Three-Month Furniture Making Intensive

Build a solid foundation in the most essential woodworking skills with this in-depth, comprehensive furniture making course designed for both beginners and those looking to build expertise.

This intensive class will guide you from basic hand and machine skills to advanced techniques in furniture making. Through a series of demonstrations and exercises, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills to build most tables and case pieces. Complete a number of small projects before moving on to building a shaker nightstand and a cabinet on stand.

This class is suitable for beginners to lifelong enthusiastic hobbyists and everyone in between. For those who wish to apply to one of our Career Training programs and who don’t have much prior woodworking experience, this course provides prerequisite skill-building. For additional information on the cognitive and physical abilities necessary for this class, please view our Technical Standards below.

Upcoming Sessions

Registration is open for Intensive sessions through early 2025. Join our mailing list to receive announcements on the launch of future sessions.

  • Fall 2024: Monday, September 16 – Thursday, December 12
  • Winter/Spring 2025: Monday, January 13 – Tuesday, April 8

Class meets Monday – Friday from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm with an hour set aside for lunch. Class does not meet on holidays, at night, or on weekends.

Major Topics Covered

  • Tool sharpening (flat-edge tools)
  • Hand tools skills and development
  • Drafting and project organization
  • Joinery (various mortise and tenon and dovetail joints as well as compound joinery)
  • Machine room safety, machine set-up, and procedures
  • Lumber yard trip (measuring for an selecting the correct lumber for a project)
  • Turning (spindle and faceplate)
  • Veneering
  • Case and table construction
  • Finishing

Students are required to bring the items on this supply list to the first day of class. Many of the tools and supplies for Community Education classes are available in our Store. Please email our Store at store@nbss.edu, call 617-227-0155 x140, or stop by during open hours to browse. View Store hours and other information.

Students should also plan for the following additional costs during the program. Please note that the figures provided are estimates and that prices are subject to change based on supply chain and student selection. 

  • Lumber for the cabinet on stand: $175 – $300
  • Finishes: $50+
  • Hardware: $60

Though this is an introductory course, the nature and length of the instruction requires that students meet these Technical Standards. For any questions about your ability to meet these standards, please reach out to ce@nbss.edu.

Cognitive Abilities

  • To process, synthesize, organize, and learn new material.
  • To plan a variety of activities and projects.
  • To obtain information for processing through primary senses.
  • To solve problems independently.
  • To utilize basic math concepts for measurement and construction tasks.
  • To follow written, verbal, and demonstrated instructions in English.
  • To visualize three dimensional objects.

Communication Skills

  • To communicate effectively with faculty, staff, and other professionals.
  • To orally report observations.
  • To read English sufficiently to understand and comprehend technical books, written protocols, and plans.
  • To write English sufficiently to record notes legibly.
  • To express thoughts clearly.

Adaptive Skills

  • To maintain a professional attitude during all work performance.
  • To work individually and as part of a team.
  • To adjust to changes in scheduling and flexibility to meet School or faculty needs.
  • To identify one’s own strengths and weaknesses and to request assistance when needed.
  • To respect and work with fellow students, staff, and faculty.
  • To maintain emotional stability and the maturity necessary to interact with other members of the faculty, students, and professionals in a responsible manner.

Physical Abilities

  • To stoop to adjust tools and materials.
  • To kneel to adjust tools and materials.
  • To crouch to adjust tools and materials.
  • To crawl to adjust tools and materials.
  • To reach to obtain items overhead.
  • To be mobile within the work facility and on site.
  • To move from sitting to standing.
  • To work an 8-10 hour day with reasonable breaks, sitting and standing at a workbench.

Manual Abilities

  • To manipulate fine motor tasks.
  • To locate and examine materials.
  • To use assistive technology, computers, typing, writing for documentation.
  • Gross and fine motor skills to manipulate tools and materials.
  • Sufficient manual dexterity and mobility to manipulate tools and materials.

Sensory Abilities

  • Visual
    • To observe projects and demonstrations.
    • Ability to see fine detail up close.
  • Auditory
    • To receive verbal directions in English.
    • To be aware of activity in a shop or on site.
  • Tactile
    • To identify touch, pressure, temperature, and texture.

$9,155 is the full cost of the class for 2024; $9,612 is the full cost of the class for 2025. A one-time, $950 non-refundable, non-transferable deposit is due at the time of registration. The remaining balance of $8,205 for 2024 ($8,662 for 2025) is due four weeks before start of class.

Students should also plan for the following additional costs during the program. Please note that the figures provided are estimates and that prices are subject to change based on supply chain and student selection. 

  • Lumber for the cabinet on stand: $175 – $300
  • Finishes: $50+
  • Hardware: $60

For Veterans

Qualifying veterans may use VA benefits, including the Post 9/11 GI Bill® or Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) benefits, to cover the tuition for this course. Download a PDF for more information on the steps needed to do so. Withdrawal from the course may impact VA housing benefits for those receiving them.

To express interest in using VA benefits for the Three-Month Furniture Making Intensive, please send an email to ce@nbss.edu including the following information:

  • Full name
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Mailing address

General registration and cancellation policies do not apply to this class. Deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. NBSS reserves the right to to withdraw a student from the class due to attendance or interpersonal issues. Students with 5 unexcused absences may be withdrawn from the course and refunds will not be issued. If enrollment does not meet 50% capacity by one month before the class starts, NBSS may choose to cancel this session. In this case, students who are signed up will receive full tuition refunds (only), including their deposits. Note: NBSS is not responsible for any charges related to tools, travel, accommodations, or other non-tuition expenses.

The Student Experience

Learn more about what students learn in the Intensive, which is designed for beginners just starting their woodworking journey and lifelong enthusiastic hobbyists looking to build expertise—and everyone in-between.

Questions?

Read our FAQs, or contact our Community Education staff at 617-227-0155 or ce@nbss.edu.