I'll respond since I've been on every side of this question. I had to ask to become an apprentice in England (where the knowledge was in the 70's) and have had a few apprentices over the years. Every one has been because I personally knew them. And I’ve taught framebuilding classes since 1976. Peterpan1 gave an excellent answer as to why the best framebuilders don't take on apprentices except in unusual cases. Fundamentally it is because they take more effort than the value they can return in a reasonable amount of time. Framebuilders typically don’t possess enough resources to cover this deficit long enough to make them worthwhile.

The most common way to begin framebuilding is to take a class. This allows you to explore the subject under an expert’s guidance and find out if you really have the skill, dedication and resources necessary to continue. It really shortens the learning curve. Just like desire alone can’t make you a major league baseball player neither can it prove you will be a worthwhile worker. Prior instruction and a well made frame to show what you can do is a much better calling card than only enthusiasm and promises of good work. I think this is what Unterhausen was referring to when he said “this is the best case”. A frame you’ve made shows people what you can actually do – like a portfolio. Framebuilding is a crowded field and those that have taken classes (sometimes multiple classes – I’ve had a number of students that have taken classes at UBI or Yamaguchi before taking one of mine) and have good results will obviously get preferential treatment.

I teach these classes on a regular basis. I’m fortunate to have some serious qualifications. I was a full time teacher with both a bachelor's and master’s degree in education (meaning the specific study of how to teach) when I went to apprentice in England. There are some other really good schools too – as well as some opportunists who want to fill the vacancy because their business is slow. Teaching is an art and not everyone that has skill with their hands knows how to explain what they are doing to others. Over time I’ve organized methods and developed techniques to compensate for beginners typical tendencies. I’ve written a pretty extensive class manual on all aspects of building but it especially covers brazing and filing techniques. I usually get the most serious students because they are the ones that do the most research online looking for blogs and comments from past student experiences at various schools. I haven’t put up the website I’ve had designed because my classes are always full. However if anyone wants more information on scheduling or costs, I can send it to you personally. This isn’t really a place for advertising.

In every class I make many little corrections in the way a student is working on his frame that keep him from making bigger mistakes. I often wonder what would happen if they were left on there own and how long it would take by trial and error to realize how to make improvements.

Doug Fattic
Niles, Michigan