Be A Carenter For Uncle Sam - Part 2

By Author: Larry Westfall
Total Articles: 8
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CARPENTER, GRADE 9

General: Grade 9 carpenters use skilled techniques to construct, install, repair, and modify wood and wood substitute structures and items requiring close tolerance fit and structural soundness. They construct and repair a wide variety of structural items such as building frames, rafters, concrete forms, walls, staircases, door and window frames, interior and exterior trim, and miscellaneous items such as workbenches, counter tops, bookcases, equipment cabinets, computer consoles, and items requiring limited decorative trim and molding. They also construct air and weather tight assemblies such as equipment shelters for ships undergoing refitting of military hardware.

Grade 9 carpenters set up and operate a wide variety of wood working machines and tools. They assemble items with a variety of joining techniques such as miters, rabbets, dados, biscuit, and mortise and tenon, and use glues and adhesives to secure wood pieces, veneers, and counter tops. They use wood, metal, and various composite materials when installing or replacing interior partitions, flooring, panels, suspended ceilings, ...
... counter tops, and moldings. Unlike grade 7 carpentry workers, grade 9 carpenters interpret drawings, blueprints, and specifications independently, and determine the layout and work sequences and types of lumber or special related materials. Carpenters at this level plan and carry out projects from initial layout to completion. Accuracy, spacing, fit, and structural soundness and finished appearance are essential.

Skill and Knowledge: Carpenters at this level have a thorough knowledge of wood and wood substitute materials, and construction techniques. They are skilled in the operation of general and precision carpentry and woodworking equipment and are able to produce finished products with precise fits, accurate dimensions, and acceptable appearance. By comparison with grade 7 carpentry workers, who work with basic blueprints and sketches, grade 9 carpenters are able to interpret complex instructions, sketches, blueprints, and building codes. They are able to measure for layouts such as those required to construct footings for structural foundations and construct concrete forms and related structures with little or no supervisory guidance. They use advanced shop mathematics to plan, compute, and lay out more complex and exact projects with features such as arcs, tangents, and circles. They are skilled in setting up and operating the full range of industrial woodworking and related machinery such as routers, band and scroll saws, and drill presses. They are able to determine the proper grade, size, and type of lumber or wood substitute material required for the job. They have skill in operating and using power and hand tools and other woodworking equipment such as portable drills, clippers, joiners, shavers, tenoners, sanders, routers, power activated nailers, combustion type saws, screw fasteners, drill presses, and table saws. They also have skill in setting up and adjusting stationary power equipment by checking and adjusting, for example, the "square ness" of the blade on a radial arm saw in relation to the surface of the cutting table. They have skill in performing routine maintenance on equipment by lubricating machines, changing and sharpening saw blades, and by adjusting drive belt tensions. Grade 9 carpenters are able to mill heavy lumber, cut bevels, rabbets, chamfers, grooves, and compound miter joints, and apply plastic laminates to wood and other surfaces on counter tops, cabinets, desk tops, and tables.

Responsibility: Unlike the grade 7 carpentry worker, who works under the overall guidance of a higher grade worker or supervisor and receives detailed and easily understood instructions for assignments, grade 9 carpenters lay out work, determine material and equipment needs, and plan and accomplish a wide range of work sequences ranging from basic repairs to complex project segments with minimal supervision or review of work in progress. Grade 9 carpenters use initiative and judgment in accomplishing work assignments. For example, they evaluate problems and determine how or what repairs to make and the type and grade of wood or appropriate wood substitute materials and type of tools to use. They accomplish all phases of work independently including work requiring close tolerances, precise fit, and a finished appearance. Unlike the grade 7 carpentry workers, who work under the guidance of a supervisor or higher-grade worker, and whose work is regularly spot-checked, grade 9 carpenters typically initiate and complete assignments under minimal supervision. Review of work is primarily for compliance with building codes, objectives, timeliness, and quality of workmanship. Grade 9 carpenters are responsible for safely operating powered equipment and hand tools and adhering to all safety procedures.

Physical Effort: Physical effort at this level is the same as that described at grade 7. Working Conditions:

Working conditions at this level are the same as those described at grade 7

About the Author Larry Westfall is the owner of
http:://www.AboutCarpentry.com
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