Top Carpentry Skills Every Carpenter Should Have
Thinking of becoming a chippy? You’re going to need some solid carpentry skills.
But what exactly are those skills and how do you improve them?
In this blog, we go over the top skills needed for carpentry.
What does a carpenter do?
Carpenters construct wooden structures and fixtures, from building frameworks to furniture. They typically work in a variety of settings, including residential, commercial and industrial construction sites.
What are the most important carpentry skills?
Whether you’re a professional carpenter or just starting out at building school, you’ll need to develop and perfect the following skills.
And if you’re already a chippy and wondering how to improve carpentry, the following list is a good place to start.
1. MATH SKILLS
The great thing about carpentry is that you don’t have to do too many hard sums—you can leave Stephen Hawking’s Brief History of Time under the bed for now!
That said, you will need some basic maths skills to perform arithmetic– adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing.
While you work as a chippy, you’ll need to do these basic equations on a daily basis.
2. FITNESS
While you won’t be running any marathons, good physical fitness is essential for carpentry.
You’ll spend most of your day on your feet. You’ll also have to do a lot of lifting of heavy building materials, or bending and squatting in certain positions for long periods of time.
Even using carpentry tools requires strength and agility, so make sure you’re in good shape.
3. PEOPLE SKILLS
As a carpenter, you’ll be working as part of a team with a bunch of other chippies.
You could be working with people from very different walks of life to your own, people of different backgrounds and genders.
That’s why you’ll need to be able to get along with people in order to do a great job. You’ll need to follow instructions correctly and communicate clearly.
4. A GOOD EYE
Aussie chippies have a saying: “Measure twice, cut once.”
You’ll hear this a lot while working as a chippy, but the saying also represents one of your most important carpentry skills.
To work as a carpenter, you’ll need to be accurate and precise in your measurements. Without an eye for detail, you can’t succeed in this role.
5. CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING
This skill is useful in all aspects of your carpentry role, whether that’s building structures from scratch or repairing existing structures.
Creative problem-solving is when you encounter a problem that seems hard (or impossible!) to overcome and then think of a brilliant way to fix it.
If you’re already working as a chippy and you want to up your game, focusing on creative problem-solving is a surefire way to improve carpentry skills.
6. HARDWARE EXPERTISE
Part of what attracts many people to the chippy job is the work you do with hand and power tools, and machines.
Chippies use things like drills and power saws on a daily basis.
When you study carpentry, you’ll develop these skills with hardware and prove that you can do it safely before gaining your qualifications.
Want to improve carpentry skills?
As you can see, to become a carpenter you’re going to need to learn and practice a variety of different skills.
And to gain a carpentry qualification, you’ll need to prove that you have mastered the essential carpenter skills.
With a qualification, you can also gain a competitive edge against other chippies, to improve your chances of getting a well-paid job.
The best way to develop your carpentry skills and get qualified is through a mixture of study and hands-on training. For this, you will need to do a Certificate III in Carpentry (CPC30220).
When you do your Certificate III in Carpentry, you’ll do an apprenticeship with a real employer and earn an income while you study.
The apprenticeship takes three-and-a-half years to complete full-time. You’ll also go to classes a couple of times a week to study the skills needed for carpentry.
Ready to improve your carpentry skills?
As a dedicated school for chippies and builders, Builders Academy Australia is one of the best places to do your Certificate III in Carpentry.
We can help hook you up with an apprenticeship and give you the support you need while you complete your training.
A Certificate III in Carpentry can also be a stepping stone towards other excellent construction careers. After graduating, you might like to continue studying for another certificate or diploma, try for your builder’s licence, or even go on to university.
If you want to improve carpentry skills, you’ll love studying with us while learning the trade from experienced builders.
Thinking of doing a Certificate III in Carpentry (CPC30220)? Get in touch to ask questions and confirm your eligibility for government funding on 1300 534 363 (LEGEND) or complete the online form.
This article has been updated and republished on 3rd May 2023.