I started doing carpentry in the summer 0f 1978 by getting hired as an apprentice to a framing crew out of Texas that were building homes in the woods at the end of my street that I had played in as a child. I remember distinctly having no idea what I was doing.
Roselawn Cemetery Restoration
Class Gilbert was one of the early celebrity architects of Minnesota designing homes, businesses and Minnesotas own state capitol building. One of his projects was the office and chapel at the entrance to rose lawn cemetary. Built in 1902, time and the elements have not been kind to the elaborate woodwork on the two entrance porticos facing each other, particularly the carved and pierced verge boards. Multiple layers of failing paint, rusting nails, poorly detailed flashing and deteriorating wood were the obstacles I had to deal with. I removed the center posts, rake moulding and rake boards shipped them off to paint stripper and restored and repaired the woodwork. See my work in a TPT Almanac clip http://www.mnvideovault.org/index.php?id=28765&select_index=3&popup=yes#3
Saloon Project
The Stone Saloon is the oldest commercial building in the Twin Cities dating back to the Civil War era. Hand-scrub planing, original square nails and Swedish linseed oil paint are just a few of the tactics used to return the building to its former glory. Check out the ongoing story here http://www.stonesaloon.com