FTF #17 Should I Become A Carpenter? My Experience

[@tyressy01]

25$ a hour is like hitting the jack pot for me

[@Nehbur]

Tyrese Chambers i assume it’s before taxes, meaning minus 40% and also, it's hard to get all hours a week paid. I was a web developer and over the year I managed to get around 20 hours a week paid 50 dollars per hour. It was sustainable, but tough. Managed for 6 years. Rough competition as well. Starting a business you'll need to do free hours, learn many hard lessons and 60 hour working weeks in the start.

[@josephjeffers6102]

@@Nehbur MINUS 40 PERCENT LMAO. I love you Canadians but wow those taxes are insane

[@stephanstrickland6373]

@@josephjeffers6102 dude you have no idea. We get taxed on everything. There is even a carbon tax on gas us standard federal and provincial tax. Best part not all are healthcare is free.

[@josephjeffers6102]

We would literally start killing people over that here lol

[@MrThenry1988]

His 25 bucks is not in America

[@johanholmstrom4478]

I'm living my dream for about 1200 USD/month, my dream was to not waste my life on work to by shit that I don't need.

[@destinal_in_reality]

+Johan Holmström That definitely can work, but you basically need to live in a van.

[@CheetosMUFUKKA]

What are you all talking about?! I make about $1200/mo and I'm fine. I can afford a house, dog, bills, going out occasionally, decent car, food. I'm not struggling at all. I just don't buy unnecessary shit that temporarily makes me happy or need some giant house yo fill a void.

[@justizzyryder]

I'm 20 years old, and I've been feeling the weight of trying to prepare and set myself for a life like the one you've earned. I've been trying to remind myself that the urge to give up after a few failures is natural and inevitable, and that the quicker I learn to bite the bullet and keep going, the better. Nothing makes me happier than woodworking, but I also have other passions that I couldn't imagine living without. Striking an even balance is key. Thank you for this video.

[@garycheavin8768]

what a brilliant talk... this is the sort of talk that's needed in schools to give the next workforce a realistic idea of what to expect in life.

[@MrMojo271]

I'm assuming this is Canadian dollars, as 30/hr American is pretty good in these parts

[@nitrodubs8966]

30 canadian is around 22.50 usd

[@chriswalker143]

Chuck Johnson 30 cad is still good in Canada

[@MrWookLoaf]

Its important to note, he said he is from Victoria, it has a reputation of being heinously expensive there. Its no wonder he had to earn $50/hr to feel like he had any money.

[@levicoffman5146]

wooo! finally someone talking sense! Stop teaching your kids to be employees!

[@imnotgaygay1253]

T Regis lmao landing a job like that is completely unrealistic.

[@atari_k1]

@@imnotgaygay1253 being a boss of a job like that is even more unrealistic 😂

[@imnotgaygay1253]

the_weirdkidd lol, sad but true

[@jochy3666]

Levi Coffman my mother always tells me working for somebody , working for yourself , having your own shop your own business do what you love

[@Makebuildmodify]

Well put. I would have had trouble doing a video like this without being cynical. Thanks again for another great video.

[@alexpower8427]

education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think

[@MarsLonsen]

alex power well, its both

[@damonbeddingfield2958]

Very well put. I'll remember reading this already knowing its meaning but never really thinking about it.

[@NotAYoutubeChannel99]

Much as we like to think we may not be someone's servant by advancing our careers, we only end up being the servant of a larger number of more demanding masters as we advance (review the concept of customers if you disagree). However, service to others is not a bane; nay, it is our contribution to society and the world. May we all endeavor to serve more, and serve better; and may we all quit seeking only to be served.

[@dssk1023]

My old man is a carpenter (subcontractor) and I've been working for him (unofficially) since I was 10 in the shore towns on the east coast, USA building 5 - 10 million dollar homes. I'm now on the verge of graduating from college with a degree I have no interest in pursuing (per advice from my parents) aka, go to college. I want to be a carpenter and potentially own my own business. This video really meant a lot to me. Thanks Samurai.

[@OffRoad-jh1do]

You can make great money as a craftsman/contractor!! You have to work for yourself. I do high end interiors gross over 700K a year with 3 man crew. I charge $150.00 per hour for shop time and $90 per man hour for field work.

[@groovyjoe4457]

When can I start ? Lol

[@Dike2011]

me too?

[@SuperAlfaDogg]

ball boy jones curious, Sir. What part of the country are you living?

