Furniture design / maker

Course aim

The 12 week cabinet making course concentrates on furniture making accuracy and hand skills. A couple of small projects and samples will be undertaken in this time. If time allows a piece of furniture may completed, but accuracy and skill is the main achievement to reach for, speed and productivity will come with experience.

Suggested 12 week course syllabus

• Hand tool selection - new, old, tuning & sharpening
• Use of hand tools and accurate measuring
• Glues - different types, strength comparison and correct uses, PVA, animal, epoxy, urea-formaldehyde, contact, superglues, tinting glue lines, adhesive tapes
• Abrasives - different types and correct use
• Machinery - maintenance, identification, applications
• Health & Safety
• Hand power tools - routers, router tables, biscuit jointers, domino jointers, sander, drills
• Joints - cutting, assembly, identification, construction
• Templates
• Jigs and small batch runs
• Drawing sketching, working drawings, rods, CAD
• Cutting lists
• Ordering timber - costing & estimating waste
• Timber study - movement, moisture content, drying, defects and conversion
• External timber yard visit
• Veneering - selection, storage, preparation, hand and pressing, vacuum bag
• Laminating - cutting, thicknessing, invisible glue lines
• Curves - Steam bending theory, coopering, laminating
• Power carving
• Finishing - types, applications, polishing, oils, bleach, colouring, spraying
• Options - Welding, metal turning, power carving, steam bending practical (time allowing)

Course cost

12 week course cost 4,000 GBP
Booking deposit 400 GBP, total amount due on first day of course.

A budget for tools should be allowed, also materials for your own projects. Materials are provided for small samples and test pieces.

Requirements

Prior experience is not required for the course but a genuine passion and willingness to learn is a help. An informal meeting is advised to discuss suitability before booking the course.

External visits to timber yards are included to gain invaluable experience.

At the first meeting the syllabus is discussed along with the student's options. It is then a bespoke course designed catering for the students needs. This way Marc is able to teach students of all abilities.

Venue

The courses are held at The Workshop where students will mix with bench rental users and see Marc Fish's award winning fine furniture being made.