Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference

Alabama Millwork and Finish Carpentry

Alabama  ·  PSI Services Contractor

Verified, not estimated. Every figure below is drawn from the official exam structure we maintain — question counts, passing standard and topic weighting. Practice questions are grounded in the source law with statute citations. We omit any figure we can't verify rather than guess at it.
Total questions
30
Passing score
70%
Exam time
90 min
Administered by
PSI Services Contractor
Format
Reference materials allowed

Alabama State Portion 30 questions

Fabrication 6 Q · 20%
Wood milling and dimensioning (jointing, planing, ripping, crosscutting)Material selection for fabrication (solid wood, plywood, MDF, particleboard)Cabinet and case construction (joinery options, assembly, internal architecture)Door fabrication (frame-and-panel, flat panel, board-and-batten, arch-top)Drawer construction and fitting (joinery types, overlay styles, drawer bottoms)Shelf fabrication and support systems (fixed, adjustable, sag prevention, edging)Molding fabrication and installation (cutting miters, coping, attaching to solid wood)Power and hand tool selection and safe operation for fabrication tasks
Installation 5 Q · 17%
Installing interior and exterior doors (prehung, pocket, bifold, French)Window trim installation (extension jambs, stool and apron, surround frames)Door and window casing styles and fitting techniquesBase molding installation (joints, curved walls, scribing, sequencing)Cornice and crown molding installation (coped joints, sequencing, backing)Stair trim-out (skirt boards, treads, risers, balustrade assembly)Wall treatments installation (tongue-and-groove wainscot, frame-and-panel, sheet paneling)Cabinet installation (base and wall units, leveling, reference lines)
Materials 5 Q · 17%
Wood species and panel products (plywood, MDF, particleboard, lumbercore)Wood moisture content, drying, and acclimationFasteners: nails, screws, pneumatic fasteners, and knockdown hardwareAdhesives and glue selection for finish carpentry applicationsMolding materials and attachment methods accounting for wood movementSolid-wood top construction and edge treatmentsFrame-and-panel construction materials and back panel optionsDoor and drawer hardware materials (pulls, catches, locks, slides)
Finishing 4 Q · 13%
Wood floor finishing products and application (penetrating oils, shellac, polyurethane, waterborne urethanes)Floor sanding techniques and sequence (drum sander, disc sander, random orbit sander)Applying paste filler to nail holes and gaps between flooring stripsCorrecting door installation defects (hinge sag, warped doors, misaligned latches)Repairing damaged molding (hammer dents, blow-outs, dutchman inlay)Closing and repairing open joints in trim (miter joints, butt joints, coped joints)Fitting new trim to existing or out-of-level/plumb conditions
Hand Tools 3 Q · 10%
Hand tool identification and selection for finish carpentry tasksMeasuring and layout tools (tape measures, squares, levels, plumb bobs, chalk lines)Cutting tools: saws, chisels, and planes for finish carpentryTool belt organization and belt-worn tool setupSharpening hand edge tools using waterstones and honing guidesSafe use and condition requirements for hand tools (OSHA 1926.301)Personal protective equipment when using hand and power toolsHolding, clamping, and fastening tools for finish carpentry
Safety 3 Q · 10%
Fall protection requirements and systems (guardrail, personal fall arrest, safety nets)Ladder safety requirements and proper usePower and hand tool safety guards and switchesPersonal protective equipment selection and requirementsScaffold safety requirements and fall protection on scaffoldsStairway safety and stairrail system requirementsFire protection, prevention, and flammable liquid storageGeneral safety responsibilities, housekeeping, and emergency action plans
Machines 2 Q · 7%
Stationary power tools for finish carpentry (table saw, miter saw, jointer/planer)Hand power cutting tools (circular saw, jig saw, reciprocating saw, chop saw)Pneumatic and fastening tools (finish nailers, brad tackers, screw-shooting drills)Routing tools and router bit selection (plunge router, trim router, bit profiles)Sanding and grinding machines (random orbit sander, belt sander, sheet sander, disc grinder)Drilling tools and drill selection (corded, cordless, hammer drill)Power tool safety practices and precautionsBlade and bit selection for specific cutting tasks
Plans and Estimating 2 Q · 7%
Bid price calculation using direct cost, overhead, and profit marginMaterial takeoff and estimating running and standing moldingsLabor cost estimation and manhour-based schedulingChange orders and contract documentationBill of materials preparation and waste allowance factorsSite inspection considerations affecting bid adjustmentsBusiness overhead expense categories for subcontractorsCost-plus and time-and-materials contracting methods

Key Distinctions

Standard chop sawvsBlade-sliding compound miter saw

The sliding compound miter saw (8½-in.) cuts accurate compound angles across boards up to 12 in. wide but its cutting action is slower, so the standard chop saw is still preferred for quick, repetitive cuts in small molding stock.

Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Chapter 3 - The Power Tools
Surround method (window casing)vsPicture frame (pre-assembled) method

The surround method fits each casing piece individually in place starting with the head casing and is used when the jamb is more than 1/16 in. out of square, while the picture frame method pre-assembles the mitered frame on a flat surface.

Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Page 9-8
Running moldingvsStanding molding

Running molding is most conveniently any item ordered by the linear foot in random lengths (traditionally base, crown, chair rail), while standing moldings such as door casings are cut for a specific application and are installed before running moldings.

Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Modern Finish Carpentry, Chapter 5 — Estimating Running and Standing Moldings section
Overhead costsvsDirect costs

Bookkeeping charges and legal expenses are overhead, while rental equipment, labor, and job-specific supplies like fasteners, glue and sandpaper are direct costs of the job.

Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Modern Finish Carpentry, Chapter 20 — Bids and Contracts section
Lumbercore plywoodvsMDF / particleboard / solid-core plywood

Lumbercore plywood has a laminated solid-wood core rating 'Excellent' for both rigidity and screw holding (though expensive), whereas MDF rates 'Fair', particleboard 'Poor', and solid-core plywood only 'Fair' for both.

The Complete Illustrated Guide to Furniture and Cabinet Construction, Page 33-34 (Working Wood chapter — Panel Characteristics section)
Fixed shelfvsAdjustable shelf

A fixed shelf (commonly dadoed, or dovetailed for more strength) is much stronger because the joint itself stiffens the shelf and significantly increases overall cabinet strength, while adjustable shelves rest on supports such as pins in drilled holes or shopmade supports, adding versatility but design complexity.

The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Chapter 7 - Shelves
Hinge-side door stopvsStriker-side door stop

The hinge-side stop is set a dime's thickness away from the closed door along its entire length to prevent binding, while the striker-side stop is held tight to the door at top and bottom.

Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Page 7-9
Mitered casing framevsButted head casing frame

A mitered frame joins head and side casings at 45-degree miters (undercut when jambs protrude), while in a butted head frame the head casing sits on top and overhangs the side casings (typically 3/16 in. each end) to hide seasonal movement.

Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Page 8-1 (Door Trim, Door Case Styles section)
Face jointingvsEdge jointing

Face jointing uses a light cut of about 1/32 in. with the cupped or bowed face down, while jointing narrow edges uses a slightly heavier cut of about 1/16 in.

The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Chapter 3 - Working Wood
Flat-top (FT) rip blade, ~24 teethvsTriple-chip (TC) 60-tooth negative-hook blade

The 24-tooth FT rip blade is for heavy ripping in thick hardwoods, while the 60-tooth negative-hook TC blade gives chip-free cuts in delicate faced panels (hardwood plywood, melamine, plastic laminate); a 40-tooth ATB is for general crosscutting and ripping.

The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Chapter 2 - Woodworking Machines and Tools
Sliding dovetail in solid woodvsSliding dovetail in plywood

The tapered sliding dovetail is the strongest shelf-to-case-side connection in solid wood, but the sliding dovetail is not recommended in plywood because it lacks strength cut in that material.

The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Chapter 7 - Shelves
One-horsepower routervsThree-horsepower router

A one-horsepower plunge router handles most general finish carpentry, while a three-horsepower router accepting 1/2-in. shank bits is recommended for routing lots of molding.

Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Chapter 3 - The Power Tools
Handsaw with shopmade miter jigvsPower miter saw

For small, delicate molding profiles prone to splintering, miters should be cut with a handsaw guided by a shopmade grooved jig with pre-cut miter slots rather than with a power miter saw.

The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Chapter 10 - Cutting and Attaching Moldings, Page 111 (Sawing Delicate Miters section)
Chisel sharpening anglevsPlane iron sharpening angle

On waterstones, chisels are generally sharpened at 25 degrees while plane irons use 30 degrees.

Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Chapter 2 - Finish Carpentry Hand Tools