[@macbrick66]

Hello. I am going to college studying carpentry. Its about 3 months now and I have been sitting and standing around a lot, we have not been able to practice or learn how to do anything important, just basic things, i was pretty disappointed

[@vergil5603]

@@macbrick66 should’ve been an apprentice

[@Renraw9002]

I completely agree with the college crap. I went to school for 5 years to get a B.S in Psychology and Sociology, on top of 2 years of technical school in Engineering (the Engineering while I was still in High School so the state paid for that schooling). I'm swimming in student loan debt and my job has absolutely nothing to do with either the certificate or the degree. However I have years of experience in fixing, building things, and whatnot, but employers don't care about that. Every job interview I get seems to end in either I'm overqualified due to my education or I'm under-qualified due to my experience in mostly manufacturing type jobs. I'd love to become a full time woodworker, but that doesn't pay the bills sadly. One day though I hope to get it figured out cause I'm tired of working for company after company of people who always seem to pile on the bullshit a little at a time.

[@pebblepod30]

Then why wouldn't you go for an apprenticeship in Carpentry or something like that?

[@dankuspanku4650]

Any updates on your idea of becoming a woodworker? I too am interested in becoming a woodworker/carpenter.

[@Renraw9002]

@@dankuspanku4650 I gave it up. I still do it as a hobby, but I finally found a career I like so I'm content

[@dankuspanku4650]

@@Renraw9002 I see, thanks for replying.

[@TheRenaissanceCaveman]

Great video! Back when I was in high school it's like no one even told us that working with your hands was an option. Go to college, get a degree, be a wage slave, die unfulfilled, wash, rinse, repeat. You can make a good living wage in the building trades, just like just about any other industry, if you're smart, hard-working, and motivated. Thrilled to see you getting it done and at a damn fine quality too.

[@johnmatallana8106]

No disrespect intended but by the sounds of it, you have money management issues.

[@waveexistence3512]

I want to build apox resin tables etc mainly. I’d imagine I’d need to take a carpentry course for that? I don’t particularly want to be doing construction. Those slabs in the background making me excited.

[@Shootgreedofirst]

$25-$30/hr not a lot of money? I'd like to live in the same world as this guy.

[@blownonpurp]

Shootgreedofirst well he has 4 kids so I'm sure that's a pretty large burden

[@charlesvaughn3870]

That's in Canadian monopoly money not glorious freedom dollars. So it's a bit lower. Also, if you think that's just an insane amount of money you clearly don't own your own home and aren't trying to save for retirement.... Depending on the exchange rate that's close to what I make and I'm certainly not living the good life.

[@awkwardstaring5081]

25 is insane money. You can live and save for retirement on 15 an hour. 25 an hour is like 50,000 at the end of the year. How is a human being struggling on that much money.

[@charlesvaughn3870]

I'd like to retire at 55. If you think $25 an hour is a lot of money you have an entirely different set of life goals than I do. I'm assuming by "saving for retirement" you mean putting the standard 6% in your 401k or something along those lines? If you want to work well into your 60s and die at 70 you're all set at 15 an hour I guess.

[@awkwardstaring5081]

It's not about how much money you make it's about how you use it. I can make the argument that 100 dollars an hour or 200,000 dollars a year isn't enough either. I can be paying off a million dollar home, some BMW's, 9 kids, an indoor swimming pool, an elevator in my house, etc. It depends how smart you are with money. If you wanna live this wild life than yes 50,000 will not do it. Nor would 200,000. Because as your income goes up, so does your liabilities. This is the case with most people. They make 20,000. Than they make 25,000 but now they decided they wanted a pool. They make 30,000 now they decide they want fitness equipment in their house. Now they make 40,000 now they want a brand new car. They make 50,000 now they want a bigger house. Now they make 60,000 now they want a motorcyle. They make 70,000 now they want to take 2 expensive vacations a year. Now they make 80,000 now they wanna retire at 55. Now they make 100,000 now they wanna retire at 40. I can go on and on forever. If you read money management books this is how almost everyone is. You'll literally hear people who are making 25,000 a year complain to people making 200,000 a year complain. I've heard this from 2 people. One was a doctor who owned his own business so I'm sure he's wellllllll about 200,000 and the other was a manager of a construction company. He makes 200,000 a year with his wife making 50,000. Don't believe me ask them, ask the people making all this money they'll tell you how they "struggle". To an extent of course. I mean you're not surviving on like 10,000 a year. That's enough just to exist in the average part of America or barely get by. But 30,000 how can you not survive and put money away? Assuming rent is like 10,000 a year that leaves you with 20,000 for food, car payments, and phone payments. 9,000 for food/car payments/gas/phone/gym fees. Round that up to 10,000 for the sake of argument. That leaves you with 10,000 dollars. That's talking about 30,000 too. You're talking about 50,000. So you'll have 30,000 dollars at the end of the year to bank. Where is all your money going? Yes I'm sure we do have very different lifestyles. I pay for the basics and I'm good. Everything else just builds up. Everyone has these hidden expenses. My friend says he can't afford to move out with his gf. Combined they make 70,000. So he says he buys the necessities. I come to find out that he goes to the bar EVERY week. He spends HUNDREDS of dollars there. He goes out to expensive fancy diners and drops a shit load. He travels to other countries several times a year. And more useless spending. There's always these secret toilets the money gets flushed down that people don't like to tell you. You gotta read financial books they'll help you big time.

