Students will be trained on the following equipment: band saws, drill press, radial arm saw, mitre box, table saw, disc sander, spindle sander, bench grinder, jointer, planes, power saws, and portable power routers. Training on this equipment involves reading, homework, demonstrations, and video presentations. The students are also trained on the proper use of chisels, planes, sharpening of a chisel, sanding block, power hand saw exercise, sawhorse, and oilstone box. The students also learn the common cuts and joints, grooves, and wood defects associated with woodworking.

This course presents the history, uses, and evolution of the transit-level. The completely hands-on practical exercises include the operation, function, and proper care and handling of the transit levels. Skills acquired will include: setting up the builder’s level and reading elevations, transferring benchmark elevations, doing a plumb bob and an optical plummet, interpreting the Vernier scale and turning vertical and horizontal angles, practical building layout techniques using multiple set-ups, and transferring benchmarks to establish grades.

This class is designed to enhance the students’ woodworking skills. Less time is spent on lecture and theory and more time is devoted to hands-on applications. The two projects in this class are very challenging. The toolbox is a very involved project where students may spend up to 16 hours milling and assembling the toolbox in class. It involves a series of rabbets, dados, and ploughs. The students learn accuracy and pride in quality along the way. The step stool is a difficult project. The entire project is cut at specific angles. All the pieces are either tapered, beveled, mitered, dadoed, ploughed, or rabbeted at this angle. One mistake on this one and it’s back to the old drawing board. Machine set-up, safety, print reading, and full-scale drawings are all integral parts of this class.

Footings and foundations is the fundamental course on concrete construction. The objective of the class will be to lay out and build a cast-in-place footing and foundation wall. Terminology and technical data will be discussed as well as safety, forming procedures, and the general scope of work that a carpenter is required to perform. Six systems will be used along with the builder’s level (laser) and transit.

This is a course with a combination of lecture and hands on training where the layout and framing of a residential building will be discussed. Also, the participants will layout and frame a residential building. This includes deck and wall framing, deck sheathing, framing rough door and window openings.

This course introduces the common rafter starting with rafter theory and calculations. Overhangs and cornice lines are taught with the concept of applying overhangs before walls are stood in place. Layout with step procedures are taught for common, jack and hip rafters. Side cuts for jack and hip rafters will be reviewed. Projects for this class will include: layout practice, cable end, hip corner with cornice drawing, and supporting valley rafter.

This course is designed to show apprentices the proper steps involved in kitchen design which includes cabinet basics: construction and installation. This course also introduces the installation of door and window casing, base, shoe, chair rail, crown, and cove molding. Proper selection and use of various trim tools are discussed and demonstrated. Additionally, we discuss and demonstrate how to make your own pre-hung door from start to finish, and the complete installation of interior and exterior doors. The shop projects include hands-on experience with butt hinges, locks, and door jacks. The use of power planers, hinge butt routers and template guides is included. Various problems encountered during the installation of such molding and hardware will be discussed and demonstrated.

This course starts with stair math and code regulations that govern stairs. The course will highlight the proper use of rise and run to match code restrictions. Modern practices for stringer layout and application will be taught. One full session will be committed to concrete stairs. Other projects for the class include: cut-out (saw tooth) type stringer stair, routed stringer type stairs with template layout, cut and mitered stringer combined with housed stringer with wedges, and concrete forming stairs.

This is the third and final shop class we offer. In this class you will draw a bench toolbox to specifications, mill the pieces, assemble the toolbox and laminate it. The box is designed in such a way as to provide many surfaces that have to be hand filed, a very important part of countertop construction. After laminates, the students are instructed in the use and manipulation of solid surface. Each student makes a corner countertop that includes all facets of construction, from built up edges, an inside corner, a seam right down the middle, and a v-plug repair. Once they have shown mastery of solid surface, the apprentice will receive a certification card.

Column and Deck Framing is the second or advanced course in concrete formwork. This class will start where footings and foundations left off. The objective will be to build the forms for an elevated parking deck. Math, drawing, blueprint reading, terminology, and builder’s level and transit will be employed in this course along with safety and scaffold building.

This course includes the reading of prints related to wall framing, methods of converting finish measurements to rough wall layout, installation of welded door frames, and knockdown door frames. This course also introduces commercial soffit framing using drywall, metal studs, drywall channel and framing (utility angle). Various construction techniques, such as conventional framing and pre-fabricated framing will be used beginning with basic soffit designs and progressing to more intricate soffits and light pockets and how to use track and stud bender for radius walls and ceilings. This class will also include framing a drywall ceiling, using 1 1/2” Cold Roll Channel (CRC), Furring Channel (Hat Channel), framing angle, and proper wire-tying techniques.

This is an advanced blueprint reading class where the apprentice learns how to read commercial blueprints. Some estimating is involved.

This course presents basic theory of numerous exterior trim products such as basic vinyl siding application and estimating material. Participants also learn how to apply aluminum trim to exterior surfaces such as fascia, rake, and soffit detail. In addition, students learn how to apply EIFIS, which is a Styrofoam base product in which a type of Portland cement is applied as a base coat. When dry, a finish coat is applied to give final appearance.

Students will be introduced to the BIM process. The students will learn basic BIM terminology, how a BIM model is created, and discuss the stages of the BIM life cycle. The students will learn the benefits of the BIM process and how using clash detection software helps eliminate costly mistakes on the jobsite that result in lost time and wasted materials. The students will also learn what BIM tools and software are most commonly used in the construction industry along with the application of BIM in construction through computers, tablets, and smartphones. Students will be tested on their knowledge of BIM terminology, different BIM models, and the benefits of using BIM versus traditional prints in the field.

This qualification course is designed to provide specialized training for new construction and renovation projects within the healthcare industry.

Starts with review of the common, jack, and hip rafters. The course will continue with cutting jack rafters in a higher level of production. Unequal pitch roofs are introduced: unequal pitch commons, unequal pitch jack rafters, and hips are solved, laid out, and cut.

This course teaches the installation and layout of acoustical ceilings and drywall ceilings.

This course reviews the different types of hardware installations by use of videos and demonstrations provided by Ingersoll-Rand. It reviews various aspects of architectural hardware. In the second half of the class, apprentices must correctly install and adjust 17 individual commercial hardware locks, closers, holders, and exit devices. Upon successful completion of the six 4-hour modules, a UBC/Ingersoll-Rand Certified Installer card will be issued.

Starts with a review of straight run stairs. The course will continue with winder and circular stairs, both job-built and free-standing circular stairs.

This is a qualification course which consists of learning the O.S.H.A. regulations and hands-on training. Participants will receive an O.S.H.A. regulation book and receive hands-on training in welded frame, rolling tower, tube and coupler, and systems scaffolding. Upon completing this course, each participant will receive a Scaffold Qualification.

This class is designed for the first-time welder or anyone that needs skill refreshing with the oxyacetylene torch or shielded metal arc welding. Use of the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), safe working procedures and equipment set-up is taught. Shielded metal arc welding techniques for light gauge metal and steel plate are practiced. As the welder’s skills improve, more difficult tasks are assigned. This is a pre-requisite course for Advanced Welding.

The course objective is for the student to pass a welder qualification test following criteria established in the AWS Structural Welding Code D1.1. PPE and safe working procedures are reviewed. This course consists of extensive hands-on welding practice. Only when the requisite skill level is displayed can the welder begin a test piece. Welder qualification testing is offered for four positions (flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead) in two welding processes; shielded metal arc welding and flux core arc welding. Welders who complete the AWS qualification are also eligible to perform a weld test for MDOT. The instructor is an American Welding Society Certified Welding Educator and a Certified Welding Inspector.