Key Terms

Extension jambs Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Page 9-2 (Window Trim, Extension Jambs section)
Jamb additions installed when a window built for a 4-inch stud wall is set in a 6-inch (2x6) wall, bringing the unit flush to the interior finished wall surface before casing.
Pyramid marking method Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Page 9-4
A marking system drawn on the inside faces of the four extension jamb edges—base on the bottom, cap on top, left and right sides on their respective pieces—so each piece is reassembled in the correct position and orientation.
Stool overhang Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Page 9-4 (Window Trim, Installing Extension Jambs with Stools section)
The projection of the window stool beyond the apron, which should be at least 1/2 inch to give a proper visual transition and material for the mitered return at the horn.
Bevel gauge (stool fitting) Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Page 9-6 to 9-7
The tool run along the front edge of the stool with its arm against the inside drywall wrapping to read wall-twist angle and establish the horn crosscut angle on a jambless opening.
Door casing frame styles Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Page 8-1 (Door Trim, Door Case Styles section)
The three basic U.S. residential styles are the mitered frame, the butted head frame, and the traditional corner block and plinth frame; adding horizontal moldings to a butted head makes it a cabinet head.
Undercutting bevel Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Page 8-4 (Door Trim, Cutting and Fitting a Mitered Frame section)
Planing the miter angle back so the visible face of the miter closes tightly when jambs protrude from the wall near the upper corners.
Jamb saw kerfs Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Page 7-3
Three or four kerfs cut 1/2 inch apart and 1/2 inch deep into the back of site-made 3/4-inch jamb stock to relieve warping stress (factory jamb stock comes pre-grooved).
Hinge sag Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Chapter 19 (Troubleshooting)
Spreading of the upper hinge under pulling force that moves the door away from the upper jamb on the hinge side, producing a tapered margin wider at the top and eventually a latch catching on the striker plate.
Pocket door header jamb requirement Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Page 7-10 (Installing Doors, Pocket Doors section)
The header jamb must be installed straight and square to the side jamb, because hardware adjustment can correct fit in the closed position but not simultaneously in the open position.
Pinch sticks Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Page 7-11 (Installing Doors, Bifold and Bypass Doors section)
Sticks used when hanging bifold and bypass doors to measure over from the first plumbed jamb and set the opposite jamb parallel.
Coping saw Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Chapter 2 - Finish Carpentry Hand Tools
A hand saw with a 20-teeth-per-inch blade used primarily to cut coped molding joints, where one molding's profile is cut to fit against the face of the adjoining piece at inside corners.
Flush-cutting saw Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Chapter 2 - Finish Carpentry Hand Tools
A specialty hand saw used to cut bungs, pins, and other protrusions flush to a surface.
Plate biscuit joiner Finish Carpenter's Manual (1993), Chapter 3 - The Power Tools
A finish-carpentry tool that replaces older dowel joinery for aligning and strengthening butt joints, since splines (biscuits) are faster to cut and install and hold better.
Drawer kicker The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Chapter 6 - Basic Cases
A component installed above the drawer sides, where free space exists, to keep drawer boxes from tipping downward as they are pulled out.
Web frame The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Chapter 6 - Basic Cases
An internal case frame that stiffens the case and creates a strong drawer-housing platform without adding excess weight, while allowing movement of solid-wood case sides.
Melamine-coated particleboard (MCP) The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Chapter 3 - Working Wood
Particleboard coated with hard plastic, ideal for interior case pieces because it gives a durable finished surface with no additional finishing.
MDF (medium-density fiberboard) The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Chapter 3 - Working Wood
An inexpensive man-made board that is flat and stays flat with an exceptionally smooth surface, favored for veneering and high-end paint work, but heavy, poor at holding fasteners, bends under heavy loads, and swells irreversibly with moisture.
Hot hide glue The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Choosing and Using Glue section
An adhesive offering unlimited open time when heat is applied, recommended for hammer veneer work and reversible for restoration and repair.
Beveled hanging strips The Complete Illustrated Guide To Furniture And Ca, Chapter 6 - Basic Cases
A mating pair of beveled strips—one leveled on the wall, one on the case back, with a same-thickness block at the bottom to keep the cabinet plumb—allowing wall cabinets to be lowered on and easily removed.

Formulas to Know

Bid price from direct cost with overhead and profitBid price = Direct cost ÷ (100% − overhead% − profit%); e.g., $8,500 ÷ 85% (100% − 10% − 5%) = $10,000, so overhead and profit are true percentages of contract price, not of direct cost
Overall footprint of a deck-and-pool assemblyOverall length = pool length + deck width on each side; Overall width = pool width + deck width on each side; Footprint = length × width — e.g., (32 + 6 + 6) × (16 + 6 + 6) = 44' × 28' = 1,232 sq ft
Window jamb square check before pre-assembling a case frameCompare the two diagonal measurements; if the difference exceeds 1/16 inch, use the surround method (fit each piece in place) instead of a pre-assembled picture frame
Maximum shelf span, 3/4-in. materials, moderate load (20 lb/ft, 10-in.-wide shelf)Hardwood 42 in. > hardwood plywood 32 in. > MDF 28 in. > particleboard 24 in.
Ripping solid-wood parts to widthRip about 1/4 in. over final width → re-joint an edge to remove bowing from released tensions → return to table saw and rip to final width
Jointer depth of cutFace jointing: about 1/32 in. light cut (cupped/bowed face down); edge jointing narrow edges: about 1/16 in.
Top hinge mortise depthCut the top mortise about 1/32 in. deeper than the others to bury the hinge slightly below the jamb surface and counteract door sag (important on heavy doors)
Door and stop clearancesFrench doors: even gap about the thickness of a nickel between leaves; hinge-side stop: a dime's thickness away from the closed door full length; striker-side stop: tight to the door at top and bottom
Butted head casing overhangHead casing extends past the outer edge of each side casing by about 3/16 in. per end
Wood moisture content and storage for furniture workTarget 6% to 8% moisture content; store wood about two weeks at roughly 40% relative humidity before use
Drawer runner attachment allowing seasonal movementDo not glue runners in the dado; one screw through an oversize hole at the runner center into the case side, rear tenons unglued, and leave a 1/8-in. gap between runner shoulder and back divider
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