[@AllMoneyInDre]

Getting rich isn’t solely based on a career or a certain set of skills. Getting rich is simply a mindset and using certain tools in a way to get you there.

[@Paul-bd7fe]

Getting rich isn’t a worthy goal. You put your worth in money? Amassing wealth? If amassing wealth was a worthy goal for a human then we’d be the happiest humans in history. The middle class live lavishly compared to history. The meaning and purpose of life is not to get rich.

[@mikemcorky5418]

Damn and all this time I thought I was a genius for hanging my trim clean and straight. Thanks samurai!#!! Oh, by the way don't tell my girlfriend cause she still thinks I'm a genius.

[@robscanlan]

i have friends in the trade who stared off as carpenters and they are now contractors and are pretty much well off.

[@TheDamnSpot]

I really liked your video because you spoke plainly and didn't coddle the viewer in hype and spin. Which, of course, means that half the listeners probably thought you were *mean* and *harsh* because you were *realistic* in the things you said.

[@truebluekit]

+TheDamnSpot I'm very much putting in the hours and elbow grease to make my projects come true, and his words STILL shook me, as if I'm been slacking and not really doing things the I really should. So yeah, some people are gonna cry, point at him and shout "You meanie!"

[@joeframer9642]

I don’t understand what your calling a ..carpenter? You mean a Finish carpenter? Do you mean a Framing carpenter? Do you mean a Remodeling carpenter? Do you mean a woodworker carpenter? Do you mean a handyman? Carpenter is a very general term.... Subcontractors do not charge by the hour, they price the job. Anyone who gets a 1099 is a subcontractor. What are you talking about? You ended buying property with Help from your Aunt and Uncle, ..if people want what you have , they need a Wealthy Aunt and Uncle...??? This guy is a YT yuppie joke...do not listen.

[@markcomstock5099]

should I be a carpenter? you spoke from the heart, you nailed it. I pray for your family and success. Pacific Pilot One. Olympia Washington

[@levibailey6256]

Keep in mind each state and each local union pays different wages right now in oregon LU 1503 journeyman are making 40 dollars an hour and me as a 2nd term apprentice is making 23.55 an hour

[@tim8602]

Can we have a video of some of the things you've invented. That'd be cool.

[@juancolette8086]

+Power Ranger Good point....or how about showcasing just a few of the Samurai inventions. That'd be authentic!

[@icersau]

advice i wish i had received many years ago.

[@GuyverX2099]

Love how many people see general wage talk of $/hour and thinks it's awesome. They do not realize how costs work. As has been the case with every case I've come across, when you make more money, you have to pay more. Especially if you do it legally.

[@Thom4123]

So true you have to bust your ass work hard and always reinvent yourself and always educate yourself or if offered to by a company take that education and soak it up like a sponge. And use it to your advantage. Nothing happens overnight but if your willing to give 110% you are more likely to get in return the lifestyle you want. The old saying is true though " do something you love to do and you will always be happy ".

[@jrichardbuilds]

Add motivational speaker to that list. Well stated. I enjoy your videos immensely and have been inspired to not only build, but hone my craftsmanship skills. I will happily support you in the cause

[@TheSamuraiCarpenter]

+Josh Whitmarsh Thanks for your support brother. It's nice to meet perfect strangers that see the potential for what is happening here and are happy to lend a hand.

[@GaryTruesdale]

Nobody is getting rich Samurai.

[@mnight207]

That was my exact thought. My gf is an electrical engineer making over 100k a year......still not enough in todays world

[@Isbe-go8hq]

sometimes being a man of value can out way being a man of success

[@alexcazares6772]

carpenter apprentice in san francisco makes $30.30 an hour

[@samp1394]

I am 76 years old worked all my life in woodworking. Carpenter. My experience is most the time it is TO cold or TO Hot. Nothing will ever work like it is suppose to. NO one will do their job the way they should. NO choose another job!

[@randommortal3383]

Hi Sam. Could you tell me more about your experiences?

[@emanuel1281]

25$ is low ? Damn boy ik people eho break there bavks for 11$ a hour

[@MyGarageWoodshop]

Samurai dropping wisdom bombs! We plugged your channel and fan funding on Faking IT Podcast. Show drops on the 11th! Love the content!

[@12345mike6789]

Thanks for the honesty. The content is spot on, wages have not increased in 25 years. I hear since 1985 carpenters were making $25 on average, I have beed a carpenter since highschool too & became one because it is in my blood, my desire to make & build is in the core of my dna. interesting post, good advice, ok, MIKE out, lol

[@awkwardstaring5081]

I was shocked when he said 25 I didn't think they made that kind of money!

