Joiner facts for kids
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Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, May Day 1914
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Activity sectors
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Construction |
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Education required
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Vocational School |
A joiner is a skilled person who builds things by fitting pieces of wood together. They create many different items, especially the finer, more detailed wooden parts of a building or ship. This can include furniture, interior and exterior doors, windows, and stairs.
Joiners often work in a workshop, where they use special machines to help them create strong wood joints. They also work on job sites, installing the items they have made. In shipbuilding, a marine joiner might also work with materials other than wood, such as strong floor coverings or special seals.
The words joinery and joiner are commonly used in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the main trade union for carpenters is still called the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.
What Does a Joiner Do?
Joiners are experts at making things from wood. They focus on creating parts that are then "joined" together to form a complete item. This is different from a carpenter, who usually builds the main wooden structure of a building, like the walls and roof.
Joiners make many useful and beautiful items, such as:
- Doors and window frames
- Stairs
- Tables and chairs
- Bookshelves and cabinets
- Other types of furniture
Becoming a Joiner
In the UK, young people learning about wood crafts can choose different paths. One path is called bench joinery. This involves learning how to prepare, measure, and make wooden parts in a workshop. Another path is site carpentry and joinery. This focuses on installing the wooden parts that have been made and building timber elements used in construction.
Other Woodworking Professions
Many skilled people work with wood. The Institute of Carpenters recognizes several different professions that use woodworking skills:
- Carpenters: These professionals build and repair wooden structures, like houses and roofs.
- Furniture and Cabinet Makers: They design and build custom furniture and cabinets.
- Boat builders (Woodworking Skills): These craftspeople use wood to construct or repair boats.
- Joiners: As discussed, they make detailed wooden items and fittings.
- Shopfitters: They design and install the interiors of shops and stores, often using wood.
- Structural Post and Beam Carpenters (Timber framing): These specialists build large wooden frames for buildings.
- Heavy Wheelwrights: They make and repair wooden wheels, often for wagons or carts.
- Wood Carvers: These artists create sculptures and decorative items from wood.
- Wood Turners: They use a lathe to shape wood into round forms, like bowls or table legs.
