Profession cabinet maker

Cabinet makers build cabinets or other pieces of furniture by cutting, shaping and fitting pieces of wood. They use different kind of power and hand tools, such as lathes, planers and saws.

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Personality Type

  • Realistic / Conventional

Knowledge

  • Furniture trends

    The latest trends and manfacturers in the furniture industry.

  • Sanding techniques

    The various sanding techniques (such as gang sanding), as well as the different sanding papers necessary for which surface.

  • Construction products

    The offered construction materials, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.

  • Technical drawings

    Drawing software and the various symbols, perspectives, units of measurement, notation systems, visual styles and page layouts used in technical drawings.

  • Wood products

    The various wood products such as lumber and furniture, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.

  • Types of wood

    Types of wood, such as birch, pine, poplar, mahogany, maple and tulipwood.

  • Woodturning

    Process of shaping wood on a lathe and its types, namely spindle turning and faceplate turning.

Skills

  • Join wood elements

    Bind wooden materials together using a variety of techniques and materials. Determine the optimal technique to join the elements, like stapling, nail, gluing or screwing. Determine the correct work order and make the joint.

  • Design objects to be crafted

    Sketch, draw or design sketches and drawings from memory, live models, manufactured products or reference materials in the process of crafting and sculpting.

  • Design original furniture

    Master and develop industrial aesthetics through ongoing research of new shapes, adapted to the function of the objects the research deals with (domestic objects, urban furnitures, etc.).

  • Apply a protective layer

    Apply a layer of protective solutions such as permethrine to protect the product from damage such as corrosion, fire or parasites, using a spray gun or paintbrush.

  • Operate drilling equipment

    Operate a range of drilling equipment, pneumatic as well as electrical and mechanical. Tend drilling equipment, monitor and operate it, according to regulations. Safely and efficiently drill holes using the correct equipment, settings, and drill bits.

  • Repair furniture frames

    Repair dents, cracks or holes and replace broken parts of furniture frames.

  • Operate wood sawing equipment

    Operate various machinery and equipment to cut wood in different sizes and shapes.

  • Create smooth wood surface

    Shave, plane and sand wood manually or automatically to produce a smooth surface.

  • Create furniture frames

    Construct a strong frame out of materials such as wood, metal, plastic, laminated boards, or a combination of the materials for furniture.

  • Tend boring machine

    Tend a boring machine, monitor and operate it, according to regulations.

  • Sand wood

    Use sanding machines or hand tools to remove paint or other substances from the surface of the wood, or to smoothen and finish the wood.

  • Clean wood surface

    Use a variety of techniques on a wood surface to ensure it is free of dust, sawdust, grease, stains, and other contaminants.

  • Apply wood finishes

    Use a variety of techniques to finish wood. Paint, varnish and stain wood to improve its function, durability, or appearance.

Optional knowledge and skills

use cad software repair furniture parts decorate furniture engrave patterns use substitute materials pass on trade techniques dye wood cad software sell furniture furniture industry engraving technologies apply colour coats clean furniture manipulate glass create mock-ups sell household goods fix minor scratches prepare furniture for application of paint stain wood manipulate metal carve materials handle delivery of furniture goods organic building materials

Common job titles

  • Shop laborer/assembler
  • Cabinet assembler
  • Apprentice cabinet maker
  • Cabinet maker/installer
  • Cabinet makers
  • Woodworker / cabinet maker / installer
  • Finish carpenter/custom cabinet maker
  • Wood worker / builder / carpenter