Joinery workshop

3 sessions of 3 hours | 9 hours in total
May 5, 12 and 19, 2026
Tuesdays | 18h30 - 21h30
Price - 160€ (Material included)
Trainer - João Esquecido
Note: This workshop takes place on floor -1, accessible only by stairs.

Description

In the Joinery Workshop, we'll look at traditional wood fittings, an ancient technique that continues to form the basis of many structures, pieces of furniture and utilitarian objects.

You will acquire theoretical and practical fundamentals that will help you choose the right fittings for each application. As well as learning about different types of fittings and the techniques used to make them.

The Joinery Workshop is suitable both for beginners who have never had contact with joinery tools and for beginners who, while already familiar with the basic tools, have little or no experience in making wood fittings.

Minimum age for participation: 18 years / Accompanied by an adult (two entries): 16 years

Practical exercise

Over the course of 3 sessions in the Joinery Workshop, we explore how wood behaves and how to choose, design and make resistant and durable fittings using only hand tools.

After an introduction to wood, covering its advantages as a building material, its behavior in the face of stresses in different directions and its reaction to environmental factors such as humidity, we explore the advantages of fittings as a fixing method.

In this joinery workshop, each trainee performs two main joints: the Drill and Tenon Joint (with wedge) and the T-Fork Joint (with dowel). Depending on their experience and pace of work, they may also be able to make a third joint, the Castle and Half Wood Joint.

Program Content

Class 1 - Joinery Workshop:

• Presentation of the objective and scope of the workshop;
• