Furniture Making Apprenticeship Program

36-Week Professional Training

Program Overview

This full-year apprenticeship is designed for the dedicated woodworker seeking advanced training in fine furniture craftsmanship. Limited to six students, the program provides personalized instruction within a professional working shop environment.

Students will work alongside an experienced furniture maker, gaining practical skills, design knowledge, and professional discipline required in the industry.

This is a structured, immersive training experience — not a casual hobby class.

Program Structure

The curriculum progresses through five core phases:

Phase 1: Foundations & Shop Mastery

• Shop safety and professional practices
• Safe operation of table saw, band saw, jointer, mortiser, shaper, miter saw, lathe, and sanders
• Machine setup, calibration, and maintenance
• Wood technology and material selection
• Milling rough lumber to dimensioned stock

Phase 2: Joinery & Construction

• Machine and hand-cut joinery
• Mortise and tenon
• Dovetails
• Frame and panel construction
• Casework and drawer building
• Adhesives: PVA, Urea, Hide glue, Cyanoacrylate

Phase 3: Design & Decorative Techniques

• Furniture drafting and scaled drawings
• Design principles: proportion, balance, function
• Veneering and matching techniques
• Inlay and stringing
• Marquetry and parquetry
• Decorative turning

Phase 4: Finishing & Restoration

• Surface preparation
• Oil, shellac, lacquer, polyurethane
• Brushed, wiped, and sprayed finishes
• Identifying and repairing existing finishes
• Furniture repair and refinishing

Phase 5: Business Fundamentals

• Understanding overhead
• Calculating labor and materials
• Pricing strategies
• Professional standards and workflow

Capstone Project

Each student will:

• Develop an original furniture design
• Produce full working drawings
• Construct the piece using learned techniques
• Apply appropriate finishing methods
• Present the completed work for professional critique

This final piece becomes a cornerstone portfolio project.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be able to follow written and verbal instruction
• Be physically capable of lifting materials up to 50 lbs
• Work safely and responsibly in a professional shop
• Demonstrate commitment to improving their craft

Recommended Personal Library

Students are encouraged to build a reference library covering:

• Wood science
• Joinery
• Veneering & marquetry
• Finishing
• Furniture design
• Small business fundamentals

A detailed reading list will be provided upon acceptance.