Don Bosco Boys Town

Carpentry, Joinery, and Cabinet Making

This comprehensive course equips participants with a diverse range of skills essential for carpentry, joinery, and cabinet making. Throughout the course, students will develop proficiency in the following areas:

  1. Tool Mastery: Learn the proper use, care, and maintenance of various tools crucial for woodworking.
  2. Precision Measurement: Develop the ability to read and work with measurement rules, ensuring accurate results.
  3. Timber Expertise: Understand how to work with timber effectively, including squaring it to precise dimensions while minimizing any warping or irregularities. Recognize different types of timber commonly used and distinguish between good and defective wood.
  4. Joinery Techniques: Master the art of crafting essential joints such as Halving, Scarf, Mortise & Tenon, and Dovetail joints.
  5. Fastening Methods: Gain proficiency in joining timber using screws (up to 2 inches x no. 10), nails, pins, and screws of various types.
  6. Adhesive Application: Learn the proper preparation and use of glue for woodworking projects.
  7. Surface Finishing: Acquire skills in sanding using abrasive paper and sanding blocks, as well as attaching simple hardware.
  8. Blueprint Interpretation: Develop the ability to interpret and work from basic sketches and scale drawings.
  9. Specialized Techniques: Explore advanced techniques such as constructing Drawer dovetail joints, Double dowel joints, Hunched mortise & tenon joints, and joining two pieces of 6 x 6 ft timber with a flush or butt joint.
  10. Grain and Color Matching: Understand the art of matching wood grain and color for aesthetically pleasing results.
  11. Working to Scale: Practice working from scale drawings, making dimensional sketches, and setting out projects accurately.
  12. Template Creation: Learn to create templates, whether circular or otherwise, and effectively cut out materials to desired shapes.
  13. Staff Rod Preparation: Develop the ability to prepare full-size staff rods and set out projects based on these rods.
  14. Circular and Plain Work: Gain expertise in constructing joints for both circular and plain woodworking projects.
  15. Cutting Lists: Master the preparation of cutting lists for efficient material utilization.
  16. Machinery Operation: Acquire skills in the safe and effective operation and maintenance of light woodworking machinery.

This course offers a comprehensive foundation in carpentry, joinery, and cabinet making, enabling participants to excel in various woodworking projects and pursue a rewarding career in this field.