#41 Woodworking in Biberach X Dustin “Dusty” Mitchell, Kanada

00:00:00: Fascinated.

00:00:01: I like seeing your guys' comprehensive approach to education, and there could be some great partnerships that way.

00:00:32: I would say my passion for woodworking started very young.

00:00:36: Actually, My ancestors are Norwegian and a lot of my uncles and grandparents And relatives worked in Woodwork in Norway.

00:00:45: And then my ancestors moved to Canada and I learned woodworking at an early age.

00:00:50: I started working when i was nine, actually working with wood... ...and I built houses with my uncle.

00:00:55: um When I was twelve and I spent a lot of time uh framing houses and working in woodwork.. ..I took would work school or classes in high school.... ....And Then when I went to university , I used Woodwork and Framing & Homebuilding to pay for my education in economics, which wasn't woodwork.

00:01:10: And then I spent some time abroad living in different countries and then started the Dusty Lumber company have been doing wood work ever since when i love it.

00:01:19: okay but you don't have a classical school system like the dual education systems as we have in Germany.

00:01:25: so its said that's lot of working learning especially from YouTube.

00:01:31: say and your uncle How come or how we get people's craftsmanship in Canada?

00:01:38: Yeah, I think it's definitely eye-opening to come here and see how you guys do.

00:01:42: Because for me just autobiographically everything was learned on site aside from the stuff that i learned in high school.

00:01:49: but That Was Just One Class.

00:01:51: so might only take that class For half a semester, for an hour or day maybe two times a week.

00:01:57: So they would have small project for us and we could do different projects afterwards.

00:02:02: but nothing for home building anything for joinery.

00:02:06: it was just sort of very introductory level stuff.

00:02:10: so all the learning Actually on the job site being told by somebody, Being told my uncle making mistakes.

00:02:18: I built some house with My father as well and my brother And it was just all On-the-site learning and lots of times.

00:02:25: i didn't actually even know why?

00:02:26: Was doing what i was Doing.

00:02:28: my dad or my Uncle would say Just do It like this.

00:02:30: but i Didn't Even Know.

00:02:31: i just knew that was The Job.

00:02:33: so its very Very Interesting to see the way That you guys are Approaching it.

00:02:36: when i got into woodwork for furniture Other than what I learned in high school.

00:02:42: I had no idea What to do.

00:02:44: so?

00:02:44: So, I would watch YouTube or I Would look at people online Or I would buy books and read books And I would just try things myself and then make mistakes and mostly learn from mistakes rather Than actually having somebody teach me.

00:02:56: or if If i made a video of something and posted on line People with them come and get mad at me, say you did terrible this was bad.

00:03:03: And I actually learned from that as well which is what's fine.

00:03:06: the story of woodworking in Canada also has a long tradition and we all knew beautiful pictures with log cabins and maybe it's common batches.

00:03:15: uh That like every German eats sausages and drink beer.

00:03:19: Every Canadian lives in the forest and have a log cabin.

00:03:23: so What look older houses?

00:03:25: In canada?

00:03:26: Which carpenters have to refurbish now?

00:03:28: yeah.

00:03:29: So where i grew up was in northern British Columbia.

00:03:32: And incidentally, a lot of the houses were German or Swiss.

00:03:36: so there was a lot about German and Swiss immigrants that we're avoiding mandatory military service in Switzerland.

00:03:43: they then went to where I lived called Smithers.

00:03:46: We actually have it's called Little Switzerland.

00:03:49: on Main Street is the guy with the Alpenhorn.

00:03:51: we've got ski hill.

00:03:52: A lot of those houses look like these.

00:03:54: A lot of my friends were German or Swiss, the people that lived up just up the road.

00:03:58: So if you drive up the Road where I live which was very rural You might have thought you're in The Black Forest and they are same types Of houses.

00:04:06: so there Are those Houses Which Were People That Left Europe In This Region And Built Houses There.

00:04:11: Traditional Canadian Houses um, are not built that way.

00:04:15: They're build more stick frame and things like that.

00:04:16: so the level of refurbishment you guys do is entirely different than what we do where you have to care for timbers and care for old houses in the old structures.

00:04:26: So it does happen but on a very small level And only In the houses Of the former Germans Like I actually didn't say former But The Germans and the Austrians and the Swiss That moved up there.

00:04:37: the new houses which are built now, what they look like.

00:04:40: Yeah so there mostly stick frames two by fours and sixes and OSB on the outside, they've got mostly fiberglass insulation.

00:04:50: Some poly in some drywall there.

00:04:51: just very fact I mean this day last.

00:04:54: then they stand.

00:04:55: my shop recently was built as a post frame structure.

00:04:59: And then There are some houses smaller amount but that our full timber frame Houses and now CLT and mass timber is starting to take A lot more of role in it.

00:05:09: Mostly larger commercial buildings and things like That and

00:05:11: the standard roof construction

00:05:13: will be trusses, like pre-manufactured trusss but not the timber truss.

00:05:17: So what I do like about German houses is that you guys usually occupy the entire space all the way up into the truss.

00:05:24: for us Usually it's a flat ceiling or maybe vaulted and then You've got the insulation inside of that.

00:05:28: But we underutilize That whole roof space.

00:05:31: It's uh...it'a faster construction Yeah!

00:05:34: ...but its not necessarily good utilization.

00:05:38: But perhaps it's because you have to land.

00:05:40: You don't need every year...

00:05:43: Yeah, land construction speed and I would say the education of craftsmen.

00:05:48: There are not many people that know how to cut rafters And build those types of houses.

00:05:52: If we get an engineering stamp on them and you have people that don't know how to cut those types of trusses, then you're going to have a lot of house failures.

00:05:59: So to prevent sort-of... To avoid the issues with lack education we will pre-manufacture at TRUSSES that has an engineering stamp And take The lack of education and experience out of the roof framing system.

00:06:15: But as I said CLT mass timbers or timber construction is theme.

00:06:21: It's growing fast.

00:06:22: Yeah it there its growing fast.

00:06:24: So, and as you said the techniques what machines do use?

00:06:29: In my shop I actually like traditional joinery.

00:06:31: The most!

00:06:32: And so i'm a little bit unique in that...in that I like to still make mortise and tenon and halflabs and bridle joints things like that..so ...the vast majority if not all of my woodwork tools are German or Austrian.

00:06:46: .I like german quality.

00:06:47: ,i like german engineering.

00:06:48: ..i like German tools while they come with a higher price.

00:06:51: The value to me, in terms of the work that I get to do is more than competitive for that.

00:06:57: Aside from some Japanese sauce... ...I would say all my woodwork tools are German or Austrian.

00:07:05: Okay so actually you travel Europe?

00:07:08: Not only Germany but Europe right?

00:07:09: Would you see with it so far?

00:07:12: Well this is my fourth time now in Germany and most of my travels here are concentrated in the south of Germany.. ..and some Austria.

00:07:20: So yeah, just in and around this area.

00:07:22: So

00:07:22: you have wizard companies firms?

00:07:24: Oh yes so the first day we got here was with Mephel.

00:07:27: We spent a day with them at their training center and toured their facility.

00:07:30: The second two days were with Steele And they had there one hundred year celebration Their press conference.

00:07:37: I was lucky enough to get invited To participate in the Kimber Sports event Which is coming up in Stuttgart In October And then I gave a speech at Festool last night.

00:08:10: Fascinated.

00:08:12: I can only help but think back to if i could have had an education like this how many mistakes, that probably would've avoided How many errors?

00:08:20: That could avoid it.

00:08:21: i Like seeing your guys's comprehensive approach To education where there is a classroom setting.

00:08:26: But there's also practical real hands-on approach and you Guys are educating for Not only the restoration of old buildings, but also new technologies.

00:08:36: I like how quickly you guys are embracing things like drones and augmented reality And when new tools come out You're going to get your hands on them right away... ...and giving kids and apprentices a chance To have full experience from hand-tools to modern tools So that they'll be ready for their workplace.

00:08:54: Be prepared with even the new technology coming in see the errors, like especially at the blower door test.

00:09:03: Like that's something or... The Blower Door Test?

00:09:05: Or any of the rain proofing and weatherproofing to get to do that here before it goes on a house where the mistake doesn't even show itself for ten years.

