Cabinet Maker Kaihanga Kapata Taonga

Physical Requirements

Cabinet makers need to have steady hands and good hand-eye co-ordination. People with asthma or other breathing problems need to be able to control these conditions in the workshop.

Useful Experience

Useful experience for cabinet makers includes:

• furniture sales work
• woodturning
• work in carpentry or joinery.

Personal Qualities

Cabinet makers must be:

• quick and neat in their work
• patient
• accurate, with an eye for detail
• able to work independently or as part of a furniture factory team. 

Skills

Cabinet makers need to have:

• knowledge of furniture styles, and timber and cabinet-making materials
• cabinet-making skills, including knowledge of furniture-making and repair methods
• design skills
• technical drawing skills and the ability to read diagrams
• knowledge of production standards
• the ability to operate machinery and use tools correctly.

Self-employed cabinet makers need marketing and business skills.

Conditions

Cabinet makers:

• usually work regular business hours but may work late or at weekends to complete orders
• work in factories or small workshops
• work in conditions that can be noisy, dusty and may contain fumes.