The Competition!

The day started off at 6:00 to the rude awakening of my alarm.

After eating, putting out the horses and loading all my tools it was off to the college!

When we got there I went to Jeff's first class with him, because my competition didn't start until 9:00, So i had 1.5 hours to kill with him. All they were doing was taking up a test, so I studied a bit(by reading a quad book).

At 9:00 i went to Jeff's truck and got all my tools into the shop, and signed up. After that I got my blue print, and was able to start picking out my lumber.

We had to build a 4'x6' deck 1 foot off the ground, with a set of stairs up to it. So i didn't waste anytime i got my 2x4's and started cutting the legs and screwing them together, then built the frame, and screwed in the joists. That took about a hour, then I started cutting the 45 degree angle deck boards that went along the outside, and after that it was lunch time.

They had sallad, and sandwhiches for lunch. So i loaded up, and went to find Jeff because he was on his lunch break aswell. I found him and told him how it was going then in no time lunch was over, and it was off to do the written test.

The written test kinda sucked because we only had 20 mins, and there was questions that asked us to calculate the amout of sheating needed for a house 100ft by 60ft, and 8ft tall. But they wouldn't let us use calculaters, so it took a bit to work out the math. and they also had a lot of building code questions on it, but I did ok with that.

After that I had the interview which went really good, I was the only one with a whole portfolio(it's just a whole book of certificates and awards).

Then it was back to the shop to finish my deck! I cut the deck board to fit inside the frame, then built the stairs. I finished just before the deadline. But some ppl were still building after the deadline which I thought was unfair. A deadline is a deadline right?

I was walking around after i cleaned up my spot, and tools, and I heard some of the shop teahcers telling their students what to do, and that kinda made me mad, but if they wonna cheat thats their problem..


So on Thursday I went to a big dinner hall where they announced the winners from each contest(welding,cooking,carpentry, graphic design, and team carpentry). After the dinner they announced the winners, however I wasn't one of them.

The same guy who won last year won again this time, and I think he was a few years older then the rest of us. And the kids who took the 2nd and 3rd prizes were the kids who had shop teachers coaching them, and one of them was still building after the deadline. But whatever. I still had fun and am looking forward to next year!! and the prize wasn't money, 1st prize was a 10" chop saw with stand. And i already have a 12" dual sliding compound chop saw which is better LOL suckers..

And 2nd and 3rd prize was a jig saw, and sander...
Next year I want to go in the same contest, and find someone to go in the team carpentry with!

K that's a new post for guys.. It will have to do for a bit..
oh i took pics but it won't let me load them:-(