INTRODUCTION TO FURNITURE MAKING

Full details and registration via our website ➡️ https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/introduction-to-furniture-making-8/
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Our Introduction to Furniture Making is a part-time workshop-based course spread over 38 weeks created to bring the beginner to a level of competence in furniture design, using hand tools and workshop machinery. It provides the development of classic, traditional architectural joinery skills and basic use of our woodwork machines.

This special course is open to just five learners, to maximise the learner/tutor ratio. We supply all of the tools you will need – though we advise you to start building a lifelong collection of your own pieces as you go along.

The Goodlife Centre has been teaching practical woodworking since the centre opened in 2010. We teach traditional skills using hand tools in the same manner that has been handed down for hundreds of years. In addition, this course benefits from our modern woodworking machines where learners will gain experience by using industry-standard wood processing methods.

You will follow the design process through the use of rods, technical drawing and the use of hand and power tools.

The subjects covered range from timber preparation to the completion of several projects within a specific size. (Purchase of hardwood not included)

You will learn:

• how to skilfully use hand tools and sharpening tools
• high standard joinery skills, including cross halvings, dovetails, mortice and tenons, bridle, corner halvings
• how to safely use industry-standard portable power tools including a router
• how to set up and use woodworking machines (Band saw/Table saw/ planer thicknesser/ Crosscut saw/Mortiser in accord with the latest Health and Safety legislation
• how to construct projects such as a basic frame, a pair of trestles, hardwood dovetail bookends, a decorated tray, and a hardwood cabinet of your own design.

The course is paced to help you learn your natural speed of working. The initial part of the course cannot be rushed through. There is no easy path to becoming a good maker and taking the initial projects carefully will give you the underlying skills to clarify your thinking when it comes to later pieces.

The set projects will take you through simple planing and jointing exercises to some basic machine skills. By making yourself a pair of sturdy trestles you will be inducted into the machining area so you can be trusted to use the equipment safely and independently. As you move from project to project you will gain more confidence and independence.