The 12 week course is intended as an introduction to furniture making and covers all the basics. After the course you only need practice, determination, and imagination.
Some 12 week students have gone on to set themselves up in business – however, our longer courses are more ideally suited to this. You will have your own handbook throughout the course that you can take away afterwards with important information and contacts. This will also plot your progress on the course. If time allows, a small project may be started.
We teach, at every stage, the attention to detail required to make beautiful furniture, but we teach every student according to their individual needs, and as the student numbers are limited we can really pay attention to everyone’s needs. After all, everyone is different and so are their requirements!
Our holidays include 1 week off in August and another week over the Christmas period. These are not included in your 12 weeks!
Next start date: 22nd April & 9th September 2024 | Cost: 7,500.
Hand tool selection – New, old, tuning and sharpening. Use of hand tools and accurate measuring
Glues – Different types, strength comparison, and correct uses.
Abrasives – Different types and correct uses
Machinery – Maintenance, identification, and applications
Health & safety
Hand power tools – Routers, router tables, biscuit jointers, domino jointers, sander, drills
Joints – Cutting, assembly, identification, construction
Cutting lists
Ordering timber – Costing and estimating waste
Timber study – Movement, moisture content, drying, defects, and conversion
External timber yard visit
Finishing – Types, applications, polishing oils, bleach, colouring
Depending on the project you choose, these topics may be studied in addition to core topics, subject to availability and schedules
Templates, jigs
Drawing – Sketching, working drawings, rods, CAD
Veneering – Selection, storage, preparation, hand pressing, vacuum bag
Laminating – Cutting, thicknessing, invisible glue lines
Curves – Steam bending theory, coopering, laminating
Course cost
12 week course cost: £7,500
Deposit: £3,000
Remaining balance due on first day of course
Other costs
A budget for tools should be allowed, we can advise on what is needed
A budget should also be allowed for materials for your own projects. Materials are provided for small samples and test pieces
Schedule
Our student intakes are in March, and September. Occasionally we can accept students outside of these dates, please email us to enquire about this
Teaching is 9am until 4.30pm
Some out-of-hours and weekend practice time may be available, subject to terms and conditions
