When should I start working on crafting

Any good idea of when I should start im almost level 20 and would like to do culinary fishing and an armor craft. Should I start early?

yes give it a go early on so you can try the crafts and see if you like.
But leveling it will cost money buying the materials.

For the crafts you want to do they are all in limsa lominsa.:cool:
"Till sea swallows all"

I'm not even L20 in my main class, but I've started working on the crafting classes :)

I'm trying to save my gil by levelling multiple gathering / crafting classes - if I need Maple Lumber, I'll go gather some raw materials via the Botanist class, then craft the timber using Carpentry - I get what I need, plus each class gets some exp.

Really, you're free to start whenever you want. It can certainly break up the level grinding and story if you have other things to do. As a crafter, it will be really good for you if you're able to gather mats as well. For culinarian, I would highly recommend leveling botany (and having a ton of inventory space because that craft has a zillion ingredients.) For armorsmithing, mining will be really helpful to you. Plus you'll need shards to craft things, which also come from botany/mining.

So basically, give them all a try. There's no rush, but feel free to start whenever.

While you can certainly start at anytime, it's definitely easier once you have a retainer to store items on. Crafting, mining and harvesting will eat up inventory space fast. You get a retainer shortly after you finish Copperbell Mines in the story.

I do recommend working on multiple crafts simultaneously. You'll find items you need for one can be gained thru another. Makes things easier. I have every craft unlocked myself.

It may be because I had already obtained a retainer but I was able to talk to the NPC before the quest on a new character and hire a retainer.

It's never too early. I got goldsmith to 50 and my monk is only 37. You can do it relatively in expensively if you gather your own mats, too. My miner is 45 just by keeping up with leveling goldsmith.

Something to note: If you level them all up evenly (One battle class, plus all the disciplines of land and hand together), you will be able to obtain anything you need. The game is designed such that, for example, the trees you gather at level 20 botanist give materials a level 20 carpenter can use to make gear for a level 20 conjurer. While most likely not the most efficient way to play, especially considering the gear one can get from dungeons and quests, there is a certain something about having a completely handmade set of armor.

Oh great well ill get started thanks guys!

Actually if you take on the miner class as well it would save you coin as you can mine tin pieces and other metals which can then be used for a armor or blacksmith class

ok will do thanks