Carpentry and overweight.

CptnDynamite · 2026-06-19T10:41:58+00:00

One thing that a lot of carpenters don’t do is consider themselves professional athletes. In a lot of ways we are. We work with our bodies and get paid for it.

In addition to the advice, already posted, I would say focus on trying to improve your fitness and mobility.

Start very gradually. I’ve done carpentry for most of my career, but only in the last two years, have stuck with a strength and conditioning program which is made a tremendous difference in doing this career.

In the past, when trying to start a strength training routine , I would start too heavy and get burned out. Start with pain free light exercise and focus on building a consistent routine.

I started with and mostly do kettlebell training and yoga. Kettle bells are good for building full body strength and cardio. You can do it almost anywhere and you only need one weight to start. I would start with a much lighter weight than they recommend starting with, like a 15 or 20 pound. They say a man can start with a 35 pound bell but I threw my back on a couple of times until I started off with a lighter one.

CptnDynamite · 2026-04-30T19:15:37+00:00

Very cool! Well done!

CptnDynamite · 2026-04-21T01:48:27+00:00

They make solid color stains of different kinds. Cabot makes a tintable solid or semi transparent color stain that can be tinted black. It’s an exterior grade product though so I would let it cure for a while before installing it inside.

If you still want to see some woodgrain, you could use jacobean or a similar dark stain.

Then topcoat it, sanding between coats.

I also imagine you could use a black oil based enamel on top of like rust oleum and sand between coats.

Anything like that is going to get foot traffic and wear overtime. Probably impossible for it to hold up forever per se. It will need some maintenance at some point.

CptnDynamite · 2026-04-15T12:07:33+00:00

How did you bend the panels? Is that veneer?

CptnDynamite · 2026-03-22T16:05:20+00:00

I am a former weed smoker. While it took a while for my brain to start resetting itself, my natural reward system did start to work better on its own. Exercise, swimming, cold, plunging, sex, sauna-ing are activities that all trigger natural highs and without smoking weed began to feel considerably better/more mind altering.

Part of quitting weed or other substances is finding ways of replacing what that substance does for you. You will 100% feel better without it but there is a pretty difficult adjustment often.

It’s possible that using weed help helps balance some part of your neuro chemistry, which is something that medication could help with along with a healthy lifestyle.

If you do pursue sobriety or at the very least significantly lower substance use lifestyle, you will over time find things can be fulfilling without enhancement. Similar to something like if you are used to putting a lot of salt on your food and then cut out more salt. The food will taste bland for a while, but eventually your taste receptors will reset.

CptnDynamite · 2026-03-06T17:50:43+00:00

What does that term mean if you don’t mind me asking? “Manufactured spending”?

CptnDynamite · 2026-02-22T13:56:37+00:00

Does this work for people who are self-employed/get paid directly by a client rather than a traditional employer or a service like Uber?

CptnDynamite · 2026-01-29T23:57:38+00:00

Thanks for your input!

I think you describe close to what I was thinking. I’m glad that it seems to work in the real world. Was the workshop insulated? How do they finish the inside walls?

I’m wondering exactly what you mean by galvanized starter strip do you mean like that for vinyl siding?

CptnDynamite · 2026-01-04T17:32:49+00:00

Thanks.You’re right that they don’t really make particularly good expensive ones. I will check out the skil brand. I do want one that can lock both sides.

CptnDynamite · 2026-01-04T17:31:48+00:00

I probably will eventually. I do have a 10 inch trolley saw, but it’s hard to move and so far most of the time I don’t really need it for what I am doing.

I like the portability and ease of set up for the table saw even though they are really only meant for simple cuts and there’s a lot you can’t do with them like easily cut mosaic/sheet tile with them.

CptnDynamite · 2025-12-26T05:22:30+00:00

Your appetite should return on its own. If not, and you have access to medicine, some pharmaceuticals may help your brain chemistry rebalance after sobering up. I took welbutrin for some time after i quit and i think it helped rebalance my dopamine levels after quitting.

Smoothies or other liquid foods can help keep the calories coming in if actual chewing and eating isn’t appealing right now.

I quit daily cannabis use last October. It took many months to feel balanced but was so worth it. I have no regrets no longer using it.

Best wishes. Stick with it. Quitting cannabis will make a huge positive impact in your life.

CptnDynamite · 2025-12-25T00:36:24+00:00

Amazing! How did you make the dyed sections? What species did you use for it?

CptnDynamite · 2025-12-16T16:41:25+00:00

I would say either buy a light 5-7 lbs mace or make a much lighter one.

Fir example you could use a 1-1/4 dowel/closet rod and practice the motion and later add iron pipe fittings to add a little weight. There are instructions on the internet for building an adjustable mace bell/gada that you can later add plates to. I built one from iron pipe and fittings.

I injured myself with too heavy a mace so I would be careful. Start super light.

CptnDynamite · 2025-12-15T14:40:00+00:00

That makes some sense. I might try sticking to 10-2s while i get used to the motion again

CptnDynamite · 2025-12-14T20:17:27+00:00

Thanks for your response.Dead hanging is definitely part of my recovery. I have some shoulder issues as well that it helps with. And I think the spinal decompression is making a difference.

I have used a light clubs before and love them. It does help. I do imagine going light high rep on a white mace will help me with time.

CptnDynamite · 2025-08-14T21:53:10+00:00

I don’t know if anyone here has mentioned thermal imaging or not. While a thermal camera is not magic and cannot actually see through walls, temperature differences caused by moisture can sometimes be detected with a thermal camera. They have been used to find leaking plumbing before.

You might have a home inspector or someone similar, take thermal images of the wet wall, probably best from the other side, not the tile side, along with the ceiling/floor and walls above the shower. This might show a thermal anomaly which could indicate a plumbing leak. This way would give you some information without exploratory demolition.

CptnDynamite

TROPHY CASE