Cabinet Makers Guides & Resources

What does a cabinet maker do? DUPE

Cabinet makers can design and make furniture such as tables, chairs, dressers, bookshelves and other items out of wood. Cabinet makers can comfortably repair or make different variety of furniture with the help of various timber-based products such as solid timber and flat panel. As a cabinet maker, you help people make their homes more comfortable and attractive by designing and building furniture. Cabinet makers have expertise in specific areas such as making antique furniture and reproduction of antique furniture as well. Cabinet workers can work for departments stores, custom shop furniture manufacturers or in a carpentry shop where they may repair furniture, restore or refinish antique wood pieces to preserve them. A cabinet maker is one of the most skilled carpenters. It takes many years of training to learn the specialised skills that are required for this type of carpentry. ## What type of work does a cabinet maker do? A cabinet maker typically reads written instructions and interprets plans and specifications, blueprints and sketches. They use hand tools such as chisels, hammers, saws and screwdrivers; power tools such as drills, routers, jigsaws and radial arm saws; stationary equipment like band saws, jointers and table saws and wood finishing equipment like sanders. Cabinet makers create orthographic drawings and specifications showing accurate measurements of the furniture in various views (front/back; side; top; bottom). Drawings detail all features of furniture including dimensions of parts (length/width) and fasteners (size/type), machinery instructions (screw size), material requirements (size/thickness of wood), as well as assembly/finishing instructions. They fabricate, assemble and install custom cabinetry using a variety of manufactured or natural materials such as plywood, MDF board, hardwoods, plastics and metals. ## What skills do you need to be a cabinet maker? A cabinet maker usually needs skills related to: - Advanced math and geometry, carpentry - Excellent hand-eye co-ordination and fine motor skills - Ability to work in a team environment or alone with limited supervision - Good speaking and listening skills - Problem-solving skills, good hand-eye coordination - Requires patience and the ability to follow detailed instructions without deviation ## Do I need a cabinet maker, joiner, furniture maker or carpenter? The term carpenter is used to describe those who work with wood, from furniture makers through to those involved in framing houses or individual structures. ### Cabinet maker Typically working for large retail outlets or workshops that produce custom-made items of furniture, cabinets are made up of drawers that may be free-standing or built into other projects such as desks and beds. They can also be made of glass, metal and even plastic materials. Cabinetmakers use a saw table, drum sander. dust extraction system and other hand tools which require manual dexterity as well as laminate trimmers, cordless drills, finish staplers. There are some woodworking machines used but it is generally accepted that cabinetmakers should have good hand skills so they can use machines with precision to ensure high-quality outcomes in furniture making. A cabinet maker should be an expert in specific areas: cabinet making, shop fittings, preparing and making manufactured boards. Cabinet makers can concentrate on the finer details of wood easily. ### Joiner Working for carpentry companies or building sites, joiners are responsible for assembling frames using both metal and timber components. They are mostly used in commercial construction, particularly on projects that require large numbers of employees such as shopping malls, hotels and hospitals. There is some overlap between the duties of a joiner and those of a carpenter but their main function is to make sure frameworks are built correctly so they support roofs and walls at the required levels. Assembling these frameworks requires strength as well as knowledge about angles, materials and physics principles. Sometimes there will be gaps that need filling before plastering can begin so this involves mixing up cement or adding filler materials such as insulation. ### Furniture maker People who operate independently or for a business that specialises in furniture often work out of small workshops or studios. The main materials used are timber and metal although some makers have developed excellent relationships with other businesses so they can acquire specialty items such as stained glass. There is also the option to buy prefabricated units, which can make projects easier, but furniture makers should be able to design without them if necessary. Furniture makers are not concerned with building houses or large structures but will repair damaged pieces, make new items from scratch and even take on custom-designed projects. Some purists argue that furniture making shouldn't include modifying existing pieces but others say this practice is an important part of the craft because it allows them to give old items new life. ### Carpenter Carpenters can work with tools to assemble frameworks that are the basis for any project. Frameworks provide support so walls can stand upright and roofs don't cave in Frameworks can be made from a number of materials including metal, wood and plastic. The measurements given for frameworks include angles as well as length and height so carpenters need to be able to visualise the end product and understand how it will appear when complete. To build their skills they might draw plans or work with CAD software that takes some of the manual effort out of the process. Working on construction sites requires physical strength because these strong, tall frameworks require careful assembly so they don't topple over and injure workers on lower levels. ## Do cabinet makers make good money? Cabinet makers typically make around $35 per hour. They can also make higher wages if they are experienced enough to become supervisors, which would require them to train other people in their field. ## Are there any prerequisites for cabinet making? Many gain their experience through part-time work while studying. There is also the option of taking courses that teach general knowledge about materials used in carpentry along with some hand skills. Some schools offer full-time programs while others only run evening classes so students must be prepared to make a long-term commitment if they want an advanced education. No matter how much training someone has, however, it's important for them to be able to communicate easily with clients or customers who need help choosing appropriate products, colours or features. If you want to become a good cabinet maker or pursue a related career in cabinet making then you will have to complete an apprenticeship in cabinet making. ## Can cabinet makers work on their own? Some cabinet makers start off working for others and then decide to own a business and do it full time once they've got enough experience under their belt. The term cabinet maker can apply to a wide range of workers. It covers people who work in large businesses and spend their entire career making cabinets, shelving and other items that fit into homes and offices. Cabinet makers also work on construction sites so they build frameworks such as roofs and walls, which are used in residential buildings, schools, hospitals and even commercial properties. They normally need some form of certification before they can take part in jobs at this level because working at heights is dangerous and it's important to know how to use equipment safely.