Week Seven: Complexity and Completion

Back after the halft term break, the workshop has quickly regained its rhythm. Several projects are now nearing completion, with some students deep into final sanding and others preparing for final assembly. As the pieces take their final forms, the complexity and ambition of this group’s designs are becoming very clear!

Tom’s Overlocker Cabinet

Tom has successfully fitted his large hinged overlocker cabinet — essentially a substantial chest formed by two cabinets hinged together, designed to house and conceal a sewing machine. The alignment is spot on, and he has now fitted most of his drawers. He’s edging very close to completion, and it’s been great to see the piece come together so precisely.

Brian – Media Unit Complete

Brian has now completed his maple media unit, and the timber has developed a beautiful shimmer with the finish. It’s a refined, confident piece and a real achievement. We’ll be sharing more photographs once it’s into the photo area. Meanwhile, Brian is finalising the design for his second self-design project (SDP2) and preparing to begin the next build.

Matt R – Desktop and Structure

Matt R has glued his shaped legs to his walnut desktop, and they look stunning. The design is elegant and thoughtfully resolved, with classy structural details that will rarely be seen but are essential to fine furniture. Beneath the top sits a rail with elongated movement slots, fixed centrally with brass screws to allow the solid timber top to expand and contract evenly from the centre. It’s a considered solution, beautifully executed. Once the drawer carcase is fitted, he’ll be onto the final stages.

Ben – Patience and Sanding

Ben is making excellent progress on his cabinet, though he’s currently deep in the realities of sanding, with over 90 slats to prepare before attaching them around the cabinet as decorative and functional handles. He mentioned he’s already spent much of the week sanding, and anyone who’s built furniture knows how deceptively time consuming that stage can be. It’s one of those processes where patience really pays off.

Nick – Dovetails and Form

Nick is carefully planing his maple credenza carcase down to those large dovetails, which he plans to soften with a generous roundover. The scale of the joinery combined with the refined shaping is going to look superb once complete.

Matt F – Fumed Oak Details

Matt F has fumed his oak cabinet, and the result is rich, dark, and full of depth. The leg and rail connections are beautifully resolved, and even the currently exposed back and battens that will locate the back panel have been carefully detailed with brass fittings. These are elements rarely seen once a piece is installed, yet they speak volumes about the standards of fine furniture. No detail overlooked. One can easily imagine someone years from now inspecting the interior and admiring the workmanship.

Clara, Steve and Max – Final Push

Clara, like Matt R, has shaped the legs of her side table, and they’re looking crisp and ready for final glue up. The proportions are coming together beautifully.

Steve is refining the internal details of his drinks cabinet. With the drawer unit in position, he has crafted and fitted curved supports that sit precisely between the drawer carcase and the angled carcase top (a scary cut that required real confidence at the table saw!)

Max’s Sideboard

Max is also nearing completion of his Japanese-inspired sideboard. All decorative door staves are fitted, and he has made a custom jig to accurately locate and route his hinges. He expects to be finished next week.

Brilliant to see all the projects maturing and details are being resolved, and the quality of work remains exceptionally high as always.

Keep up the great work, everyone!

Upcoming Short Courses

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

Introduction To Furniture Making | Tool Prep & Use 5-day course starting March 9th — Just two places left!
NEW 5-Day Mirror Making Course with Lamination and Hand Shaping — Starts May 11th
Dovetailed Box Making 10-day course starting 16th March
4-Week Furniture Making Course Starting 29th June — spaces available, but very limited.
12-Week Long Course Starting April 20th — Now Fully Booked
Designer Maker Course Our next 3-Term Designer Maker course starting in September is now fully booked. The 2-term course is nearly full, so do get in touch soon if you’re interested — It’s 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: