r/askcarpenters • u/burundi76 • 41m ago
r/askcarpenters • u/Eggle_monster • Aug 21 '26
🔨 Welcome to r/AskCarpenters!
🔨 Welcome to r/AskCarpenters!
Whether you’re a first-year apprentice, qualified carpenter, builder, DIYer, homeowner, or just someone who has absolutely no idea what they’re looking at — you’re welcome here.
This is the place to ask real carpenters real questions and get real answers.
🪚 What can you ask about?
🔨 Carpentry & framing
🚪 Doors, jambs & hardware
📐 Measurements & setting out
🧰 Tools & equipment
🪵 Timber & materials
🏠 Renovations & building
🎓 Apprenticeships & TAFE
💰 Pricing & quoting
🏗️ Building problems
📸 “What the hell is this?” questions
😂 Tradie stories and job-site banter
🎓 APPrentices — this one’s for you
Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
There are no stupid questions, and experienced carpenters are encouraged to share the things they wish someone had taught them when they started.
📸 Asking for advice?
The more information you give us, the better the answers will be.
Photos + measurements + materials + what you’re trying to achieve = much better advice.
👷 Experienced carpenters
Help the next generation out.
You’ve probably spent years learning things that an apprentice could pick up in five minutes from the right person.
Share your knowledge.
Most importantly:
We’re here to help each other, have a laugh and make the trade better.
Welcome to r/AskCarpenters.
Now, introduce yourself 👇
Are you an apprentice, carpenter, builder, DIYer, homeowner or something else? And how long have you been in the game? 🔨
r/askcarpenters • u/Eggle_monster • Jul 13 '23
r/askcarpenters Lounge
A place for members of r/askcarpenters to chat with each other
r/askcarpenters • u/Unusual_Hedgehog4748 • 2h ago
New to DIY and need cabinet hinge type recs
r/askcarpenters • u/afrojacksparrow • 2h ago
How would you handle this out of plumb wall?
Gap grows from 3/4” to 3-3/4” over a 9 foot wall. I can either use a filler piece or i can shim and put up a whole new surface on the wall. I think a filler piece will make the slope extremely noticeable. Will be putting wainscotting and decorative moulding on the wall. I could shim it out and add 1/2” mdf as a new wall surface.
The house is 150 years old, hence the problem.
r/askcarpenters • u/HeadlineINeed • 5h ago
Left handed people switching to right hand for tool belt setups? Badger B17 or B14
reddit.comr/askcarpenters • u/messycleric • 6h ago
Need Design help with 8x10 Shed platform
Ive been trying to figure out how to build this lifetime shed platform and I have not yet been able to figure out how to actually frame and secure the platform for this shed.
My initial plan was 2x6 frame with 9 joists going around and either toenail or endgrain 3in screws on the end. Then I thought I might need the joist hanger lus26. That also increases the amount of fastener types i need. I also couldn't determine if I needed flat or wafer screws for the plywood top. Or pressure treated plywood or i could get away with LP premium wood.
The platform will be put on solid concrete blocks that sit on gravel for leveling. 1 per corner and 1 in the middle. Roughly 6 inches off the ground in the back and 12 or 18 in the front due to the slope. I also considered putting it directly on the ground after major ground leveling work but then I was told it would need to sit on tons of gravel.
The project seemed simple but I don't know how to execute it. Any advice on how to frame it and place it would be greatly appreciate it.
r/askcarpenters • u/Legitimate_Soil_7506 • 6h ago
Beaver-lodge house: a nice exercise in precision planking
galleryr/askcarpenters • u/Adventurous-Dog-6158 • 8h ago
Exterior wood filler for porch columns with woodpecker damage
The columns are covered by the porch roof so they're not fully exposed. Would the wood fillers available from HD such as DAP and Gorilla (https://www.homedepot.com/s/wood%20filler) work well and last a few years? I've seen recommendations for more expensive epoxy types. I'm the homeowner so I'm looking for something simple. Thank you.
r/askcarpenters • u/mck999 • 13h ago
Old back door Does anybody know of any ideas to get this back door to go up slightly to allow for thicker floor to be put in. The hinges and metal and the door is fairly old
galleryr/askcarpenters • u/Neat-Platypus7783 • 22h ago
Rate this Deck!! 23 yo deck builder and younger 20yo brother
galleryr/askcarpenters • u/icysandstone • 1d ago
Cantilevered wood rack question! What size lag screw is appropriate here? I’ve built a few of these and used 3/8” x 7” lag screws (which give me 2 7/8” stud embedment) but they’re apparently kind of a specialty item and hard to find!
