Course Content
Ten lessons as follows:
Lesson 1. Nature & Scope of Furniture Making
- Introduction - types of furniture for sitting, lying, tables, desks & storage
- Materials
- History
- Evolution of Manufacturing
- Design and Designers
- Scope of Furniture Making - contemporary, flatpack
- Small business opportunities- making, selling, repairing
- Measurements and drawings
- Taking measurements
- Measurement Equipment - tape measure, rulers, marking gauge, square, combination square, bevel, spirit level
- Understanding technical drawings - scale, lines on drawings
- Types of drawings - sketches, sections, elevations, detailing
- Making drawings for clients
- Drawing instruments
Lesson 2. Tools and Equipment
- Furniture making workshop
- Assessing & setting up the space
- Ventilation
- Workshop safety
- Workbenches - bench dogs, holdfast, planing stop, vices
- Tool store and organisation
- Toolboxes
- Hand tools
- Measurement
- Clamps
- Spirit level\Drills, Drilling machines
- Routers
- Sawing machines - bench saws, types of saw blades, band saws
- Specialised tools for wood furniture - cutting, mitre saw, saw stool
- Shaping
- Drills
- Finishing
- Specialised tools for Metal Furniture - centre punch, die grinder, drill bits, English wheel, saw blades, welders, welding magnets
- Specialised tools for plastics - acrylic cutter/knife, countersinks, cutting mats, drill bits, router bits, saw blades
- Tools for other materials -fibreglass, carbon fibre, resin
Lesson 3. Wood Furniture – Indoors
- Timbers for indoors - solid hardwood and softwood
- Composites
- Design considerations
- How to join wood - joints, glues, nails
- How to make wooden furniture
- Common finishes on indoor furniture
- Filling holes, sanding, cleaning, use of primers, using colour in design, varnishing paint, surface preparation
- Applying primer then varnish, varnish/ glaze, lacquer
- Applying a veneer using an iron
Lesson 4. Wood Furniture – Outdoors
- Introduction
- Timbers for outdoors
- Design considerations
- How to make wooden outdoor furniture -step by step
- A seat
- BBQ Cart/Table
- Common finishes on Outdoor timber
Lesson 5. Metal Furniture
- Introduction
- Characteristics of metals
- Types of metals
- Welding metals
- Fusion welding
- Arc welding - TIG, MIG etc
- Gas Welding - Oxy acetylene, Oxy hydrogen, Low temperature gas welding
- Resistance welding - spot welding, seam welding
- Solid state welding - Forge welding
- Shaping metals - casting, shearing, rolling, punching, bending
- Assembling metals - brazing, soldering, riveting, bolting
- How to make metal furniture
- Common finishes on metal furniture
- Lesson 6. Plastic Furniture
- Introduction
- Pros and cons of plastic furniture
- Plastic types - acrylic, polycarbonate, polythene, etc
- Design considerations
- Construction Methods - 3D printing, moulding plastics, using recycled plastics
- How to make plastic furniture
- Common finishes
Lesson 7. Other Materials
- Introduction
- Glass
- Fibreglass
- Ceramics
- Concrete
- Design Considerations
- How to make furniture with other materials
- Finishes
Lesson 8. Covering Materials & Upholstery
- Introduction
- Nature of Upholstery
- Types of Upholstery - traditional, modem, commercial, marine, automobile
- Upholstery fabrics - natural vs synthetic fibres
- Natural fibres - leather, wool, cotton, linen, silk, others
- Synthetics - polyester, nylon, rayon, acrylic, velvet, microfibre, polypropylene, vinyl
- Classification of fabrics
- Fabric rub tests
- Thread count
- Fire resistance
Lesson 9. Upholstery Work
- Introduction
- Upholstery tools
- Materials and equipment - upholstery tacks, nails, nail strips, gimp pins, staples, webbing, springs, snuffing/ wadding, linings, etc
- Choosing appropriate fabrics
- Deciding whether to Reupholster
- Step by step basic upholstery
- Reupholstering a chair
- Upholstering without springs
Lesson 10. Furniture Care & Maintenance
- Introduction
- Care and maintenance of timber furniture
- Waxing
- Polishing
- Care and maintenance of Metal furniture
- Care and maintenance of other materials
- Care and maintenance of furniture fabrics
- Fibre structure and appearance\The effect of moisture
- Chemical properties
- Resistance to insects & microorganisms
- Electrical properties
- Sunlight effects
- Thermal properties
- Upholstered students
- Cleaning
AIMS
- Explain how to use different materials to make and maintain furniture using appropriate tools and equipment.
- Discuss the nature and scope of making furniture.
- Describe the use and application of different types of tools for making furniture from wood and other materials.
- Distinguish timbers and wood composites used for indoor furniture and how it may be constructed and finished.
- Distinguish timbers and wood composites used for outdoor furniture and how it may be constructed and finished.
- Describe properties of metals and their influence on furniture making and design. Describe properties of plastics and their influence on furniture making and design.
- Describe a range of other materials and their use in furniture making.
- Explain the nature of upholstery and the characteristics of different covering materials used in furniture making.
- Explain the fundamentals of upholstery work including tools, equipment, and how it is done.
- Apply knowledge of different materials to maintenance of furniture and repairs.
CONSIDER
What are the benefits of studying Furniture Making?
You’ll get transferable skills which are useful for other woodworking projects.
Live more sustainably - upgrade, repair, or restore existing furniture instead of replacing it.
Express your own taste by choosing materials, colours, styles, and hardware.
Attain sought after skills that are valued by potential employers.
Get access to highly experienced tutors with years of experience and university qualifications.
Learn in a structured way, so you progress faster than learning ad-hoc.
Doing real projects helps you stick with learning and share progress.
Progress your career or expand your skills.
What is the course duration and format?
There are 10 lessons.
The course can be completed in approximately 10 weeks.
Each lesson includes experiential tasks, a self-assessment test, and a written assignment.
There are also some practical projects built into the course where you get to test your furniture making skills.
Assignments and projects are marked by our expert tutors and returned with written feedback.
There is an optional exam upon completion of the course.
The course is self-paced. Study wherever you want, whenever you want.
How long can I access course materials?
You have all the time you want. We don't have a cut-off date. You can continue to access your course indefinitely. This is one of the ways we are different.
You can review and revisit course material as often as you like, helping to reinforce learning and improve retention.
Can I use this course as a credit toward a qualification?
Yes. This can be used as a module in a variety of certificates and diplomas with ACS or in a degree with one of our affiliate partners, Warnborough College.
Various other universities and colleges around the world have also assessed and given credits for our courses in degrees.
Who is this course for?
- DIY beginners
- Junior furniture makers or joiners
- Furniture workshop workers – cutting, assembling, finishing
- Career explorers or career changers
- Homeowners
- Hobbyists
- Anyone wanting to restore or upgrade furniture
- Volunteers or trainees in furniture making
- Carpenters and joiners wishing to expand skills
- Builders and tradespeople
- Entrepreneurs and small business owners
Ready to Enrol?
If you're ready to enrol or have any questions, please follow the instructions at the top of the page.
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