[@JungleTedandtheLBP]

I definitely needed to hear all this. Been dragging my butt with my passions lately, and I know I can make it where I want to be if I knuckle down and get to it. Sidenote: was in Oak Bay today templating on some new construction and secretly hoped I'd see you there doing some custom woodwork of some sort. Ah well, someday :)

[@truebluekit]

Hey Jesse, this is a good thing you're doing. "You won't get rich doing it" is what people need to hear. Nowadays everyone's dreaming about owning a BMW or Mercedes or Ferraris or what not, and some of them's gonna think "maybe this thing with wood is my ticket." Not saying it couldn't be done, but that would be more the exception than the norm.

[@thedge7]

Well said. However I would like to point out that YOU are a young buck! 10-12 yrs. is not all that long in the trade. It is possible to go on from basic contracting to running your own remodeling business or building new homes. And that my friend can provide a much higher income. Like you said you have to learn many different things to become successful as a builder/remodeler. I didn't even begin until I was much older than you are now.

[@anonymouscitizen2732]

+thedge7 I agree with you. I believe if you learn a few more trades to aid in your carpentry, you can do well for yourself by doing small remodels, kitchens, and bathrooms. I did not get into the building trade until I was 26. How old were you when you got in?

[@billymcintosh1349]

good info Samaria. I wish I wouldve gotten interested in woodworking when I was younger. I'm 39 now been in the oilfield since I was 18. last yr the oilfield went to s#$t. so I started as a helper then partnered up with a guy and then another and learned the hard way. PARTNER's do NOT work. So I'm struggling to doing this late dream. if I can't figure it out I KZbin it and I am OCD with any job I do. And have had very happy customers. and I try and try over and over again. Thx for advice. ur an awesome motivator for me bro

[@ksingleton101]

I totally agree with you. I was in the Plastering Trade for 35 years and saw my wages drop from $25 to $12 from 1987-2004. I was told in 1987 "you will need to take a 25% cut in pay in order for the company to be compatible with those that are hiring illegals. That was work for Residential Housing so I quit and moved into the Higher End homes, 2-20 million dollar homes and kept my $25 an hour wage. In $2002 I had a falling out with my boss (owner) over money being taken out of my check for Health Insurance but not having Health Insurance. At that time I found out Residential Construction was being done by non-English Speaking employees, at higher end pay of $12, but I was being asked to translate to the General Contractor from the Foreman. At that time I was told "if you want to make what you used to make you will need to start your own company and hire first generation Hispanic's (meaning illegals) to do the work. From there I started my own business doing custom interior finishes and did all the work myself. Working from word of mouth I was able to stay pretty busy and achieve an income of roughly $45 an hour. That didn't last long sorry to say, I am a diabetic and that took a toll on my body. My advice now is Don't work your self too death and if you find illegals working anywhere call ICE, IRS and whom ever else will listen too you. Our Children will need jobs that support families or them selves as mine once did.

[@michaelriecher5632]

And we keep hearing that illegals are only taking jobs that Americans won't do, BS.

[@GuardianOfTheDamned]

Michael Riecher Americans are fat and lazy. Ever notice most people begging for money are white and those who work shit jobs are illegals ? Why is that? Or that's right because they are not lazy and will bust their ass for any amount of money instead of begging for it

[@ksingleton101]

You do understand the wage in Mexico is $40 a week for an Auto Mechanic. A case of Corona Beer cost $2. How can living in the USA compare?

[@8digitPDX]

K Singleton That guy is in Canada, not the US. Those numbers are Canadian market and maybe the northeast. I am fat and lazy but adjusted my hourly rate and frequency I work for it to make sense for clients with what I bring to the table and the problems I solve for them. Hence I get more done and make more money in three hours than what gets done in twenty billable $85 hours from these outfits that are three appointments and a two week wait before their $15/hr employees show up in a company van to work maybe six hours on site.

[@ksingleton101]

Having something no one else can do lets you charge what you need to do the work. I'm not going to go into detail about what I did in the Plastering Field but I will tell you I charged $3.26 a square ft and was able to do 1200ft a day by myself. Find a niche and don't tell others what or how you do it. I used to take the material out of the bucket it came in and place it in a bucket with my own sticker. No one new what I used to create the look on their walls.

[@SuperAlfaDogg]

Love your comments. Mike Rowe of dirty jobs seems to believe that a tradesman can start out at $45,000 and progress to $120,000 in a year or two. I've never known that to be the case. In Houston Texas it seems as if most top level guys who aren't really hustling and content to be working as independent contractor carpenters make around $25 to $30. Many make a lot less. The key is entrepreneurship. Learning to run a business, hustle, develop a smooth operating business, cultivate your market. I believe I do know the "secret" of operating a good business. I had asked a very successful flooring contractor his "magic formula" for running a very smoothly running operation. He said "It takes about 10 years". I'm sure business geniuses on the internet would digress, but that seems pretty accurate.

