the job with all the wood, it was amazing to see the then 47 year old, Larry, climb the shaft of the champ (with the added extensions) and place dunnage under the stack of plywood and climb the 4 flights down like a freakin' monkey..in fact the monkeys were jealous..always a perfectionist, always efficient, always fast..it was great to work with guys who never let you know that we couldn't do a 10' high jump..one day while filling up the disgusting canvas water containers and waiting for the water to fill..Larry came over and showed me how it was done..shove the throat up into the spigot and turn the water on full blast..okay...Larry and Joe, from the back of the 200 year old faded blue pick-up checking out every saw (300 pound, 8 1/2" Black and decker worm drives) every day, changing blades, straightening teeth, tightening blades..food co-ops, China, cutting the stair horses..I never felt more at home in the world..made him a tape some years ago including this song..still have his thank you card..

[@tumbleweed1976]

I’m not in the building trades and I greatly enjoy and learn from Larry’s building videos on KZbin. Thank you for talking about him.

[@WilliamFontaineJr]

It’s a pleasure to watch your video relationship evolve. Your interaction keeps getting better and more entertaining. Thanks again for the pleasure you provide though your work and effort.

[@gregmiller1844]

I bought Larry's book The Very Efficient Carpenter back when it was first published and read it cover to cover as a young carpenter / builder. I am a 3rd generation carpenter and I picked up a lot of production methods from him. My Grandfather was more a production framer / builder but I never had the chance to work with him. My Dad was a great all around carpenter but especially a trim carpenter and cabinet maker. I have not made a living in the trade for more than 30 years but I still consider myself a Carpenter by trade. I am pretty much the same age as Scott and would soon like to go back to the trade I miss and leave. Scott and Larry seem to have the same confidence and teacher spirit, that is the reason I watch them both. I have always said there is no right and no wrong way to build something, but some ways are better and more efficient. You can always learn from everyone. Thanks for sharing and showing how things are done in your part of the country.

[@TpetPlayr]

I think you guys would like the book: "Mover of men and mountains." By R.G. LeTourneau. He invented the 200 ton scraper, as well as articulating dozer blades.

[@EC2]

Great tip, ordering now - thanks!

[@samdg1234]

@@EC2 Did you get the book by LeTourneau? Have you read it. I think I might order it too. I heard of LeTourneau years ago. The thing I recall (I'm not sure if it is factual) is him reversing the idea of giving 10% of one's earnings to the work of God. As I recall, LeTourneau turned this around and kept 10% for himself and gave 90% to the work of God. This allows me to segue to a comment made by Larry Haun in his book "A Carpenter's Life as Told by Houses" In the book, Larry relates an incident as follows Working on my friends’ home gave me the feeling that I, and my co-workers, were complete - whole - that we lacked nothing. How can I say this? I felt that what we were could not be taken away no matter what happened to us. I had nothing to prove and what I was doing seemed to be something that fit into the scheme of nature. It was here in New Mexico that I say a bumper sticker that helped to explain what I was feeling. One sticker announced that the driver had been “Born Again.” Another, on the back of an old battered pickup, said that he or she was “Born OK the First Time.” That’s how I felt. Much of my education has come from bumper stickers, and I am grateful for that. These days they are not so common. I guess people are too busy with their cell phones, texting or twittering, to be wondering about what a bumper sticker on the car ahead says. But for me, how will I further my education? What I find sad, is that Larry gave such a trivial response to the idea of being born again. Even at the most superficial level, the responding bumper sticker that claimed that the person was 'born ok the first time' misses the point entirely. I doubt that the person displaying the 'born again' sticker thought that there was anything wrong with their birth. I've been born again, not because there was anything wrong with my birth, but because there were things wrong with the way I was living. It is for that reason that I need new birth. I wonder how Larry would have responded to a bumper sticker that read, 'When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the losers.' -Socrates

[@timothyjewett625]

Awesome video, definitely want to check out Larry Haun. I'm totally with his tree-hugger mentality, I live in Massachusetts and there are some big old beech trees and oaks that are tremendous and jaw dropping. Can't wait to make it out to see the sequoias some day. Also love thay Nate quoted the legendary George Carlin! Thanks so much for the hours of entertainment and quality material. Keep up the great work!

[@kengamble8595]

Something you mentioned that I believe very strongly, more people need to get the facts BEFORE getting so radical about subject matter ! Absolutely nothing wrong with changing your opinion, AFTER you spend time gathering information ! Thanks for sharing and take care. 👍

[@codyratliff8302]

My logging company here in KY plant two trees for every one we harvest.

[@martinhogg5337]

Really enjoyed your chat. Great to learn more about Oregon. Best wishes from Scotland.

[@fin1168]

From Aberdeenshire here

[@turtleairships]

You had me with "Endurance".....but this day's icing was "the "Mother Earth News". awww. so, so, so dear. Darrell

[@gabewhisen3446]

Thank you all for listening to the viewers and doing the book review video I borrow my sleep time to see a lot of your content

[@tennesseetarheel]

Hi, guys. I enjoy watching your series. I have one question. Back in the mid 80's in North Carloina, I worked one summer for a friend of my dad's who was a custom home builder. I remember when the sub floor went down that he used 2x8x16 and laid them diagonal. The excess was cut off with a circular saw at the end of the foundation. Has this technique changed over the years? Or just a different way of laying the sub floor. Also, this home builder would nail 1x4's in between the floor joist in an x patten. I assume this was done to give strength to the floor joist or to keep the floor joist from bowing. Your thoughts please.

[@psidvicious]

Can’t say I’ve seen floor joists installed on a 45° much, unless it was like a deck where the decking material was installed perpendicular to that, giving that diagonal look to the deck, compared to the house. But I have seen an old technique of installing 1x6 sub-siding on the exterior walls of a framed house, presumably to increase ‘rack’ strength. And, yes ‘X’ bracing is still common in some areas between floor joists and roof rafters as well, when no drywall will be installed. I think Scott and Nate might even be doing this on the spec house build.

[@andrewalexander9492]

@@psidvicious I read that as using 2x8 lumber as the decking, laid at an angle across the joists, not setting the joists at a 45.

[@andrewalexander9492]

The 1x4 x's is just another variation on bracing the joists. It's more common to use blocking made out of short sections of the joist lumber between the joists. The "X"s are an older method, but either way it's to keep the joists from all toppling sideways.

[@repro7780]

I have "the Very Efficient Carpenter", and its very good!

[@jwbeck21]

I grew up on the Plains in Nebraska. I remember -54 degrees below wind chill one winter. As Scott might say, “that’s cold!”

[@PaulyD0859]

I am not a carpenter, but I watch all your videos. I especially like these "talks." I also, occasionally, find myself watching a Larry Haun video. Fascinating.

[@waylander2]

Try Audiobooks!!! I can multitask while I "listen/read". Audiobooks have changed my life for the better. I almost never read for pleasure before, now I regularly consume 2 or 3 books a week. All you need is a set of headphone or earbuds and a smartphone.

[@2chipped]

I can not concentrate on a book/podcast while working.

[@johnmcmunn3827]

I worked in So.Cal .. we used to spray Pledge on the nails ... enjoyable video, thx cheers john

[@francisrampen9099]

Great conversation - I really like the idea of your book club and I think both of you have a collectively interesting take on whatever you are talking about. Some page turners that I have recently finished that you might read/review: MindFu*K by Christopher Wylie. A fascinating history of Cambridge Analytica from an insider. He not only tells you what they are up to but points you to the tools that Academia is developing to manipulate the masses. To me an essential book for the modern age that needs to be read. Scott and Amundsen by Roland Huntford. In part a 'how to go camping and how not to go camping story' but also a story about how he who writes the story own the story. Made into a great mini-series called 'Last Place on Earth' Love what you are doing and keep up the awesome content.

[@torque350hp]

Windows and doors that keep out the weather. I learned the kind of opulent life we have in modern times when my hot water service went bust in winter. One or two days only, not even any snow or ice around but my appreciation for hot water on tap increased by an astronomical measure.

[@WillFlores1]

I’m just getting into carpentry, I’m 24 and I’ve decided to go back to school this fall to study carpentry. Any advice from carpenters out there? Who are some people to watch?

[@pmchamlee]

What a great relationship you have with your son! I would expect nothing less from a chap such as you. 🤠

[@markbell9742]

What is the meaning/origin of doerner in the name Doerner Fir. I find a ton of references to the tree itself and location but not the name. Cheers, Mark

[@tinomorrone7821]

What are the next two books you will be discussing? I may have missed the names

[@jameslogan7648]

its interesting how good people have a huge impact when you meet them... I met Larry yesterday on you tube and his voice and manner immediately attracted my attention I could see what a great guy he was immediately.

[@dancrafton89]

My grandpa liked to use oak to build with. He dip the nails in oil easy to drive in but hard to get out. A man tore a house down grandpa build board by board and said he wish he had not started it.

[@psidvicious]

For that occasional nail that you knew was gonna need a slight bit of lubrication, we used to run it through our hair or rub it on our forehead slightly for a little oil. Sounds a little gross, but it actually works! (and no, we weren’t any filthier than anyone else on the job site 😁)

[@sethbracken]

I bet the lubricity of the gas'n'wax nails decreased quite a bit over time as the dry porous wood soaked it up and drew it away from the nail.

[@svensvrgen6336]

I heard about that, didn't guys used to light buckets of nails on fire on put hot wax in them?

[@TheCatslinger]

Larry’s experience with growing up with pervasive cold. I have always wondered why my dad having grown up in the flat Texas panhandle never liked mountainous terrain or even being surrounded by forests with no sight of the horizon. But I suppose growing up and farming in a flat environment where blue northerns can come out of nowhere and overcome you before you could find shelter explains a lot.

[@Gzus]

This was fantastic! I really appreciate your open conversations about Larry! Do you recommend pneumatic hammer guns now instead of traditional hammers for framing?

[@garyblatt8925]

Great Conversation. I will have to add more Larry Hahn material into my reading material.

[@synago_scribe]

I like that Larry practiced mindfulness. Life is fragile and short - so finding meaning over the futility of life is valuable.

[@teddahrable]

A decision needs to be made, gentlemen. Either a book review or a book club. Nothing wrong with a book review episode but if a book club, you gotta give us a chance to read them, too.

[@EC2]

Yes the plan is for it to be a book club, I'll post the next books very soon!

[@willybrubaker3589]

Did gas and wax for Dad in early 70's still. 1.5" gas in steel oil drain pan mixed with 2 bars wax in the sunshine. Dipped one 50 pound keg stinkers through the mix and dried in the sun on a stud. Banded together all same direction with rubber bands in handfuls. The guys pulled the bands and dropped them in pouch. I cleaned all the shovels and stuff with the rest. Hate the smell of gas to this day.

[@psidvicious]

Haha! Hate that gasoline smell too! Love the idea of being able to grab a bundle of ‘stinkers’ (ha! I know you meant sinkers!), all facing the same direction and dropping them neatly into your pouch. Clearly not a chore dad would have paid someone on his crew to do, but a great job to keep young idle hands busy!

[@jum5238]

I remember making a wrong turn in Oregon, cresting a berm and seeing a huge swath of trees that had been sheared off seemingly by bulldozer, leaving nothing but splintered stumps for a long ways. Maybe it was partial cuts leaving splintered parts. (I was quickly chased off). Having cut down a tree or two in my time, I just wasn't prepared for the magnitude of what I saw, which is more evident as you fly over, but at 35,000 feet it looks like postage stamps.

[@2chipped]

And they grow back just like a garden, if you tend it. I live in Ga pine trees. I'm 43 and have seen 2 cuttings on the same block for making paper. That's how farming works.

[@harolddouglas4057]

Did you tell us the next two books which you are going to review? (1:17)

[@dilo777]

I'm an electrician, and when on bigger housing developments or woodframed apartments we as electricians are all required to use the same hammer...not because of some union rule or something but because we use hammers to set the height of boxes. so if everyone has the same hammer then it's uniform

[@luismendoza5782]

Curious what type of hammer Mr. Larry used

[@bkh1324]

Vaughan Dalluge hammer

[@lorcanfarrell9743]

Cob houses were very popular here in Ireland in my grandparents e're. My mother was born in one. We had the right soil type with the right percentage of clay so that meant they were the cheapest to build with local materials. We have a house still standing on our land thats 100% cob. I'll make a video of it and I'll post it up.

[@pamelah6431]

I saw one featured on Grand Designs, where the man building his own cob mansion had basically made a living reviving that material. Pretty neat, but some serious limitations around the weather, which meant they didn't even get to show the finished product on the episode about it.

[@1portico]

Is his brother still alive? Would love to hear him on your podcast.

[@elizabethhaun3224]

Both his brothers Joe and Jim are still alive.

[@erniedennis9955]

7

[@sethbracken]

If you're taking suggestions for more books: anything by Norman MacLean, but especially "Young Men and Fire". He's got a story in there about logging when he was young and I just know you'll both love it.

[@chrisbahlmann4263]

What part of Oregon are you guys from? I live in Coos Bay!

[@dweathers56b]

I read the book last year, very interesting and inspirational.

[@mickquaid7709]

As apprentices now in Australia we learn about Larry’s techniques

[@amaniindia1]

cool! how long is your apprenticeship there?

[@ec6052]

I love that Larry wrote the EC. Then you, EC, did a review on my favorite book EC because my company is "Exxxxxxxe" Carpentry. EC Signed EC

[@moniquelee3623]

“If we think as Jesus does, with love and compassion instead of hate, then we can truly bless this mess.” -Larry Haun

[@jum5238]

My wife has a family story that was passed down over the years. Two brothers were called for from Switzerland to marry two girls in Idaho. They settled in Wyoming, living in a dugout, and traveling to Idaho in the fall. They looked upon the two women, one of the men staying silent except to say he'll be back in the spring. He came back, married the woman and took her back to the dugout. The other brother did not come back for the other girl.

[@michaeldalton8374]

If you’re looking for material, you might explore any of the books by artist/author Eric Sloane. Titles such as “A Reverence For Wood”, “Seasons of America’s Past”, “The Spirits of ‘76”, and “Our Vanishing Landscape”, to name a few. Great books, hand illustrated, giving explanations of the how and the why to building, farming, blacksmithing, etc. I highly recommend them.

[@17Scumdog]

Just commenting here to bookmark this comment so I can check these out later.

[@ryanrennick9018]

Larry Haun showing up to a habitat for humanity volunteer project would be like Lebron James showing up to a community basketball game fundraiser. Larry was the second best carpenter ever to exist. He is a legend.

[@raymyhill2277]

And Jesus must be the first .

[@WillFlores1]

Who is the first?

[@jpm1211]

Nice topic guys! Love this for an occasional change of pace.

[@teddahrable]

About 23 minutes, you're talking about the difference between un-informed and forestry professionals. My brother spent 25 years in BC's Forestry industry as a regulatory field officer. Enforcing proper cutting, cleanup, and reforesting. There's a lot to it but it works.

[@dannywilsher4165]

Most enjoyable as always!!!

[@saltydroog854]

I personally think a lot of this shade that gets thrown around against consumerism and "having too much stuff" is short sighted. It's a great thought in the academic...in theory. But we live in a world where there is not enough of everything for everyone. Take something as simple as paper towels. During the pandemic there was a massive shortage of paper towels. We can have a separate discussion about the value of paper towels and whether or not they are in and of themselves wasteful. But the fact is having paper towels are ubiquitous with an American lifestyle throughout all classes of earners. So, it's easy to say just buy the paper towels you need and you can always go get more...until you can't go get more. So throughout this pandemic, I have been hording these goods and similar goods like paper plates, that were being rationed by the venders like Walmart, so as to minimize the impact that it had it had on me and my family. We can also have a separate conversation about that, but I'm a capitalist and unwilling to entertain "sharing" when it comes to my family's quality of life. The point is that a storage unit of "excess" stuff is of value if only in peace of mind. It's like having a storm shelter full of food you hope you never have to eat. It's value is not in using it, it's in knowing it's there is you need it. And I personally am sick and tired of that value being diminished and having pejorative applied to it under the guise of fairness.

