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Carpenter

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AVG. SALARY

$44,790

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EDUCATION

High school preferred +

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JOB OUTLOOK

Decreasing

Real-Life Activities

Real-Life Communication

You are a carpenter who has taken on an apprentice.

The apprentice is doing good work, except for his terrible choice in nails. You realize the apprentice needs a little more direction when it comes to matching the right nails to the right project.

You pull out some information for your trainee to read, called The World of Nails. (See it below.) You also want to go over it verbally, so the trainee has a chance to ask questions.

Review the information below, and write out a few sentences that answer the questions you know the apprentice will ask:

  • What's the difference between the nails for a plasterboard and finishing project?
  • Why wouldn't you use flooring nails on a cabinet project?

The World of Nails

Drywall: Ring-shanked nails are used to attach sheets of drywall gypsum board. Threaded drywall nails have better resistance to conditions that cause regular drywall nails to pop

Finishing nails: Small fine wire nails with a smaller head than a common nail. Usually used for interior finishing work or cabinetry

Flooring: Spiral-shanked nails are ideal for laying tongue-and-groove hardwood floors

Pallet: Threaded nails are good for nailing sheathing, framing, furring strips, trim, fencing and other general construction or repair work

Plasterboard: Smooth nails with flat heads and long diamond points are used to fasten plasterboard to interior wood wall studs

Roofing: Round-shafted, short nails with large heads are designed for attaching flexible roofing materia

Siding: Galvanized nails used for applying wood lap siding to plywood. Consider using threaded nails when nailing shingle or shake siding for a better hold

Underlayment: Ring-shanked nails are used for laying plywood or subflooring over existing wood floors or floor joists