[@dg-qf7pc]

I started carpentry last year and i make $31 an hour in san fransisco im an apprentice

[@wanjockey]

I am glad to supporet you, I enjoy your videos. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheSamuraiCarpenter]

+Gregory Wood Thanks for the support. Many love this channel for the content but I love it for the community of people all growing together and keeping their passion strong. Usually comments sections are riddled with trolls and criticism but this channel is 99% encouragement which has blown me away.

[@shawnvandenabeele5927]

as a general cpmtractor from mi moved to texas,im a custom framer found this to be a great video,i my self do more i frame an finish have learned many trades i worked union got my y journey man and have been in the field over 25 yrs i stay away from commercial work my family i was fortunate to have a few trades such as excavating,dirt work to concrete finishing,and carpentry rough to finish electrical plumbing learn the trades put your heart into it and life will follo,and dont be a hack i see carpenters who have shoddy workmanship and just plain suck and how an they are licensed is beyond me,i put my heart an soul an have made a great life an you cam become wealthy in a trade it depends on supply and demand and hiw bad do you want it i was hungry! and came to texas an killed it first custom house i built and finished was a 400k profit dont learn elegbra lesrn money an hiw to invest!!! great video

[@zephyr1408]

I live in the US specifically in Northern Calif. I am a finish Carpenter ; Sub Contractor . I tend to do more Cabinets and also Doors /windows/ Trim/ Vanities ect.,. I had a prior job for 30 yrs therefore hv a pension. And now I make as much as I want to work for? I do not hv employees however just opened up to finding a partner? I Charge $70 an hour and can probably charge more? I hv a friend who is a GC home builder! And he makes way into the 150 plus a yr profit range. Maybe BC is behind the times? Or your flooded with cheap dime a dozen goof balls running a skillsaw ? Your explanation leaves one to say “ why would I ever choose this type of work”?? I say Good! Less workers , more demand , more money! Hey young bucks “ go be programmers and make millions”! If you need a finish carpenter/contractor in Nor Cal contact me !

[@harriengstrom1645]

great truths , I,m 50 I agree with all you say , I BEEN IN MY TRADE FOR 35 YEARS and sorry to say if your not inspired you will be flipping burgers in any industry 0, be the best study learn make mistakes learn your fucking craft , it only takes 15 -20 years . love your work , H

[@Spartakips]

This was a great perspective, and I think you really hit the nail on the head! It's easy to dream big, but the reality is that it's a tremendous amount of work, practice, and probably discouragement to get anywhere meaningful. I know I have a long way to go, for sure. Thanks for the real talk :) 👌

[@edhorsegolfer4784]

Hi Samurai, Love your channel, love your style. I have been a lifelong subcontractor in the states below you. A lot of ups and downs and a great adventure. never been able to set my wages though. good times are good, tough times are tough. wouldn't trade it for all the money in the world

[@wickedwoodgaming1486]

This guy complaines about only making $50/hour. Then says. So I jist got you tube. So listen up, if $50 an hour isn't enough. Just get into an industry that pays out highly for making videos.

[@lylahsworld3930]

I have to pick my major for high school in a couple weeks, I am thinking about carpentry. The stuff you said about money, would you get paid more, the Longer you work there? Is there like a promotion system? And what would the day in the life of a carpenter look like

[@charlieraven6342]

I don't believe there is a single person who looks at carpentry and says "huh, i am going to do this and become rich and live my dreams." I think the only people who can do that already have daddy's money or is that 1 in 100 ppl who can get 1 mil subs on youtube and not work and even then you're not making that much money doing that, just living your dreams part lol. Over all this is still a good video to look at, thank you!

[@oortskinner2780]

I think you need to retitle the video. Rather misleading. Clearly you didn't think critically before making this video. If you titled video why I am am entrepreneur. Being an entrepreneur can lead to success. I attained being an entrepreneur. All of these would have made this video logical to watch. I'm essence you need to learn what is being an entrepreneur.

[@Soulleecher]

will do and stop focusing too much on what could go wrong. been there too long.

[@mgpalma]

Wow. Your honesty is refreshing and inspiring. Thanks for all you do!

[@mikegager]

so keys to success... start youtube channel and have a rich aunt and uncle. gotcha

[@mChrest05]

+mike gager The key to success in the trades is to get out of the trades and into the entertainment or education field.

[@newfieingenuity]

You have gleaned a lot from this teaching young padawan. I'm sure you will go far and not fail at life. You have a way of brushing over the key points and highlighting the negative that will be very valuable to you. But you left out a couple words such as "sucessfull" youtube channel, and have a rich aunt and uncle "whom you can convince that you are a worth while investment". But otherwise very great point.

[@mikegager]

yeah no point having rich aunt and uncle if they arent gonna give you money.

[@MrJoeruggiero]

People like you drive me nuts! You probably bitch about everything. The guys works his butt off, is willing to do whatever it takes, and thinks outside the box. So his Aunt and Uncle helped him out! If you actually listened, he called them partners. They're investing in him and will, most likely, reap a nice reward. I call that smart! You probably sit at home all day and drink beer, complaining about successful people. This is one of the best you-tube channels out there. It's refreshing to see someone like Samurai, who is incredibly talented and is passionate about what he does. I find him inspiring.

