Wood 1032 Furniture Conservation: NIWF and the Minnesota Institute of Arts National Antique Show

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts was conducting their 25th Annual National Antique Show October 23rd through October 26th. This show has some of the finest furniture, art work, jewelry, paintings and glassware that you can find.

The DCTC students have portered in these valuable artifacts for every one of those 25 shows. It has been very rewarding being a part of this show and the opportunity to handle millions of dollars worth of art. The dealers involved with this show have always been willing to share their knowledge with the students.

Andrew Wellesley (red shirt) from Lake Forrest Illinois always has some really wonderful furniture. Andrew is always willing to stop and answer questions about the history of the pieces he sells. The chest on chest has a date written inside the cabinet with the makers name and the date of 1795

Wood 1019 Spot Repair II: Leather and Vinyl Repair

Wood 1019 Spot Repair II would not be complete without having leather and vinyl repair. A Furniture Service Technician needs to be ready for damage that occurs to wood, coatings on wood, upholstery, leather and vinyl.

Studying leather samples is an important part of identifying various leathers. All leather is not repaired the same way.

NIWF Advisory board member Ken Norgaard is sharing his leather repair skills with the students. Ken is employed by Mohawk Finishing Products.

Wood 1019 Spot Repair II: Graduates returning to teach the new students

Graduates continually return to DCTC to share their knowledge. Wilfried Hien and Josh Boyer are back sharing their new skills learned since leaving school. Both Wil and Josh are employed by HOM Furniture.

Hom Furniture has hired several graduates from the Wood Finishing Program. Here you see Rosendo Delgadillo, Delivery Prep Manager from HOM Furniture addressing the new students about employment possibilities.

And don't think it's just lecture and discussion, we get to see these pro's in action!

Wood 1019 Spot Repair II: Upholstery Repair

Along with repairing damaged wood, this class also involves minor upholstery repairs. The photo on the top photo shows Joe Renchin, a Wood Finishing Advisory Board Member, sharing his knowledge of 35 years of upholstery.

Wood 1019 Spot Repair II: Large Damage to Wood

Wood 1019 Spot Repair:

This class instucts students how to repair large damaged areas of wood. Polyester fills are one of many methods of returning the damaged areas to their original shape. They must then have a faux finish applied which color matching and inpainting.

Wood 1015 Spot Repair I: Nick, dent and scratch repair

The second class of the year is Wood 1015 Spot Repair I. The students are learning the art of scratch, nick and dent repair. Several different methods of achieving the repair of small damaged wood and coatings. Each student will purchase their own repair kit and repair several different species of wood. One method of repair is using the traditional "burn in". method. It involves a hot knife and melting a colored plastic stick into the scratch. Once the excess stick is removed, in-painting is needed. This involves painting in fine lines to recreate the grain pattern of the wood that is missing.

Wood 1012 Color Theory: A color matching class.

The first class of the year is Wood 1012 Color Theory. In this class we discuss the terminolgy of the artist, and then complete a series of laboratory sessions at their benches to put the theory to practice. The photo shows a number of panels that each studentis required to duplicate.

Short term Wood Finishing Classes

Here is the DCTC summer session classes for 2009. Please go to http://www.woodfinishing.org/ for detailed information on each class, registration and housing.

Color Matching: $465.00
June 29th – 30th 2009
Instructor: Mitch Kohanek

Introduction to Spot Repair: $465.00
July 1st – 2nd 2009
Instructor: Mitch Kohanek

Restoration, Chemistry and Technology of Transparent Furniture Coatings: $750.00
July 7th – 10th 2009
Instructors: Donald C. Williams, Mitch Kohanek

Hands on Finishing: $750.00
July 13th – 17th 2009
Instructor: Mitch Kohanek

Advanced Finishing: $750.00
July 20th – 24th 2009
Instructors: Greg Johnson, Mitch Kohanek

Spraying Equipment and Techniques: $465.00
July 27th – 28th 2009
Instructors: David Smith, Mitch Kohanek

Piano Grain Filled Finish: $465.00
July 29th – 30th 2009
Instructors: Kevin Hancock, Mitch Kohanek

Follow us through the year and see what our students learn

This blog is designed to show a prospective student what the NIWF experience is. You can follow our curriculum throughout the year by class title. The 9 month program is broken up into nine classes:
Wood 1012 Color Theory
Wood 1015 Spot Repair I
Wood 1019 Spot Repair II
Wood 1004 Wood Working
Wood 1007 Methods of Fastening
Wood 1010 Wood and Finishing Technology
Wood 1026 Advanced Finishing
Wood 1032 Furniture Conservation
Wood 1021 Wood Refinishing

Most of the blog posts will be titled with the corresponding class, so if you want to know what goes on in any of these classes, stay tuned and see first hand what and how we learn!


On a side note, NIWF offers a Furniture Service Technician certificate program for completing the first three courses (Color Theory, Spot Repair I & Spot Repair II). Furniture Service Technicians repair minor damage (referred to as spot repair) to wood, vinyl, leather and fabric. Spot repair usually involves (but is certainly not limited to) repairs such as minor water damage, scratches, nicks, dents, cigarette burns, or even a fairly large damaged area such as the corner of a table. These repairs are made by filling the void with a solid material and applying color to it, matching the surrounding area. Leather and vinyl repair is done much the same way. Upholstery can be repaired without having to re-upholster the entire piece.
Furniture refurbishing means cleaning (instead of stripping) furniture and furniture maintenance (polishing and waxing).
Furniture Service Technicians may work at the customer's home site, in furniture stores, or in a workshop. Possible job opportunities include self-employment, furniture stores or outlets, or an existing furniture service business. While total furniture restoration requires a workshop setting, the Furniture Service Technician can work from a small toolbox.

Welcome to the National Institute of Wood Finishing

Hello,

This is the first blog coming from the National Institution of Wood Finishing at Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) in Rosemount Minnesota.

It is a nine month program that began in 1970 by the State of Minnesota. To my knowledge it is the only certified nine month post secondary Wood Finishing Technology program in the USA.

It is dedicated to preparing individuals for the wood finishing industry including: the finishing of new wood products, the conservation, restoration, refinishing of "old' wood, and the repairing of damaged wood and damaged coatings - old or new.

Stay tuned for more information about this program and the educational "hands on" wood finishing courses that I offer for the hobbyist, the professional and those who want to be a professional finisher.


Mitch Kohanek
http://www.woodfinishing.org/
http://www.dctc.edu/