C-8 Creates curved components using wood and composite materials

Overview

Cabinetmakers make curves and irregular shapes out of wood and composite materials. The RSOS names products such as railings, crown mouldings, store and office fixtures, and window treatments. The work includes laying out curved components, building forms, and bending and laminating solid and composite material.

The task has three sub-tasks: building forms (C-8.01), curved laminating (C-8.02) and steam-forming wood (C-8.03).

C-8.01 Builds forms

What you do

• Select the materials for the form.
• Use applied geometry to work out the shape of the form from the project specifications.
• Select and use layout tools according to industry standards.
• Work from templates and layouts according to the drawings.
• Apply adhesives and fasteners to suit the application.
• Apply release agents so that adhesive can be removed easily.
• Match the type of form to the application.
• Select and use tools and equipment to make the form components.

What you need to know

• Types of forms, form materials and types of form construction.
• Types of adhesives and fasteners.
• Release agents, their characteristics and applications.
• Wood and composite materials and their properties.
• The tools and equipment for making form components, and the procedure for building forms.

Range of variables

• Materials include: plywood, particle board, MDF, plastic, bendable plywood, steel, solid wood.
• Layout tools include: compasses, trammel points, protractors, straight edge.
• Types of form construction include: shaped walls, two-part moulds, vacuum mould.
• Adhesives include: wood glues, contact cement, epoxies.
• Fasteners include: screws, nails, staples, anchors.
• Properties include: density, bendability, flexibility.
• Tools and equipment include: band saws, jigsaws, table saws, routers.
• Industry standards include: AWMAC, AWI, WI, CKCA, shop-specific standard.

C-8.02 Performs curved laminating

What you do

• Select and use a clamping method according to industry standards and the project specifications.
• Work out laminating requirements from the drawings and specifications.
• Select and sort the materials.
• Apply adhesives, fasteners and clamps to suit the application.
• Laminate the materials in sequence.

What you need to know

• Characteristics and applications of curved laminating.
• Wood and composite materials and their properties.
• The sequence of lamination.
• The range of percentage of springback of curved laminating materials.
• Joints used in laminating.
• Final sizing techniques.
• Curing time needed for different materials and adhesives, and the types of adhesives.
• Clamps used for curved laminating, and how to use them.
• How to form curved components with a vacuum bag.
• How to kerf and/or bend material to reach the required radius.

Range of variables

• Materials include: bendable plywood, MDF, veneers, hardwood, solid wood.
• Properties include: density, bendability, flexibility, moisture.
• Types of joints include: scarf, butt.
• Adhesives include: wood glues, contact cement, epoxies.
• Fasteners include: screws, nails, staples, anchors.
• Clamps include: band, C, edge, bar, vacuum bag.

C-8.03 Steam-forms wood

What you do

• Select and use tools and equipment.
• Work out steam-forming requirements from the drawings, project specifications and wood properties.
• Build a steam box big enough for the size of the material.
• Calculate steaming time from the material thickness and species.
• Clamp the wood to the form after steaming, and keep it clamped until it has cured.

What you need to know

• Characteristics and applications of steam forming wood.
• Moisture content of woods.
• Methods of bending wood.
• How to determine steaming time for different thicknesses and species.
• The tools and equipment for steam forming, and the steam-forming procedure.

Range of variables

• Methods of bending wood include: steam, heat.

Note: In the validation table for C-8.03, British Columbia is marked "no" (the sub-task is not performed by qualified workers there), while the other validating jurisdictions say "yes". It remains a common core sub-task.

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Source: Red Seal Occupational Standard – Cabinetmaker, Task C-8 (pp. 72–76); validation definitions (pp. 8–9).