Furniture and Cabinet Making Curriculum

Succeed by learning how to use your Penn Foster program.

 

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:

 

• Understand how to use your Student Portal.
• Access the Penn Foster Community and use it to find answers.
• Connect with Penn Foster on various social media sites.

It’s very important for you to know how to identify, select, and safely use hand and power tools.

 

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:

 

• Basic safety guidelines for working with tools in a shop environment.
• The proper use of basic hand tools.
• How to use ladders and scaffolding.
• The proper use of measuring tools.
• Important safety guidelines for working with electricity.
• How to use electrical power tools safely.

This lesson will introduce you to the craft of woodworking.

 

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:

 

• Learn how wood “moves,” or expands and contracts with temperature and humidity changes.
• Understand how trees are cut, milled, and turned into lumber.
• Determine how a board was cut by looking at its grain pattern.
• Distinguish the roles of cabinet maker and furniture maker.

Learn the organization of a workshop. An organized workplace is an easy, productive, and, most importantly, safe
place in which to work.

 

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:

 

• Choose a suitable workplace.
• Understand the importance of setting up a permanent workshop.
• Choose the best types of lighting to use in the workplace.
• Identify the three major categories of tools needed to perform your work.
• Explain the necessity for proper ventilation, dust collection, and filtration.

Before cutting the first board or drilling the first hole, you need to have in mind what you actually want to build and how the end product is going to look and function.

 

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:

 

• Recognize and explain the use of various layout tools.
• Use the metric and English measuring systems.
• Convert measurements from one system to the other.
• Read basic prints.

This lesson covers many of the basic principles in joint making and what’s necessary to produce strong joints that will withstand the test of time.

 

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:

 

• Consider the three most important factors in choosing a joint.
• Understand the importance of long-grain contact in a joint.
• Test-fit a joint before gluing and assembly.
• Construct edge and butt joints, rabbet and lap joints, and dovetail and box joints.
• Recognize the three main types of dovetail joints.
• Understand why some joints fail.

At the end of this unit you’ll complete a graded project, putting into practice what you’ve learned so far. You’ll be given illustrated, step-by-step instructions for this activity. This layout involves the use of a combination square and tape measure. When laying out the pattern, you can also practice marking specific angles with an adjustable bevel. To help you in adjusting the tool, a table and a diagram are provided with your project

You’ll learn how to properly use and select fasteners for a project.

 

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:

 

• Use nails, screws, bolts, nuts, and washers in your projects.
• Recognize the different types of threaded fasteners.
• Differentiate between the different types of hinges.
• Select the proper hinges, locks, latches, and drawer pulls for cabinet work.

In this lesson, you’ll get the chance to explore the basics of designing and building boxes.

 

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:

 

• Choose and properly install box hardware, such as hinges, lid stays, and box locks.
• Understand the various design considerations in box making.
• Select good stock.
• Use common joinery techniques for box making.
• Install butt hinges properly.
• List the most commonly used box lining materials.

Learn some advanced joints and joinery techniques.

 

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:

 

• Learn what materials should be used to construct jigs as well as the actual construction and use of several joint-making jigs.
• Make dados and grooves.
• Identify the various types of mortise and tenon joinery.
• Test-fit a mortise and tenon joint properly prior to assembly.
• Know on what projects to use miter joinery.
• Use plate joinery.
• Understand the benefits and drawbacks of building and using jigs for joinery.

At the end of this unit you’ll complete a graded project, putting into practice what you’ve learned so far. In this project you’ll cut your first dovetail joint. You’ll be given illustrated, step-by-step instructions for laying out and cutting a dovetail joint with hand tools, which are also provided.

Learn how to select and apply stains, topcoats, and other finishing materials to woodworking projects.

 

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:

 

• Apply wood strippers.
• Repair dents and gouges.
• Mix colors and shade, glaze, and tone a workpiece.
• Use putty, filler, primer, and sealer.
• Apply a topcoat.

At the end of this unit you’ll complete a graded project, putting into practice what you’ve learned so far. You’ll be given illustrated, step-by-step instructions for this activity. You’ll start by sanding the wood smooth. Then you’ll apply two coats of finish. Sandpaper, stain, and brush are all provided.

Learn about laying out and planning a kitchen and how to construct kitchen cabinets.

 

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:

 

• Sketch a proper floor plan.
• Properly work with and apply plastic laminates.
• Install shelf-support systems in cabinet cases.
• Properly install various styles of drawer and door pulls.
• Construct various types of base systems for kitchen cabinets.
• Install and trim out upper kitchen cabinets.

In this practical exercise, you’ll have the opportunity to apply your woodworking skills and your knowledge of cabinet design and construction. Included with your exercise is an 11" x 17" print containing drawings of a shop caddy, along with several drawings and a description of the materials needed to build a shop caddy. This exercise won’t be graded, but you will submit a journal of your activities for evaluation and suggestions.