Brian R Mummau Carpentry LLC

If you are gutting plaster and or drywall you should be protecting yourself from the dust. A full face respirator with working filters, an air scrubber pointed towards an open window and a shop vac.

Why is there a labor shortage in the trades? Many will blame stigma. Others will say education has pushed to college and away from the trades.

I have been in the trades for 30 years, and I can tell you the number one reason is because of the pay. Builders and companies not paying enough, clients thinking tradesmen are uneducated and that we overcharge, and/or rip people off all the time.

I have a BS degree from Elizabethtown College. I have spent more than double an annual salary on tools, and on educating myself, as have many other professional tradesmen.

Think about this when you hire for your next job and go for the cheapest price.

Pay and benefits are the reason many don't enter the trades. It's also the reason many have gotten out of it.

When bending these linings, I really struggled. I got through it, but it was challenging. Violin #2 is coming along.

The original cordless drills.

This is balloon framing. Today we platform frame. Older homes typically have a variation of balloon framing.

Installed some chair rail this week.

My son's violin instructor held a recital today. I thought it might be cool for the students to see an instrument in process and where it starts. BRM violin #2 is on the right, and #3 on the left.

I'm having fun

Started gutting a room. Fun times. Will finish tomorrow.