Our Student’s Professional Furniture Making Work

Our 12-month professional furniture-studentmaking  is currently immersed in the Laminating & Veneering module, where the focal point is a challenging project – a curved wall cabinet. This wall-mounted piece serves as a comprehensive exercise in mould-making, template creation, jig making, as well as the meticulous preparation of laminate and hand-cut veneer.

The project’s complexity peaks with the inset-hanging of a door featuring a double curvature front, posing intriguing challenges in selecting the right ironmongery. Our student commenced by meticulously hand-drafting the entire project on a drawing board and then translating it onto working rods, which were pivotal in crafting templates for moulding.

Using these templates, she skillfully pressed hand-cut laminations of English Walnut in the vacuum bag press. Subsequently, another set of templates played a key role in shaping the side panels. A noteworthy challenge emerged in determining how to cut the housing joint into the curved sides for the shelves. Overcoming this hurdle involved creating a sizable jig.

After spokeshaving the curved side panels and ensuring a precise fit, the next steps will involve preparing and installing the back panel, crafted from the stunningly beautiful spalted Walnut. The outcome was an exquisite piece made professionally with precision and elegance.