[@MarkH10]

Not even rich, just approachable. I tried to get $10,000 from my rich uncle, but my own mother had backdoor cut me off with him. In less than 4 yers that would have been 7-9 million. People who did what I wanted to do in Austin (merely buy and hold Dell stock), where I was at the time, are called Dellionaires in Austin. He gave investors about 900x their money back over 4-6 years. Without family, it's hard to make anything in life. This guy may have had what everyone is supposed to have in life, family, but he added HIM, and his increase is his work and effort, and professionalism.

[@Diogenes_43]

149 people were looking for a 30 second life hack to instant success and didn’t appreciate the “keep working till it works” message.

[@calebmichael4175]

Been in food service for 7 years. I’ve topped out at 16/hr. I dont even want the burden of the white hat anymore. Your words about adaptation and perseverance are huge words of encouragement. I’m not a talented carpenter by any means, but I have built a 12’ farm table without any training. Just kind of winged it. I could stand and jump on it when I was done and there was no flex or wobble. I can say also as a fulltime/overtime line cook working in some insane kitchens, after overcoming near death illness, and making it this far where Im paying my own bills and feeding myself and keeping the car running, that push is all I know. I might look for an apprenticeship in carpentry. I know I have creative ideas for furniture, good taste in woodworking, I know a bit of this and that about musical instruments. I can go find steady work and also apply my knowledge of music to making instruments which I can sell, furniture and do shows at these big trade shows where we made 10 grand in a weekend just fixing up and refinishing furniture we bartered for at hoarders houses and flea markets. There’s ways to make a buck if you think hard enough. This video makes me feel hopeful about the trade if anything. Just need that hustle and grind. That being said, I need to go finish finishing my parents cabinets for them. You got a sub today my friend. Thank you for your words and teaching.

[@thedude5880]

Who said anything about getting RICH. If i can live my dream doing what i love and just make a living thats good enough for me.

[@dustinwatkins7843]

Lol fuckin' trades people - thinking $28 an hour is a 'crap wage'. Okay there, bud.

[@karyldebolouw74]

My husband uses these plans from Woodprix and is very happy with them. However. I love yours!

[@vermontnorthern9717]

Yea... but why are you wearing your pouches while you just stand and talk? Does it make it easier to move your arms around with every other word you say.

[@wickedwoodgaming1486]

Hearing him say entry laborers make $24 an hour???? New England has to step the game up.

[@franktherobotdotcom]

I'll pay if you want to stay corporate free but dude.. If you can get more money from advertising then you should totally do it.

[@Goat2kTV]

25 to 28 is good for me

[@johnny96888]

Bro I make $20/hr and its 7 yrs after this video! How much money do you need?!

[@timhyatt9185]

i've often been accused of being 'scattered", in that i jump from project to project(sometimes unfinished) as my interests shift....often i have several different things running all at the same time and I'll rotate my attention through them. I just ask what they think of Leonardo Da Vinci....his workshops were awash in different things, different projects he found interesting, and likely as not, VERY different from each other. I've tried to emulate the man, though I regularly feel i'm well below his level....but far more importantly, i can find joy in my projects.....(now if i could manage to market them, i'd be quit my day job :) )

[@joshuawood9019]

That was a great video. Very inspiring. Hard work does pay off.

[@anarchoarchitect5192]

In other words; Don't let your dreams, be dreams. Just DO IT!

[@Spartakips]

+AnarchoArchitect Yesterday you said tomorrow!

[@wiser82]

Hahaha that's the short version

[@barrym4079]

After 30 plus years as a self employed carpenter, let me say that just being a good carpenter is not enough to create success. Learning to run a business is just as hard as learning to be a carpenter. Plan on ten years of hard work for little pay, and if you have the parts to stick with it, you might succeed. If you can last that long, you will have established a good reputation, a track record with the govt and banks, and have dealt with enough customers and employees to be able to handle any situation properly. My advice is find a quality builder willing to teach you and put 10 years in before you even consider starting on your own. It can be done sooner, but the more experience you have the lesser the hardships will be. Don't forget to learn how to run a business before you start one, not after. Good luck.

[@Dike2011]

@Barry M i will truly like to know you pesonally I love your practical advice

[@idanburs5869]

I love your woodworking videos and enjoy your entertaining style. Long-term success is knowing your craft and sticking to what you do best. I look forward to more entertaining and helpful woodworking videos. Thanks!

[@bingoismynamo769]

+Idan Burs Yes more woodworking videos. That's why I come here.

[@rutgerssander]

Dude, you hit the nail right on the head! Even though I live in the Netherlands, everything you said totally applies over here too. Thanks for sharing this with the U-tubes.