00:09:15: I think you guys are eliminating a lot of warranty-and problem issues with houses by educating them how they are so very impressed about this facility

00:09:22: For which people would be interested in coming into Germany perhaps to see schools, companies.

00:09:28: What's your opinion?

00:09:29: Yes I think that school should definitely spend some time and send professors over here.

00:09:35: in some of their students they get to see that.

00:09:37: Companies absolutely should especially the companies in Canada that are starting to embrace the timber frame uh mass timber and the CLT And to see some of the technologies a lot.

00:09:47: there are some differences i would say In the weather where we live or Germany but It's still wind and rain, the same main components.

00:09:56: So we might have more intense winter or something like that.

00:10:00: but I think with research in development you guys are doing people from all over the world would be benefited.

00:10:05: well if you live somewhat of a climate where maybe not in deserts in Africa But everybody could learn some things coming to see what they've got here.

00:10:15: And otherwise which places is a must-see for German woodworker?

00:10:20: Hmm,

00:10:21: a German woodworker in Canada.

00:10:23: Well... I'm from the West!

00:10:25: Yeah, so I grew up and live.

00:10:27: I've either grown up or lived around the Rocky Mountains my entire life.

00:10:31: So um i worked in forestry i've worked at home construction i've working a bunch of different ways but uh...so I have-I Have a bias towards that side.

00:10:39: In particular I live in Alberta right now And The Rocky Mountains near Alberta.

00:10:44: So places like Waterton & Banff & Canmore Uh..i would say those.

00:10:48: If you were to choose only one park To come see Like some really interesting architecture and an amazing national park.

00:10:56: Then Banff is probably the number one place I would choose to see places like The Banff Springs Hotel, Lake Louise.

00:11:02: even down in Waterton we have this as close to me.

00:11:05: We have something called the Prince of Wales hotel And it's all timber frame construction from nineteen nineteen oh One which i know isn't that old for you guys but For us It was a very Very big and its still Like An operational hotel That i think Is maybe five or six stories tall But All Timber Frame.

00:11:21: So that would be really interesting to come and see.

00:11:23: And

00:11:23: we talked about working in Canada, so what is your interest for German Carpenters?

00:11:28: You talk with an apprenticeship on some possibilities.

00:11:31: Yeah

00:11:31: I think.

00:11:32: well now there's more companies are embracing CLT mass timber and timber frame construction but don't have the same level of education that you're apprentices here.

00:11:45: I think there could be a really good partnership between either current woodworkers, master carpenters or apprentice carpentries to come over and not necessarily learn from the Canadians but contribute.

00:11:57: To those that are trying to embrace the things you guys have already been doing for years And i can foresee they'll more companies starting up in doing thing's A lot more similar than what we do here.

00:12:10: But if somebody with ten or twenty years even three years apprentice program to a large degree is going to exceed the experience of even someone that's been framing.

00:12:20: I framed houses for, kind of since i was twelve years old.

00:12:23: but what your students are learning in three years is beyond...I know how to build a Canadian house and I think it could do pretty good at a German House!

00:12:33: But having some of your students and apprentices and master carpenters come over and teach would be great.

00:12:38: sharing knowledge share well with

00:12:42: us.

00:12:43: And we have our Biberacher model, a degree program together with the University of Applied Science here in Biberach.

00:12:49: With an internship semester.

00:12:51: so if there are bigger companies perhaps in Canada this would be interesting option to come half and year work?

00:12:59: I think that's why i asked you If There was English instruction.

00:13:02: obviously not many Not many Canadians speak two languages and if they do, they probably don't speak German.

00:13:08: It might be French or Spanish.

00:13:10: So If there was English instruction Or somebody wanted to learn German I think that would have been a lot of interest from individuals.

00:13:16: I can think about few people interested To come over here for the reason getting education And then go back Canada and implement Start companies doing things similar with what you guys are doing Here.

00:13:29: There could some great partnerships.

00:13:31: Okay, Dusty.

00:13:32: Thank you for stopping by!

00:13:34: We hope that you had a great time here in our shops the training center and I'm sure you can now tell your community more about work working at Wiberach in Germany and Southern Germany And perhaps next time bring part of your community with some teachers or another interested group back to Germany.

00:13:55: thankyou.