Plywood furniture: From beginner to advanced
A course by Patricio Ortega (Maderística), Furniture woodworking instructor
Joined January 2019
Learn how to machine components using power tools to create complex plywood furniture.
Joined January 2019
This course is the third part of a series on building furniture using plywood. In this advanced chapter, you will take your skills to the next level by tackling a more challenging project: building a sitial. You will deepen your understanding of power tools, including the table saw, to bring precision and efficiency to your work. You'll learn how to work with slender and complex structures, moving beyond the idea that plywood is only for flat designs. Throughout the course, you'll develop techniques to achieve precise and strong joinery, essential for stable and refined furniture. You will see how creativity and technique come together to transform plywood into a versatile and expressive material, ideal for projects of any scale. By the end, you will have gained the skills to build complex and functional furniture, using plywood as a powerful tool to create unique and personalized designs.
What will you learn in this online course?
22 lessons & 23 downloads
What's included in this course?
In this course, you'll learn to use the table saw and other power tools to machine furniture components with precision and safety. You'll start by reviewing the properties of plywood and how to harness its strengths in constructing complex structures. You'll learn to design and plan the cutting layout for a sitial, honing skills to execute complex joinery like dovetails. You'll also explore creating guides and templates to streamline the building process, ensuring a sturdy and stable result. The course will teach you advanced assembly and finishing techniques, with a focus on the details that make the difference in the quality of your furniture. Finally, you will develop a deep understanding of how design and construction go hand in hand, enabling you to elevate your future projects to a higher level of complexity and refinement.
- 99% positive reviews (74)
- 8,609 students
- 22 lessons (5h 12m)
- 23 additional resources (9 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Spanish, English, French, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
You will build a plywood sitial, applying machining and assembly techniques with power tools to achieve precise and sturdy joinery.
Who is this online course for?
This course is aimed at woodworking enthusiasts who want to deepen their knowledge of power tools and explore the potential of plywood in constructing complex furniture. While you don't need to be an expert, previous experience with simpler projects or basic woodworking knowledge is recommended.
Requirements and materials
It is recommended to have some prior experience or have taken previous courses. Basic tools like a drill, router, jigsaw, squares, and clamps will be needed. However, you will also become familiar with these tools throughout the course.
Reviews
Patricio Ortega (Maderística)
A course by Patricio Ortega (Maderística)
Patricio Ortega is a furniture maker and founder of Maderística, a small workshop specializing in handcrafted furniture design. With 14 years of experience, he has focused on mastering plywood, developing innovative techniques, and sharing his knowledge with over 1,800 students. As an architect and self-taught instructor, Patricio blends creativity and technique to create functional and durable furniture.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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Presentation
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The project: a chair with plywood board
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U2
Preparation
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Materials and tools
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Analysis and planning of work 1
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Work analysis and planning 2
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Bench Saw: General Operation, Risks and Longitudinal Cutting Technique 1
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Bench Saw: General Operation, Risks and Longitudinal Cutting Technique 2
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The Bench Saw: Crosscut and Cutting Sleds
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U3
Cutting and machining
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Planning and first cuts
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Legs/crossbeams fitting: half-wood oblique “T” fitting
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Thickening and final cuts
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Legs/crossbar fitting: machining of half-wood cut in legs
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Legs embedding: armrest / beam
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Seat crossbar machining: continuous dovetail
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Seat crossbar machining: profiled
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Cutting, doweling and profiling the backrest crossbar
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Seat crossbar machining: profiling
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Cutting, doweling and profiling the backrest crossbar
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U4
Details, assembly and finishes
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Details and profiling 1
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Details and profiling 2
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Final assembly
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Finishing and finishing
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FP
Final project
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Plywood furniture: From beginner to advanced
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
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Learn from the best professionals
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Meet expert teachers
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Certificates
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Share knowledge and ideas
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FAQs
You’ll learn advanced handcrafted woodworking techniques, original furniture design, safe use of power and hand tools, working with pine plywood, and professional assembly and finishing methods to create unique, functional pieces.
This is an intermediate-level course, perfect for those with basic woodworking knowledge who want to refine their skills and dive deeper into designing and building complex furniture.
You’ll need pine plywood, hand tools (square, saws, clamps), power tools (table saw, router), plus basic safety gear like hearing and eye protection.
Pine plywood is a strong, stable, and easy-to-work material recommended for furniture because of its versatility and excellent value, especially suited for handcrafted projects.
You’ll be able to design and build chairs, armchairs, tables, and custom structures, applying original techniques and professional finishes tailored to various needs and styles.
Yes, you’ll learn safety standards, proper tool use, how to prevent kickback on saws, and techniques to avoid accidents and work safely in the workshop.
Traditional joints like mortise and tenon, angled joints, doweling, and the use of templates and router bits are taught to achieve strong, precise furniture assemblies.
O curso é muito bom e produtivo, vale a pena cada centavo! Espero que venha mais cursos !
Es un experto y voy de la mano. No hay nada como hacer tus propios muebles
El mejor curso de Carpinteria de todo internet!! Nunca encontré nada parecido buscando en la red, solo información parcial y fragmentada. Si quieres aprender carpintería de verdad este es el curso que necesitas, aprendizaje sumamente didáctico con un profesor que ademas de explicar muy bien , es muy generoso con los recursos y trucos del oficio que comparte. Es parte de una trilogía de cursos que te enseñan el oficio de manera integral. Comprar los 3 te van permitir abordar cualquier proyectos.
super curso muy didactico y facil de aprender
Es un exceltente curso, detallado y muy bien explicado