[@jum5238]

Maybe if you announce a book ahead of time, some of us can feel like we get a better appreciation of the points you make when talking about the book.

[@jimjones4345]

They talked about doing this in the last podccast.

[@AceHardy]

📝

[@AceHardy]

📙💯

[@MattsAwesomeStuff]

Umm, I'm pretty sure Gas + Wax = Napalm. At least in the right proportions.

[@Acknaar]

Gas + wax + flour + bleach . Homemade brew .

[@RILEYLEIFSON_UTAH]

It's actually Styrofoam + gasoline =Napalm. You dissolve Styrofoam in a bucket of gas and vióla....Napalm.

[@lukuswagner9652]

I understand the idea of a mature old growth forest to be enjoyed, and all the benefits they provide. I dont understand the thought of paying for or punishing the mistakes of our grandparents. We can learn, adapt and apply the lessons of the past but if the sins werent atoned for by now they never will be. There is a very good point to made that it's a shame those old mature redwoods were cut but...people need homes and wagons and tools and furniture. It doesnt make sense to cut down 1000 small trees when In 1/10th the time you can cut down one. That's not a sin to be punished it's common sense. Theres some damage from forestry but it was necessary. We know now the correct way to do things but bad mouthing our for fathers and carrying burdens that have no place today is no sense. People do what they need to do to survive and then thrive. If we find out 50 years from now wifi destroys the environment and deflects migrating birds, will we be the monsters for consuming it so frivolously or seen as using an abundant commodity that makes life better? It's the same concept.

[@GNOME_666]

Larry is the Johnny Appleseed of construction

[@jacobpuckett7893]

Waiting on EC book.

[@DaveNico]

I just finished this book.

[@luismendoza5782]

Does he talk about what type of hammer he used? Ty

[@watchthe1369]

A blizzard in the 1950's the children's blizzard.

[@scottsettlemyre3703]

I teach construction at South Caldwell High School. I've commented before and even sent you a sticker. The guy who teaches Agriculture here, his cousin is the Dr at Florida University that works for the Federal government and is over all the re planting in the US. He's also told me how if a tree's DNA is changed, which happens a lot for construction, he must approve it in the US. Thought you may want his contact info.

[@GibClark]

Liking this 👍👍👍👍

[@JayKayKay7]

Behind every great man is a Filipina!!

[@Tracks777]

lovely stuff

[@davidbasheda4574]

Hired gun.....”set and sink isn’t technically one lick”....you’re treading on some shakey ground my friend

[@lealoctavio18]

TUBA SIX

[@woodydel]

Didn't read the book YET. This is the reality I've lived Bottom line, carpenters were always close to being broke. Don't bother with a thumbs down. I started as a roofer. Then became a carpenter. I broke the cycle by becoming a GC general contractor. Retired from that. Still think of myself as a carpenter and prefer a Plumb hammer, not the china versions. Hired many carpenters. If I asked what they could do, and they started with a list, goodbye.

[@joelethalcruz4417]

Mudhouse...in hondduras. There are alot. Poor people..buildthem up.

[@capnmattw.6210]

I read Mr. Huan's book around 2 years ago. I was disappointed in the socialist view of his writings. I have been a carpenter sense 1981, never got a job from a poor man, only those that valued my work and had the resources to pay my compensation. Mr. Haun is a man i never met so only through his book did I form this opinion. That said he is a legion and i respect him for his work , I just could do without the socialist BS. Thanks for the hard work Cap'nmatt out

[@andrewprince3003]

i thought the same thing.

[@pnwester2697]

capnmatt w. What was the socialist BS?

[@2chipped]

Yeah just listening about the timber being farmed, and his thoughts give me pause to read it. Everyone loves sausage, but some complain how it's made. An animal, fish, or plant lives and dies. It's remains (regardless of natural death or whether it was taken) is used by ants, people or shrimp. 1 tree every acre x35 is no different then clearing 35 acres. The cost difference would be astronomical.

[@Tracks777]

lovely stuff