A woodcarver carves beautiful images and designs into selected pieces of furniture. The types of products a woodcarver will design and carve include lyre-backed chairs, ball-and-claw feet for tables and chairs, ribbon-festooned aprons of tables, drawer fronts of chests, tea coasters and the like. Although much of the work previously done by hand is now done by machine, some tasks still require the skill and ingenuity of the woodcarver.
The woodcarver marks with chalk those pieces of wood which must be cut away. The woodcarver lays the article on a workbench or clamps it firmly in a bench vice and slowly cuts and chisels away the wood. Care needs to be taken not to cut away too much wood. The article is then finished by sand papering it carefully and staining or varnishing it.
Woodcarvers can specialize in the type of wood they use. They can also specialize in imitation antique furniture or the restoration of antique furniture.
Satisfying Aspects
- working with your hands
- working alone in a peaceful atmosphere
- the challenge which the job presents
- being creative and exercising your skill
- seeing the results of your handiwork
Demanding aspects
- poor promotion prospects
- not very good remuneration unless exceptionally talented
- having to work on one's own with little contact with others
Requirements
A woodcarver should:
- be at least 16 years old;
- willing to undergo a selection test battery;
- be dexterous and skilled with his hands;
- be artistic and enjoy working with wood;
- be careful and patient;
- work accurately and neatly;
- enjoy working alone;
- have good eye-hand coordination;
- have good eyesight;
- have a feeling for form and line;
- be physically healthy and strong;
- be able to handle heavy pieces of furniture;
- be able to stand all day;
- have perseverance to practise the required skills.
School Subjects
Grade 8 Certificate
Compulsory Subjects: None
Recommended Subjects: Engineering and Technology, Mathematics
Training
Register with an employer providing suitable training. All costs of successful training are borne by the employer. Wage increases during the stages of learnership are dependent on the progress of the candidate through the system as well as entry level. Entry levels are more practical than academic.
The Furniture Industry Training Board (FITB) enables the industry to provide comprehensive training to all of its employees:
Theoretical and practical training: provided by professional trainers at one of the centres of the FITB. Progress depends on the ability to "do" rather than to "know".
Duration of course: 2 to 4 years depending on the progress of the candidate in the modular system
Final examination: a compulsory trade test at the Centre of Trade Testing at Olifantsfontein as well as accredited training centres
Advanced Training: the Furniture Production Unit of the FITB in Johannesburg offers the following courses:
- Diploma in Furniture Production: 2 years’ full-time course for matriculants
- Certificate in Furniture Production: 3 months’ course for employees already in the industry
Note: changes in the training of artisans are subject to the official approval of the Registrar of Labour Training. A new system of learnership training will be introduced within the next few years. Each industry will make use of its own methods and time to implement the system.
Employer
- Woodworking shops like large furniture manufacturers
- Factories that manufacture collector's pieces or hand-carved furniture
- Building contractors
- Carpentry shops
- Furniture manufacturers
- Cabinet-makers
- Self-employment, own small woodworking factory
Contact
The Executive Director
Furniture Industry Training Board
P O Box 8407
Johannesburg, 2000
Tel. (011) 337-1424