Oliver Piepereit
Oliver Piepereit is a trained interior designer, furniture maker and traditional and contemporary furniture re-finisher with 15 years' experience in the design industry.
Traditional French polishing and restoration with Oliver Piepereit
Ref: SLW40315
About this course
Learn the fundamentals in restoring and refinising traditional period furniture. Develop trade techniques with restoration and conservation in the forefront of all tutoring and practical work. If time allows, structural restoration techniques will be demonstrated.
Course Description
This three day course is designed to give the student the fundamental basics and in depth professional skills of French polishing, woodcare, with the added bonus of restoration techniques.
Each student will work on two medium/one large sized piece of their choice, allowing them to go through the full process within three working days.
The course covers the following:
- Health and Safety
- Polishing materials, tools and personal setup list
- Structural restoration techniques
- Stripping, neutralising and sanding/wire wool techniques
- Low invasive cleaning techniques
- Staining and grain fillers
- Graining
- Shellacs, touching in and waxes
- Brush and rubber techniques
- Burnishing
- Stippling
- Aftercare
Course Materials
Included
On this course the tutor will supply most of the materials including:
- Eco stripping agents
- White spirit
- Abrasives
- Grain fillers
- French polishing mops and rubbers
- Stains
- Brushes
- Hard wax oils
- Shellacs
- Waxes
- Masking
- Varnishes
What students need to bring
-Two (three maximum) pieces of furniture to work on (ideally stripped). Charity shops are often a good source of suitable items to bring to the course. Suitable pieces are a chest of drawers, a small dining or coffee table (which fit in your car), a couple of dining chairs. Ideally bring two projects to discuss and give options though you may not be able to complete both within the course. Family heirlooms most welcome. Please email a photo of your furniture to [email protected] for the tutor to see at least two weeks before the course.
- Apron/overalls and sturdy covered footwear are essential in this workshop
- Thick gloves for eco stripping and sanding (chemical resistant nitrol gauntlets or gloves, available from building suppliers)
- Any new hardware, e.g. new handles or hinges, you are likely to need for your furniture
- Notebook and pen/pencil
Additional information
Wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear i.e. no open-toes or sandals. Safety boots, if specified.
Timetable
Arrival day - first date of course
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration
Student welcome, followed by dinner: 6.45pm (dinner included)
Teaching session: 8pm-9pm (attendance is essential)
Daily timetable
Course teaching: 9.15am-5pm
Morning session: 9.15am-12.45pm including coffee/tea break
Lunch break: 12.45pm-2pm (lunch included)
Afternoon session: 2pm-5pm including coffee/tea break
Teaching finishes: 5pm
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.
Departure day - last date of course
Course teaching: 9.15am-3pm (lunch included)
Teaching finishes: 3pm
Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am.
Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required.
General Information
Tutors
Accommodation
Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.
Interested in a career in woodworking?
Our Foundation Degree specialising in Furniture is designed to give you well-rounded woodworking theory and craft skills to become a self-employed maker or craftsperson, to continue your studies in higher education or to find employment in the creative industry sector. Find out more