An intro and hoping someone can help

[SpinDoctor]

Hi all

My name is Mathew. In a few weeks I will be moving to the UK to be closer to family. I've been a professional woodworker for the past 30 plus years. I'm looking forward to joining in on the banter and maybe meeting a few of you at the various woodworking shows around the country.

Here's where I'm hoping someone may have some ideas. I'll be looking for work soon and was hoping a few could point me in the right direction. So far my attempt at finding the right kind of shop has not produced any real prospects. I'm looking for high end furniture making shops that are hiring. At this stage of my career I can say I'm not interested in cabinet making i.e. particle board boxes and the likes. I've attached a few pics to show some of the work I've done over the years. I have a CV all ready to send so if you happen to know anyone looking for a trade qualified joiner and or well rounded furniture maker please let me know.

Cheers Mat

 

[marcros]

Welcome to the forum,

i suspect that you actually are looking for cabinet making work- this is not making cabinets from sheet material, but is the term for fine firniture making.

 

[Grahamshed]

Dant help with the job I'm afraid Mat but welcome to the forum. I didm;t know anyone still made stuff like that.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Hi Matt.....you'll get nowhere turning out rubbish like that

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Seriously though, I think you might try calling some of the posh refurbishers in London that restore very expensive antiques perhaps. Your work clearly isn't your everyday stuff.

 

[MARK.B.]

Welcome to the forum, hope you have good luck looking for work.

 

[blackrodd]

I would think that if you were able to bring either the desk or chair with you, it wouldn't be too long before you were "snapped up" with you're toolkit. Regards Rodders

 

[Sheffield Tony]

I can't help you at all, but I very much like your chair.

Good luck.

 

[Baldhead]

Welcome Mat, sorry I can't help on the jobs front, but I think your going to be very busy answering my questions on here :wink:

Baldhead

 

[RobinBHM]

Welcome to the forum!

Please excuse my lack of knowledge, but why does the chair have different arms...... :shock:

 

[SteveF]

Welcome to the forum!

Please excuse my lack of knowledge, but why does the chair have different arms...... :shock:

and legs (hammer)

i assume was a demo of skill

Steve

 

[rafezetter]

Welcome to the forum!

Please excuse my lack of knowledge, but why does the chair have different arms...... :shock:

and legs (hammer)

i assume was a demo of skill

Steve

Neither, look at it again, the right arm (as we look at it) is showing the inboard edge of the arm support as the arm rest itself sweeps, therefore turning the angle of the support to match - you are looking at the square arm diagonally, just as the left arm is showing the face, as it's orientation is more towards the camera.

Old skill display / style availability pieces tend to be radically different, with sometimes all 4 legs being different and armrests / supports not matching either. They are pretty rare, but I've seen one or two, a google didn't bring up anything after a cursory look, but there's prolly pics around of them.

 

[SpinDoctor]

Hi Matt.....you'll get nowhere turning out rubbish like that

LOL. That's what my wife says also. She's an Ikea™ girl.

 

[krashbandikoot]

Hi Mathew, you're turning out some pretty specialist work there which is rather nice.

The problem you're going to have turning out work like that is that it's labour intensive and a lot of the bigger firms use CNC machines to cut the stock to shape then have an imbecile glue it together.

There's a market for it in the upper class stately home remit for repairs or replica's, you may be able to pick up some work set dressing for films and plays though that will be rare but as a steady trade you will struggle. Certainly actually finding a job with a steady wage and steady hours is going to be a challenge for you so I'd suggest self employment and doing a bit of research on where to advertise for bespoke custom made stuff though be careful, never take a cheque unless you know them well and even then be wary. Cash or direct bank transfer is the way to go on payment and get the money for materials up front if it's the more exotic woods you're working with.

I almost went bust 7 years ago side lining as a self-employed carpenter/joiner due to bounced cheques. These days I'm a mechanic meaning I can always sell the car/bike if the customer can't pay.

Another way to go might be to start an Ebay shop or something like that and just turn out stuff to sell.

 

[SpinDoctor]

Hi Mathew, you're turning out some pretty specialist work there which is rather nice.

The problem you're going to have turning out work like that is that it's labour intensive and a lot of the bigger firms use CNC machines to cut the stock to shape then have an imbecile glue it together.

There's a market for it in the upper class stately home remit for repairs or replica's, you may be able to pick up some work set dressing for films and plays though that will be rare but as a steady trade you will struggle. Certainly actually finding a job with a steady wage and steady hours is going to be a challenge for you so I'd suggest self employment and doing a bit of research on where to advertise for bespoke custom made stuff though be careful, never take a cheque unless you know them well and even then be wary. Cash or direct bank transfer is the way to go on payment and get the money for materials up front if it's the more exotic woods you're working with.

I almost went bust 7 years ago side lining as a self-employed carpenter/joiner due to bounced cheques. These days I'm a mechanic meaning I can always sell the car/bike if the customer can't pay.

Another way to go might be to start an Ebay shop or something like that and just turn out stuff to sell.

Not sure I'm ready to start a business though. Would need to get my head around how things are done first.

So does anyone know of any high end bespoke furniture making shops I can cold call. I've been looking but not seeing anything as yet. I did happen upon one a few months back when I wasn't looking all that seriously somewhere in the south but I can't find them again.