[@Aaron-fb1pq]

I'm a carpenter in Victoria I make 26.50 an hour. Doesn't go far

[@Contentredacted.]

I feel like as less people go to carpentry and get lazy it will become a higher paying job

[@adamgabbert]

There's nothing like being a GC if you love building and making things. I've been contracting for 10 years, the only thing I'd change is I would have started building my internet brand earlier.

[@TheSamuraiCarpenter]

+Adam Gabbert online influence is critical to any business in this day and age. The trades seem to always be the last ones to innovate and incorporate new technology.

[@jamierollinson9354]

+The Samurai Carpenter tell me about it. my business (here in Wales) is trying to get companies to use social media and online resources to advance their company profile etc...It is like banging your head against a brick wall. (normally a very well made one)

[@adamgabbert]

+The Samurai Carpenter - I couldn't have said it better myself.

[@alflud]

+The Samurai Carpenter Speaking of incorporating new technologies into 'the trade' .... building an online presence is one aspect of it and a highly important one too - it's modern day 'word of mouth' and anyone who knows even the basics of building a business knows there's no more powerful marketing tool than word of mouth, people speaking highly of the services or products you provide and the way you provide it all. Using video as the means with which to build that online presence is the _most_ appropriate approach for real craftsmen in my opinion, the most appropriate for people who have everything to show and nothing to hide. The results _and_ the work speak for themselves. It's a powerful and, dare I say it, powerfully _attractive_ thing. But wait, I'm getting carried away with myself there. The point I wanted to make and the advice I wanted to give, and not to anyone in particular but to _all_ builders & makers, whatever your chosen material may be, is to incorporate 3D design using software like SketchUp into your process. Whereas other forms of new technology can help craftsmen _market_ whatever it is they've got to offer, knowing how to design in 3D makes you better at _producing_ ... both in terms of speed _and_ quality design. It won't make you a better craftsman but it will add up to you being able to do more in the same amount of time. Less time spent hashing out details in the design process means more time building. The better you get at it the less prototypes you have to make and so on. If time is precious to you then I would also say to you that learning how to design using 3D software is also an essential new technology to get to grips with.

[@8digitPDX]

Ooookay, now that confirms the attitude from the staircase video, you are Canadian and you are in Canada. I deleted my other comment when I figured that out. A lot of your reality is what people call provincial and your success is from exposure outside of that Local Bubble.

[@darylgud7601]

So right. Even after all of that, not one of the super rich, but better off than most. Until you get older and can't keep up, or hurt, or sick, or robbed. that is why 97% of people will run out of money before they run out of life and is the biggest fear among the elderly, even more than death.

[@destinal_in_reality]

+Daryl Gud Notice he also said he had a bunch of investments going at the same time, too. As you go, putting money into owning assets that produce an income is the best way to counter that (very reasonable) fear.

[@jjfaughn]

If we were not on opposite ends of north America, id love to apprentice under you.

[@paulharris2756]

I just gave a standing ovation to this little gem. My coworker looked at me like a was crazy!

[@koraybell2801]

Thank you .

[@CheisYang]

samurai why dont you consider to move to cheaper countries like central europe? czechs republic,poland,austra? the cost of living here is much cheaper and for 40 $ per hour is good enough to be consider a rich in th3se coutries. little math = 40 dollars is about 160 polish zloty. 160 x 160 hours per month equals 25600 zloty. average house here costs around 500000 zloty for 200m2. you could afford it in about 1.5 year... and im sure with your experience and international connections you could earn even more. think about it :)

[@rommelvera]

Thanks for the video!!! Be always an entrepreneur, you are already living your (and many others) dream. What you have done isn't easy to anybody. Best wishes from Ecuador

[@waqasahmad-sn3hn]

Great braggers little doers

[@tejjensen9402]

I do not believe in what I see and hear. What about your health ? You have to have a super health. Take all other easier jobs ... as a carpenter. Or you can feel every muscle and bone - all the time - long before you are 50. A carpenter.

[@rand_-mk5lb]

Somebody gotta do it

[@rahamtullahmansuri7665]

Thanks for the honest and sensible talk. I have been practicing woodworking from home from quite a long time and I love the way of woodwork you guys do and I'm very inspired by it. I'm not a full time woodworker but I'm doing everything to be one.

[@brandyhawking7908]

This time I will do it manually with the help of Woodglut designs.

[@awkwardstaring5081]

Dude 24-28 an hour is crazy money! That's way above average. I didn't know carpentry was a gold mine! I know you say it's not because you have this and that but at the same time I hear the exact same thing from doctors who own their own business who make well over 100,000 a year. They'll say they barely make it by on all these luxuries and everything. But if you're some what smart, a little smart I should say you can survive on 15 an hour. You can save for retirement and you can actually enjoy your life. More so if you live in cheaper part of America.

[@ignaciodelpech9043]

Hera in Argentina, South America, Third World if you earn U$U30 the hour you're a kind of a millonare. I'm a high school history teacher and I earn like U$S 750 a month. Samurai you're a hell of an artist, love your channel.

