To become a furniture carpenter, familiarize yourself with tools and materials, work as an apprentice, and take courses if necessary. Contact local custom furniture stores for internships or training programs, and learn about wood types and furniture assembly methods. Develop your own style while learning from mentors.
To become a furniture carpenter, you will need to do several things. First, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with a furniture carpenter’s tools and equipment. Then, you should become familiar with all the different types of wood, as well as the various types of fixtures, screws, nails, and glue that are used in furniture construction. It is often best to work as an apprentice under an experienced woodworker to learn the skills and techniques that will help you become a furniture carpenter.
Unlike other business and technical skills, you don’t need to acquire a formal education to become a furniture carpenter. In fact, few trade schools offer formal education, as custom furniture creation is a narrow and specialized field. It may be helpful, however, to take some formal courses at an adult education center that teaches basic building techniques if you are not already familiar with power tools and various types of materials.
If you can’t find a course at a local trade school, you may be able to find an instruction manual or video series that details the basic use of various woodworking tools, both power and hand. Some of the tools directly related to furniture carpentry are wood planes, wood routers, circular saws, miter saws, band saws and jig saws. Keep in mind that reading about the tools or watching an instructional video demo will not fully prepare you for using the tools.
Compile a list of all custom wood furniture stores in your area. Contact the owner or store manager at each store and inquire about any internships, internships, or training programs the store may offer. In many cases, you may be told that the store is small and family owned and that it does not offer any type of apprenticeship. Offer your services to help clean up the shop and perform basic manual labor in exchange for an introductory woodworking lesson. Do your tasks as best you can and learn as much as you can.
If you acquire a formal internship or apprenticeship to become a furniture carpenter, be sure to learn all you can about the wood furniture making process. This includes the various types of wood used, what types of wood are best suited for what types of furniture, and the best methods for assembling furniture. You’re likely to pick up elements of the style used by your mentor in the shop, but don’t be afraid to slowly develop your own style as you learn.
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