Professionals given no credit on forums..

[jack duren]

Says it all..

I was yelled at for two years in 1983-1985. Got hurt in 1985 on the table saw . Changed jobs and finally work myself up to a foreman..Did this for 37 years. Was on another forum and was told they do not recognize professionals . What does that mean?

I did kitchen cabinetry for 29 years. Boring. I’ve made door, boxes,drawers, counter tops, layout meet with customers, installed. Nothing left to learn. Spent 7 years high end furniture. Pulled my years in tyehe cabinet business plus’s tye years doing it and exploring furniture construction in my hobby shop over the year and had a successful career at that.

So we are not allowed to be professional?

[Tony Joyce]

Says it all..
Nothing left to learn.

After 50 years of all kinds of woodworking, when I get to the point that I think "Nothing left to learn." I fully expect to be six under.

[jack duren]

There might be something to learn, but it ain’t about the square box…

[Edward Weber]

There is always something to learn IMO, but to the OP's point, I think they don't distinguish between Occasional DIY, hobbyist and Professional. Everuone has the same amount of input, that sort of thing.

Professionals are often worth listening to, as long as their information is of value. Some just like to complain about hobbyist or grumble about "that's not how I'd do it" type of posts.
Whether what they say has any value to the reader is a judgement call to a certain extent.

[jack duren]

Something to learn is a broad spectrum, but there are many different categories of woodworking. I’m not a boat builder, so sure there’s always something in a different category. I could move from any cabinet shop to another and by the end of the day be productive and ready to work tomorrow. Commercial work is the same. Furniture, much more complicated.

[jack duren]

They call use because they don’t want to get jacked over by a hobby guy who doesn’t want to complete or work late. Doesn’t want to complete the work at all.


We are professionals regardless. The call, to the installation is professional.

it doesn’t sour the customer, it comes with expectations ..

when they hire you cand you have a reputation for quality , timely work. I call that a professional., When you call a guy and he’s not sure how much to charge you or when he will complete the job, that must be everybody else..

[jack duren]

I know as far as woodworking forums are concerned, “we are all created equal”. Some of us will just get more phone calls for paying jobs than others…lol

[Cameron Wood]

I've spent some time on a forum for pro contractors, but bailed as it is dominated by a clique of racist, misogynist, reactionary.

[glenn bradley]

There are forums primarily for professionals for this reason. A hobbyist’s forum is usually an open, equal value, sharing environment without a “value” hierarchy. If I make a suggestion and it is discounted I just move along, no harm, no foul.

[jack duren]

I've spent some time on a forum for pro contractors, but bailed as it is dominated by a clique of racist, misogynist, reactionary.

No what you mean…

[Cameron Wood]

No what you mean…

Did you mean to say "I know what you mean", or "I don't know what you mean", or something else?

[jack duren]

Did you mean to say "I know what you mean", or "I don't know what you mean", or something else?

I was racing to get something done. Sorry.

I know what you mean…

[Jerry Bruette]

Someone claiming to be a professional is like a company self proclaiming to be "world class". It's something that your customers should be claiming not you.

[Cameron Wood]

There's a clip on the radio where Carlos Santana says "I am a master storyteller...".

He's a great musician (and in fact I worked on his house a couple of times), but no master storyteller ever says that. Embarrassing...

A local contractor has signs saying "***** Professional builders". I always thought that was a little weird.


OTOH, a neighboring house at one point was a share rental, and a guy arrived from the South to my rather upscale area. He did massage, but there was a serious glut of massage therapists due to a local school that cranked them out.
He painted on the side of his (not new) car with a brush and house paint: "massage, (phone number)" it didn't quite have drips, but was squeezed at the end like the "plan ahead" sign.
He didn't stay very long....

[jack duren]

Someone claiming to be a professional is like a company self proclaiming to be "world class". It's something that your customers should be claiming not you.

Depends on how you look at it. When I’m hired by a company especially in the field with customers , I represent the company.Im meeting with builders, customers and working beside other professionals in the trade. I took care of my business on my end. I got a pretty good work history as a professional..