Term Two, Week Two: Glue-Ups, Drawers and Dovetails

Week two back at the furniture school and the workshop has shifted up a gear. Most students have now glued up their carcases and are knee deep in the next major stage of their projects.

Before any fine joinery begins, students have spent a fair bit of time in the machine room selecting and processing their boards. Chisels and plane blades have been resharpened, planes finely tuned, and many are pleased to be back on the hand tools again.

With tools ready, attention has turned to drawer box making and dovetailing.

It’s a demanding stage both physically and mentally, requiring students to get properly into the zone and maintain intense focus at the bench. But it’s a process everyone enjoys, and one that pays off in the satisfaction and reward of a clean fitting joint as the work becomes more refined.

Across the benches you’ll see drawer components carefully laid out, pins and tails being marked with precision, and plenty of quiet concentration as students focus in on their lines. For some, this is their first experience of half‑blind dovetails — a traditional and highly satisfying joint most commonly associated with fine drawer work.

Half‑blind dovetails demand accuracy and patience. The goal is a drawer box that fits its aperture perfectly. It’s very precise work! While the full fitting process will continue into next week, this stage lays the foundation for that accuracy.

It’s been great to see confidence growing so quickly, and to watch traditional skills being applied thoughtfully to contemporary furniture designs. There’s a strong sense of momentum in the workshop as projects really begin to take shape. Stay tuned as we move into the drawer fitting process.

Upcoming Courses

We still have a small number of places available on several upcoming courses:

• Introduction to Furniture Making 5-day course starting 2nd February — 2 places left Next course starting 9th March — 2 places left
• Tri Table Making – Laminating & Veneering 5-day course starting 9th February — only 2 places left
• Dovetailed Box Making 10-day course starting 16th March
• 4-Week Furniture Making Course Starting 29th June — spaces available
• 12-Week Long Course Starting 12th April — very limited places remaining
• Designer Maker Course Our next Designer Maker course starts in September and is nearly full. The course is available in 2- or 3-term options. The 2-term option can be a particularly good fit for international students and may align with a 26-week study visa (subject to current visa requirements).

Short course bookings can be made online. For long course enquiries, please contact Oliver Waters at: school@watersandacland.co.uk

For full details on all courses, visit: