Carpenter and Joiner Training

Lesson 1 • Reading Drawings and Specifications

Teaches interpretation of architectural and workshop drawings, scales, and cutting lists. Accurate drawing reading is essential for all project work ahead.

Lesson 2 • Essential Hand Tools

Introduces saws, chisels, planes, and measuring tools with correct grip and maintenance. Proficiency here is prerequisite for all subsequent bench work.

Lesson 3 • Workplace Safety and Regulations

Covers hazard identification, personal protective equipment, and regulatory compliance. Safety principles underpin every practical task in the course.

Lesson 4 • Trade Overview and Career Pathways

Defines carpentry vs. joinery, outlines specializations, and maps career progression. Establishes professional context before any technical skill is introduced.

Lesson 1 • Marking Out Techniques

Introduces marking gauges, mortise gauges, and scribing for transferring dimensions to timber. Precise marking directly determines cut accuracy.

Lesson 2 • Setting Out for Frames and Stairs

Extends basic layout to full-size rod setting out for door frames and stair strings. Students produce a rod that guides all subsequent component cutting.

Lesson 3 • Squareness and Geometry

Applies try squares, combination squares, and the 3-4-5 rule to verify right angles. Squareness checks are repeated at every assembly stage.

Lesson 1 • Planing and Surface Preparation

Teaches face side, face edge, and thicknessing sequences using bench planes. Flat, true surfaces are required before any joint can be cut accurately.

Lesson 2 • Drilling and Boring

Covers brace and bit, hand drill, and countersinking for accurate hole placement. Correct boring technique prevents splitting and ensures joint integrity.

Lesson 3 • Chiseling and Paring

Develops controlled chisel work for waste removal, paring to a line, and chopping mortises. Chisel control is foundational to all joinery work.

Lesson 4 • Sawing Techniques

Covers rip, cross-cut, and tenon sawing with correct stance, grip, and kerf placement. Controlled sawing reduces waste and minimizes finishing time.

Lesson 1 • Routers and Trimmers

Teaches cutter selection, depth setting, and guided routing for rebates, grooves, and profiles. Router skills expand joinery capability significantly.

Lesson 2 • Power Tool Maintenance and Storage

Covers inspection routines, blade and cutter changes, and safe storage practices. Well-maintained tools perform accurately and reduce injury risk.

Lesson 3 • Circular Saws and Jigsaws

Covers blade selection, depth setting, and guided cutting with circular saws and jigsaws. These tools are used daily on site and in the workshop.

Lesson 4 • Drills and Impact Drivers

Covers cordless drill, hammer drill, and impact driver use for fixing and boring. Correct torque and bit selection prevent damage to materials and fixings.

Lesson 1 • Planer-Thicknesser Operations

Teaches face planing, edge jointing, and thicknessing sequences to produce true, parallel stock. Correctly prepared stock is essential for accurate joinery.

Lesson 2 • Mortiser and Drill Press

Covers hollow-chisel mortising and drill press use for accurate, repeatable hole boring. Consistent mortise geometry is critical for strong frame joints.

Lesson 3 • Bandsaw and Scroll Saw

Covers blade tensioning, fence and guide setup, and curved and straight cutting techniques. The bandsaw is the primary machine for resawing and curved work.

Lesson 4 • Table Saw and Panel Saw

Covers fence setting, blade height, and ripping and cross-cutting procedures on the table saw. Accurate dimensioning at this stage reduces hand-tool finishing time.

Lesson 1 • Mortise and Tenon Joints

Teaches proportioning, marking, cutting, and fitting mortise and tenon variations. The mortise and tenon is the primary structural joint in frame construction.

Lesson 2 • Dovetail Joints

Covers through and lapped dovetails for carcass and drawer construction by hand and router. Dovetails demonstrate advanced marking and cutting precision.

Lesson 3 • Adhesives, Clamping, and Assembly

Covers adhesive selection, open time, clamping pressure, and squareness checking during glue-up. Correct assembly technique ensures joints achieve full design strength.

Lesson 4 • Basic Joints: Halving and Housing

Covers cross-halving, corner halving, and through and stopped housing joints. These joints introduce the principle of interlocking timber without mechanical fixings.

Lesson 1 • Trussed Rafter Installation

Covers handling, positioning, bracing, and fixing of factory-made roof trusses on site. Trusses dominate modern residential construction and require specific installation methods.

Lesson 2 • Roof Structure Fundamentals

Introduces roof geometry, common rafter calculation, and ridge board installation for cut roofs. Understanding roof geometry is prerequisite for all rafter work.

Lesson 3 • Stud Wall Framing

Covers sole plate, head plate, stud layout, and nogging installation for timber-frame walls. Accurate framing creates the structural skeleton for subsequent trades.

Lesson 4 • Floor Systems and Decking

Teaches joist sizing, hanger installation, bridging, and sheet decking for timber floors. A stiff, level floor is critical for all finishes above.

Lesson 1 • Fitted Furniture and Cabinet Installation

Covers wall and base unit installation, scribing to walls, and worktop fitting. Students level, plumb, and secure units to produce a functional fitted installation.

Lesson 2 • Skirtings, Architraves, and Mouldings

Covers scribing, mitering, and fixing skirtings and architraves to achieve tight, gap-free joints. Precise fitting of trim defines the quality of a finished interior.

Lesson 3 • Door Hanging and Hardware Fitting

Covers lining installation, door sizing, hinge recessing, and lock fitting for internal and external doors. Correctly hung doors operate smoothly and seal effectively.

Lesson 4 • Staircase Construction and Installation

Teaches string, tread, riser, and newel post assembly and installation to regulatory rise-and-going requirements. Stairs combine structural and aesthetic demands.