Full-time course

The Centre for Fine Woodworking's intensive full-time course is an exciting programme developed by practising furniture makers and teachers. During the nine months of training, you will learn all the main technical elements of making wooden furniture while you craft a group of exquisite pieces for your portfolio.

During the first part of the programme - most of term one - students are led step-by-step with close tutor contact to ensure accuracy and bench logic are developed. The trestle table and glass-doored wall cabinets are examples from this early part of the programme.

Progressively scope for personal expression becomes part of the work pattern and a parallel programme in Drawing & Design including computer aided drawing begins in order to inform and develop students' design and communication skill.

Term 2 is designed to challenge students with more complex projects beginning with a new focus on seating and chair making. Right through this period expectations are raised in terms of personal design investigation. After completing chair-making the students undertake the side table or desk project and begin thinking about how they would like to focus Term 3.

Term 3 is usually broken into two projects with a combined total length of 9 weeks and a final week preparing for and setting up the annual exhibition, making a total length of 10 weeks. The aim for this term is for the students to challenge their ability in terms of skill and design with work produced during this period clearly showing the extent to which the student's skills, personal approach to fine woodworking and design style have developed. Focused design projects are required for this final term and students work with tutors to identify particular types of furniture and techniques that they wish to explore.

Term One: March - June (12 weeks).

Term Two: June - September (12 weeks).

Term Three: September - December (10 weeks).

The full-time course, if paid for module by module, will cost $21107.

If paid in full prior to the start of the course the cost will be $19992

Outlined below is a full break down of the course content.

Contact us for more details and become a student of the Centre of Fine Woodworking today.

Contact us for more details and become a student of the Centre of Fine Woodworking today.

Full time course dates for 2012 are:

Beginning Cabinet Making – 12th – 23rd March
Machine Maintenance & Routing Techniques – 26th – 30th March
Dovetail Cabinet & Carcase – 2 – 27 April
Frame & Panel – 30 April – 18 May
Bending Solid Wood – 22 May – 1 June
(Two week break)
Marquetry – 18 June – 29 June
Chair Making – 2 July – 10 August
Hall Table / Desk 13 August – 7 September
(Two week break)
Advanced Furniture Making – 24 September – 23 November

Street Address
The Centre for Fine Woodworking, 465 Wakapuaka Road, RD 1, Nelson 7071 (See Map)
Postal Address
Centre for Fine Woodworking, PO Box 1452, Nelson 7040, New Zealand. E-mail: info@cfw.co.nz, phone: +64 3 545 2674,