How to become a cabinet maker

Explore A Career In Cabinet Making

Cabinet makers are woodworkers who specialise in designing, fabricating, and assembly of cabinets and furniture. Their responsibilities span from cutting wood in a workshop to working with customers to build unique designs.

Understanding the responsibilities of a cabinet maker will assist you in planning your career in the construction sector. In this post, we will answer the pressing question, "What is a cabinet maker?" and explore what a cabinet maker does and what it takes to become one.

Successfully Become A Cabinet Maker In AUS

Cabinet makers are often required to have a Certificate III in cabinet making. This Certificate III program can be completed as an apprenticeship and can provide unique avenues into specialty employment.

Getting the required certification can give you the skills and knowledge you need to become a skilled cabinet maker. If you desire to build a career as a cabinet maker in Australia, follow these steps:

Step One: Seek an apprenticeship

An Australian apprenticeship for Certificate III in cabinet making equips you with the skills and expertise necessary to perform tasks as a cabinet maker. The duration of an apprenticeship might vary based on the state in which you reside. Typically, an apprenticeship in cabinet making lasts between 36 and 48 months. Apprenticeships are an excellent opportunity to build your training and work experience.

Apprenticeships often involve both on-the-job training and classroom instruction. Applying to an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network will assist you in locating the ideal environment to grow your skills. Apprentice networks can give guidance, train contracts, and help find prospective employees. Certificate III in cabinet making (kitchens and bathrooms) is a great way to learn the skills you need to become a qualified cabinet maker in the furniture and cabinet-making industries.

This apprenticeship will teach you a wide range of skills about making and installing cabinets, such as kitchen and bathroom furniture. Cabinet maker TAFE courses teach students how to make things like kitchen fit-outs, bookshelves, bathroom vanities, and media units. You also learn how to estimate and price work, make drawings, and use suitable machines, tools, and methods to get the job done.

Some of the few nationally certified Certificate III in cabinet making programs that will provide you with national recognition as a trained and qualified cabinet maker tradesperson are TAFE NSW, TAFE QLD, TAFE SA, Holmesglen University, and Victoria University. With this qualification, you can create your own business or work from home or in a business setting.

Step Two: Specialise

Certificate III provides a general qualification in cabinet making. However, there are two viable expert routes. While pursuing your certificate III in cabinet building, you can specialise in either furniture (certificate iii in furniture) or kitchen and bathroom (certificate iii in kitchens and bathrooms) construction. The duration of the apprenticeship is often unaffected by the path chosen.‍

Furniture makers can get employment that requires renovating and restoring old wooden furniture and fixtures. Cabinet makers specialising in kitchens and bathrooms may find employment designing and constructing sophisticated cabinets and wood elements for these areas. The best career path for you depends on the aspect of woodworking you are interested in and what you like to do in your spare time.

Step Three: Start looking for work

After obtaining a Certificate III in cabinet making, you should begin looking for positions as a trained cabinet maker. Expect to find employment in small workshops and significant enterprises. Another good place to find jobs is through Seek. Search for open cabinetmaker opportunities and apply.

Ensure that all the necessary data on your resume is correct and factual when applying for jobs. Include relevant qualifications, accomplishments, and job experience in your CV. You can also include a cover letter discussing your interests and why you want to get a job making cabinets.

New Technology Influencing Cabinet Making

More focus is on green building methods

Green building approaches are gaining popularity in the construction sector as both households and companies seek to lessen their environmental footprint. Cabinet builders are responsible for manufacturing cabinets that make up most of a building's structure.

They must familiarise themselves with green construction principles to remain competitive. This includes using materials that are good for the environment and energy-saving technologies like LED lighting.

Incorporating technology in cabinetry

Technology is becoming quite common in cabinet construction. This is because technology can help expedite several areas of the cabinet-making process, including design and manufacture.

As cabinet makers continue to incorporate technology into their work, they will need to acquire the skills necessary to use it creatively. This means learning to use software to design and make things and digital tools to measure and cut wood.

More collaboration between architects and contractors

Collaboration between designers and builders is gaining popularity in the cabinet-building sector. Collaboration facilitates a deeper understanding of what each side needs from the other to complete the project.

Cabinet makers who can cooperate with designers will be in high demand in the coming years as this trend continues to expand. By getting to know designers and building good relationships with them, cabinet makers can ensure that their projects are successful and meet the standards and needs of both parties.

Skills Required To Excel As A Cabinet Maker

The following skills are necessary to stand out in the cabinet-making industry:

Problem-solving

Complex jobs require cabinet makers to think critically. Not all cabinets or furnishings fit kitchen or bathroom layouts. Cabinet makers may need to make changes outside of the specifications. You can get better at solving problems by doing things like coming up with ideas and analysing them.

Organised work environment

A well-organised workplace improves cabinet makers' efficiency and safety. A kitchen cabinet set requires several pieces of equipment and supplies. Knowing where resources are may save time and avoid errors. Goal-setting, planning, and time management may help you get organised.