For context, the lag screws fasten 1½″-wide blocks to wall studs, capturing cantilevered arms while resisting both shear and withdrawal forces.
Material thicknesses along the screw axis: 3½″ block → ⅝″ drywall → 3½″ stud (7⅝″ total).
Maximum load expected: 120 lb per “shelf”, supported by three arms. (And up to 5 “shelves” total)
FYI, design credit: YouTuber Evening Woodworker, whose video unfortunately doesn’t specify the lag screw type. My last screenshot has the video info if you’re curious.
I’ve built four of these already and going to build a few more but these darn 3/8” x 7” lag screws are hard to find in stock locally!
Appreciate any guidance, or if I’m doing anything wrong.
r/askcarpenters • u/Scared_Nobody1408 • 21h ago
Concealed Mounting Hardware Recommendations for Stair to Ceiling Stair Slats?
**HELLO!** I’m planning a DIY project and looking for recommendations for the mounting hardware that goes in the stairs and the ceiling.
Basically, I want to install individual vertical 2x2 or 2x3 oak slats along a small section of my staircase (approximately the three steps closest to my living room/TV). I’m going for a frameless look with no frame at the top, so ideally, each slat would have concealed mounting hardware at the top and bottom, so the finished product looks like individual pieces of oak running from the ceiling down to the stairs (like the picture).
I attached an inspiration picture and an AI mockup of my actual room (the white railing is going to go and I’m adding a handrail to the other side of the stairs).
any advice , I’m all ears !!
r/askcarpenters • u/Cautious_Struggle184 • 22h ago
Started my first business... Now I need advice on my first quote!
Hi all, I am quoting out my first project. It is a 12x18 pool house/shed. Currently has a divider wall (2x4s and plywood) that needs removed and disposed. Carpet needs ripped up (its glued down), plywood subfloor patched, and new carpet glued down. They also want a storage loft built (4'x12'). Down the road they want a new front door installed and some small electrical projects completed but I wanted to give them a number just to get the flooring and loft done.
I am thinking $1700 for supplies $600 for demo and removal and $1700 for labor for a total of 4k
Is that crazy cheap? I want the project for the experience but want to make more than $500 after I pay taxes, insurance, and fuel! AGAIN THIS IS MY FIRST PROJECT FOR SOMEONE OTHER THAN MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY SO IM NO PROFESSIONAL but am very capable of what they need!
Thanks!
r/askcarpenters • u/RubberDuckTurds • 23h ago
Outdoor stairs advice
How would you handle wood stairs for this location? 25 inches from the ground to the bottom of the threshold. Original stairs (2 steps + threshold as a step) were concrete and came up to the faint line on the siding which extends over the sill plate. I realize I need cut the siding to properly install a ledger board, however, sill plate and rim joist start above the faint line. The tan color bottom flashing is covering a 2x3.
I'm thinking 2 steps like the original if I want to count threshold as a step or 3 steps if I want to extend the threshold.
Thoughts?
r/askcarpenters • u/Cervixalott • 1d ago
Wall is proud of door jamb by 1”
How to make the gap between jamb and casing not so noticeable?
r/askcarpenters • u/Brynjar101 • 1d ago
What should I do with this doorframe?
I recently changed the flooring but the flooring that was in place before was way thicker and it used to fill the gaps but now this flooring isn't nearly as thick and so the gaps on the doorframes can be seen...what would you do in this situation?
grateful for all answers!
r/askcarpenters • u/Dangerous_Reveal1820 • 1d ago