Wood 1019 Spot Repair II: NIWF Tours Schneiderman's Distribution Center

On a week packed with field trips, we visited Schneiderman's Furniture Distribution Center. Our guide was past NIWF Graduate Kathy Morse, who works at Schneiderman's ensuring the quality of the furniture meets the Schneiderman's standard. We saw how they do touch-up and repair on some of the furniture that comes in that might not meet their standards, or on returned furniture that had been damaged. After a few demonstrations Kathy also let the students perform some of the repairs as well.

Once again, the class got to see a past grad in action at their work place, using their skills and knowledge that they gained while attending DCTC & NIWF.

Wood 1019 Spot Repair II: Class of 2010 visits HOM Furniture

Once again, NIWF Students got to take a behind the scenes tour of HOM Furniture's Distribution Center. And like in years past, they got to work side by side with the Techs at HOM doing spot repair, upholstery repair, leather & vinyl touch up, wood fills, burn-ins and many other techniques the students already learned.



Working out in the real world gives the students a first hand view of what they might face on a day to day basis once they leave DCTC. Some of the Employees at HOM are past graduates of the program so they speak the same language of wood finishing. This unique experience helps to shape the students knowledge of some of the careers that may be opening up to them as graduates of the National Institute of Wood Finishing.

Wood 1019 Spot Repair II: Joe Renchin Spends the Day Talking Upholstery

NIWF Advisory Board Member and Master Upholsterer, Joe Renchin Came in today for another great demonstration on upholstery. Joe has spent 35 years in the business and he is always happy to share his expertise with the students at NIWF. He spoke extensively about the business of upholstery and demonstrated stripping down an upholstered piece, then recovering, as one might need to do to repair something inside of an upholstered piece of furniture. He also demonstrated different methods of fastening upholstery to an object, making and attaching buttons, blind stitching and more.

Joe has been a friend of the program here for many years, and we can't thank him enough for the time he spends here preparing our students to meet any situation head on with the knowledge and skill set that may be needed by the professional wood finisher.

Wood 1019 Spot Repair II: Ken Norgard Visits to Demonstrate Leather & Vinyl Repair

This week we are having Ken Norgard spend a few days with the class demonstrating leather & Vinyl repair, which can be an important part of the on-the-road touch-up artists job. The students practiced using an array of repair products on a number of different scenarios such as scrapes & scratches, cuts, punctures and more. Along with attending to the damage, the students also put their color theory to use and matched paints to mask their repairs, then finally coating them to protect them and match texture and sheen as well.

The students had a great time getting to use this new medium, while still applying what they have already learned to this new skill set. A big thanks to Ken for passing on some of his knowledge on the business of leather & vinyl repair.

Wood 1019 Spot Repair II: DCTC visits Schniederman's Furniture

NIWF students went on a field trip to Schniederman's Furniture warehouse and meet some of the graduates of the NIWF program. Kathy Morse (in the green shirt), a past graduate and now employee of Schniedermans gave us a tour of the warehouse and demonstrated some repair techniques as well. There were opportunities for the students to try these new techniques with the Master Technicians.

A Master Leather Technician at Schniederman's shows the students real world leather repair techniques on furniture that is soon to hit the showroom floor.

Students get lots of opportunities to see professionals working, it is crucial that they see the hows and whys of the entire process. To go out and see masters making a living using the same skills that they are learning at the National Institute of Wood Finishing in invaluable!

Wood 1019 Spot Repair II: Leather Repair

Spot repair wouldn't be complete without a working knowledge or leather and vinyl repair, as well as an understanding of upholstery. In Spot Repair II (Wood 1019) we cover Vinyl & leather repair. You can see the students working hard to repair and hide the damage done to these leather chair pads.

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.