[@rrmerlin3402]

In California carpenters were paid $20 per hour in 1990

[@gallegos813]

Meanwhile youtube/tik tok kids making millions....

[@Thefastlane425]

basically have some fucking ambition people..

[@online12plus]

thanks

[@W4ABN]

for those talking about cost per hour... Some trade jobs, it could be high $$/hr but the work itself could be short-term. The boating industry, there are workers who charge $100/hr, but the work they do could be few hours to few days (depending on type of job), but then many days where there's no work at all in between projects. The main thing is trying to get high $$/hr AND continuous work. Some fields, it's just difficult. Due to the high rates, I tend to do projects on my boat myself to save money (but doesn't necessarily save time). I imagine many woodworking projects are the same in that there are many days without paid work, which is why $$/hr can sometimes be higher.

[@stephanstrickland6373]

In my area a journeyman builder makes $28 an hour at the union. I work in drywall acoustic and a journeyman makes $39 an hour at the union. My dad's neighbor own a building company and his guys start at $17 and when they are done it's $37 an hour. But I would say the average is about $30 an hour for most guys who aren't union and it's sad. Still a good wage but unless your in the commercial sector you don't make has much.

[@deezynar]

Ah! the old never give up lecture. Many people are wasting their time because they just don't have what it takes to succeed in their dream job. For those people, the best advice is to QUIT! QUIT RIGHT NOW! The problem is that things are not always clear cut. Some people can succeed with more practice, more skill, more exposure, more connections. But others will never make it, they can't. The other side of the coin is that their are people who hardly have to work at it at all. They have the right personality, parents with money and connections, etc.. There is no guarantee that hard work will pay off big, but being lazy is guaranteed to keep you poor if you don't already have a huge trust fund.

[@carlospitcher4335]

someone has read R.K rich dad poor dad ;) nice vid thanks for sharing...

[@TheSamuraiCarpenter]

+Carlos Pitcher It's a great book! Have you read How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie? That is another life changer.

[@1Jaz5d]

+The Samuri Carpenter That book is life changing. People will be reading it through the ages.

[@chazTRAINalb]

I was thinking the same thing. I've read 6 of his books. On a side note, I am foreman for a commercial drywall company. Not Carpentry, but I've been Learning and slowly putting a shop together at my house. Been playing with land flipping on the side to fund my hobbies, so I loudly second everything said on this video.

[@carlospitcher4335]

+The Samurai Carpenter of course it is on my fav list for my kindle. If I may sugest two well known books... the 7 habits of highly effective people. the richest man in babylone. there are so many amazing amd lifechangeing books out there. anyways as many of your suscribers. I admire your passion for your work and the great pride you take from it. that is what human endavour is supposed to be all about. I wish you to find the success you deserve and fight for it. oh and btw... one last thing. people get rich by thinking not just working... there is also a book with a similar title. best regards :)

[@bruceb9515]

kiyosaki is a snake oil salesman. His book and his seminars are boilerplate nonsense based on a fabricated lie. Research his name, Google him... There is nothing wrong with raising a family on carpenter wages. I did it and made it just fine with building my own house out of pocket and zero debt. It takes hard ass work and giving up Hawaii vacations . Nothing wrong with being a blue collar worker.

[@Woodmy120]

Awesome video. Channel always great advice

[@hooper4581]

Or ....., work Union ! Only way to make a living wage w health and pension benefits.

[@dxman417]

Unions are so stupid

[@amitalkintome2429]

ImpureForce why?

[@kwakkers68]

Unions certainly reduced the number of work related deaths in Construction, and a number of other areas. They can serve a useful purpose in protecting individuals' rights, often countering agencies FAR more powerful than sole actors could take on... Fair enough, some Unions might act in a non-sensical manner at times - but that doesn't mean they should be abandoned. Heaven knows, enough people suffered to bring them about!

[@hugomontgoery]

Raw truth, brother.

[@Kryso_0]

you say adapt and I agree. and I also agree that it's vague. Being adaptable is a coping mechanism for the real point. You must be willing to accept the risks (and therefore pain) involved in being a decision maker. You must be willing to be wrong and admit it when you are. If you don't want the responsibility of creating financial security for others, you're just not going to be able to create financial freedom for yourself because the same pain tolerance and humility are required for both. To be successful you must be adaptable, and to be adaptable you must be humble. I know you know this, I just want everyone else to know it as well. There is a strong tendency for people to excuse their lack of willingness to step up by over-complicating the process, no matter your trade or skill. (I know because I do this and I see everyone else around me do this. It's something I'm working on)

[@recyclespinning9839]

Get a fixer upper and fix and rent..do this when u see market is low..do this a few times and in 5 years you can be a millionaire. It is not enough to have great skills and work for a company.. The illegal mind set had destroyed living wages...wake up..government don't care....