Apprenticeship training course
Bespoke furniture maker (level 3)
Producing and assembling bespoke pieces of furniture to meet individual customers’ requirements.
- Qualification level
-
3
Equivalent to A level. - Typical duration
- 24 months
- Apprenticeship category
- Creative and design
- Maximum funding
-
£10,000
Maximum amount government will fund
for apprenticeship training. - Also known as
-
- Bespoke Furniture Maker
- Bespoke Furniture Manufacturer
- Cabinet Maker
- Furniture Maker
- Skills
-
Skills an apprentice will learn
- Work safely at all times, wearing appropriate PPE, adhering to COSHH records and completing health and safety records and reports
- Operate equipment to PUWER regulations
- Carry out health and safety risk assessments
- Create furniture making specifications, cutting lists and other relevant information from designs
- Identify any problems and issues that may occur such as feasibility or cost
- Challenge furniture making designs and offer solutions to any problems identified, for example can the design be made, is it the wrong wood species
- Identify materials used in furniture making for example wood and timber, manmade composite materials
- Select appropriate materials to meet furniture making specification for example wood and timber, manmade composite materials
- Manage furniture production including setting timescales and priorities to meet company objectives and delegating furniture making work tasks to others
- Cut, sand, bore, drill, create joints, mould, saw and plane wood and components
- Calibrate measuring equipment and use accurately
- Create complex jigs and templates to meet furniture making specifications for example Lock Jigs, Jigs for making Arcs as well as Jigs for making Frieze and Dentil Moulding
- Set up appropriate tooling to meet furniture making specifications
- Set up machinery, tools and equipment to meet furniture making specifications
- Operate and use machinery, tools and equipment to meet furniture making specifications
- Maintain furniture machinery, tools and equipment within limits of responsibility for example lubricating machinery, keeping machinery clean, sharpening tools
- Fit, fix and assemble components to meet furniture making specifications
- Use cramps to assemble components
- Attach fixtures and fittings to meet furniture making specifications
- Create joints to meet furniture making specifications
- Test and check furniture and components against specifications for example open and close drawers
- Rectify and remedy any faults, for example marking and blisters, defects, scratches, marks, density, holes, weave
- Identify trends in furniture making faults
- Prepare surfaces for furniture finishes for example sanding
- Repair any defects identified for example blooming, moisture, temperature, blotching, runs, streaks, curing, and silicones - orange peel, fish eye
- Apply appropriate finishes including by hand and by spray gun for example stains, sealers, lacquers/UV, primers, solvents and water-based materials, paints, waxes, oils, grain fillers, patinas, varnish and polish
- Apply effective communication techniques at all levels including written and verbal communication skills
- Identify training needs of self and others
- Maintain own continued professional development (CPD)
- Give appropriate feedback and support to others
- Seek constructive feedback on own skills and techniques against current standards
- Evaluate own skills and expertise
Full information on Bespoke furniture maker (level 3) is available from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.