Furniture Repair & Restoration Workshop (at Among The Trees)

What you'll learn

Learn how to Repair and Restore Furniture with one of our Woodwork Courses in Sydney.

Get started restoring, repairing, and maintaining furniture with our 2-full day or 8 session (evening) introductory course.

Participants bring a piece they would like to get started repairing, and through collaborative engagement, each person will learn about a variety of common problems and repairs for different pieces of furniture. As a group we will go around to discuss what can and cannot be done for each piece before beginning work to help get them started on the road to renewal.

Working under experienced instructors, through example and demonstration participants will learn about the restoration process, identifying damage, identifying furniture components, understanding common faults in furniture, and how to best resolve them.

On top of discussing the specific concerns of the pieces participants bring in, they will also learn the basics of tool use, cleaning, veneer repair, glues and adhesives, fixing broken components, replacing losses, reviving a finish, and some other tips and tricks to get more life out of your furniture.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this woodwork for beginners course you should have:

Fully repaired, or begun restoring a furniture piece of your own
An appreciation of the value of second-hand timber and old furniture
The knowledge to safely and effectively use a variety of traditional hand tools such as chisels, handsaws, handplanes, scrapers, marking tools, screw drivers, drills and drivers, hammers, clamps, and more
Been introduced to woodworking and furniture terminology
An understanding of different adhesives and finishes and what to use
A guide to the ethics and options present in furniture repair and restoration
Hands on experience handling and repairing different pieces of furniture

Course content

What will be covered in this furniture repair and restoration workshop?

Knowledge of general safety in the workshop
The tools of restoration and repair
Basics of furniture construction and working with wood
Basics of repair and restoration
Basics of timber and finish identification
How to repair broken timber components
How to repair damaged veneer
How to fill or replace losses in furniture
How to safely clean furniture
How to resolve common surface damages (white rings, black stains, etc)
Glues/adhesives
Basic finishes
Clamping and securing
Stripping and sanding where necessary
Upholstery repair where necessary

Intended audience

Who is this furniture repair & restoration workshop for?

Any learner who wishes to improve their personal and practical skills for self interest or the workplace.

Knowledge required

This workshop is aimed at people with minimal to no experience with woodwork and who are looking for an introduction to the craft. It is open to anyone 18 years and over.
The course is run using entirely hand tools so you need to be aware that there is an element of physicality involved and most of the work is carried out standing up.

Information for booking students under 18

Among the Trees is committed to child safety and has zero tolerance for child abuse. We care deeply about the children’s well-being and are committed to acting in their best interest at all times. You can read our full Child Safe Policy.

Among The Trees accepts students under 18 in two groups:

Students 13-15 years of age must attend all courses with a parent or guardian. This parent or guardian must also purchase a place in the course and take part. One parent/guardian is able to attend with multiple students.
Students 16-17 years of age may attend a course without a parent or guardian present.

For all students under 18, the full name and contact information for parents and guardians must be provided when booking. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us.

Course venue

Among The Trees

27 Sydney Street, Marrickville 2204

We encourage students to utilize the numerous public transport options nearby or ride their bicycle to Among the Trees, there is a bike rack on site. Street parking is limited during the day and onsite parking is off-limits for course participants during business hours (Wed-Sat 10am-4pm). Please contact Among the Trees directly if you have access concerns or requirements, there is an accessible parking spot available that we can reserve if requested. Outside business hours there are 3 onsite parking spots available.

About Among The Trees

We can’t get enough of reclaimed and recycled timber, and we believe it should be accessible to everyday people. There’s nothing like working with wood, and to use and love a product that would otherwise have been sent to landfill or be burned off helps keep the story of that piece alive.

We want to show you how and why we love this material, and share with you how to work with it. We are Among The Trees, and we can’t wait to say hello. Please check us out at our website.

Transportation and parking

Among The Trees is a 7 minute walk from Sydenham Station. There are bus stops for the lines 418, 423, 425, 426 and 430 all 4-6 minutes walk from ATT.
There are 3 onsite parking spaces available and street parking on Sydney Street and surrounding area.
If you are riding your bicycle, there is space inside ATT for you to store your bike.

Tools and Materials

What to bring

Please bring a small piece of furniture you would like to work on and any fabric, hardware, or other components that you’d like to repair your piece with.
You are encouraged to bring your own facemask, protective eyewear and ear protection however sanitised Personal Protective Equipment will be available to use. Any borrowed PPE needs to be sanitised after use.
A face mask can be provided for each student when booking any course that includes sanding.
You are required to wear closed-toe shoes. Please wear clothing that can get dirty (e.g. sawdust will be present). Long hair needs to be tied back and no loose hanging jewellery should be worn.

Additional information

Please note the following:

Concessions or discounts cannot be applied to classes hosted at the Among The Tree venue.

Please advise Among The Trees about:

your emergency contact (name, relationship and contact phone number), and
any special requirements (e.g. wheelchair access) if applicable

Lunch

For Classes running all day, a 30 minute lunch break will take place halfway through the class. Students are encouraged to bring their own lunch, alternatively there are Cafe's and take away restaurants nearby.

Course tutors

This course has no current classes. Please join our waitlist and we will notify you when we have places available. Join waitlist for Furniture Repair & Restoration Workshop (at Among The Trees)