Patience

A cabinetmaker needs patience when doing delicate work. You can't rush complex bespoke furniture or cabinets. Restoring antique woodwork might take months. Organisation and other stress reduction techniques may help in enhancing patience.

Teamwork

Cabinet makers operate in large factories or workshops with dozens of coworkers where multiple people can build furniture and cabinets. Each person can handle different steps. Teamwork ensures competent and efficient work. Positivity and recognition of roles are ways to create a positive team atmosphere.

Adaptability

A cabinet builder does several operations that need many tools and machines. New woodworking cutting and joining technologies are created periodically. Adaptability helps a cabinet maker stay on top of new processes and technology. New experiences, errors, and learning from others all promote adaptability.

Awareness

Cabinet-making workshops can be risky if people don't understand the importance of safety. Most cabinetry tools can cause injury if not used appropriately. Awareness of one's environment and tools can improve workplace safety. Healthy behaviours such as resting and eating healthy meals can help boost your overall understanding.

Communication

Communication is a valuable trait for cabinetmakers. Some jobs demand sharing design ideas with clients or co-workers. A cabinet maker with solid communication skills can explain and follow design standards. Good communication practices like active listening and skill training can help you excel in this role.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a cabinet-making apprenticeship last?

To become a cabinet maker in Australia, you must typically finish a four-year Certificate III in cabinet making. The training is provided through an apprenticeship. It teaches people how to make and fix wooden furniture and how to fit and put together finished wooden parts to make furniture.

What are the job prospects for cabinet makers?

The trade sector and employment availability depend on the economy and other variables. In Australia, there is a need for experienced cabinet makers. Most cabinet makers in Perth work in industries like production, agriculture, forestry, and fishing. Cabinet makers are employed by companies that produce furniture, kitchens, bathrooms, and prefabricated wooden pieces. Some small firms produce bespoke goods or repair and restore items.

Cabinet makers who work for larger companies make and install furniture for homes and businesses that can stand independently or stay in one place. They may even be promoted to the status of manager or supervisor based on their trade expertise and personal qualities. Cabinet makers with the right skills and training from a reputable training provider or company may even start their own business.

What is the average income of a cabinet maker in Australia?

The national average income for cabinet makers is $84,291. Depending on your qualifications and experience level, your compensation as a cabinet maker might be lower or higher than the average. The national average apprentice cabinetmaker's income is $48,688. Generally, an apprentice cabinet maker's earnings are categorised by training level.

A third-year apprentice stands to earn a better income than a first-year trainee, for example. These salary figures reflect data available at the time of writing; however, salaries may vary based on the employing organisation, the candidate's experience, education, and location.

Can international students become cabinet makers in AUS?

The cabinet maker trade is on the skilled occupations list in Australia. Trade Recognition Australia conducts skills evaluations for professionals in this sector. A Certificate III in cabinet making is essential for overseas students to get a favourable skills evaluation as cabinet makers.

Students can practice without residing in Australian regions or being sponsored by an employer when they complete this course and enrol in the job-readiness programs.

What distinguishes a cabinetmaker from a joiner?

Joiners and cabinet makers are sometimes said to be one and the same professionals, but they are strictly distinct. Joiners primarily work on the joints of structures. Joints describe windows and trusses. A cabinetmaker may occasionally be responsible for creating window frames, although they do not often install them.

What are the working conditions of a cabinet maker in AUS?

A typical day for a cabinet maker includes constructing and installing cabinets and storage parts from various materials, including steel, wood, and laminate. To complete this duty, they use different types of hand-driven and electrically-powered instruments like hammers, drills, and saws.

Generally, commercial, residential, and retail construction cabinet makers work under conventional business hours. In specific commercial settings, they must work overnight, doubling their income.

Cabinet manufacturers operate alone in small firms and individual building projects, but in large factories, they work in teams. Cabinet makers also travel from one location to another to offer their services. You have to have insurance that covers client claims about security and safety to work in cabinet construction.

How is a cabinet maker different from a carpenter?

What they create is the primary distinction between a cabinet maker and a carpenter. They are both skilled woodworkers, but a carpenter's responsibility is to repair or build building frames.

Cabinet makers are not concerned with structural elements such as joists or beams but rather with cabinets and furniture. Typically, carpenters labour on construction sites, creating roof frames or wooden walls.

Cabinet Making Is A Rewarding Profession

Being a cabinet maker is a gratifying profession in Australia. It is predicted to experience stable growth in the future, with nine out of every ten cabinet makers in full employment. So, if you are genuinely interested, it is a fulfilling field for people who enjoy working with wood.

The first step in kick-starting your journey in the cabinet-making profession is obtaining a certificate III in cabinet making. You then proceed to an apprenticeship with a reputable home improvement company, where you gain the necessary skills and competence needed to stand out on your own. Good luck!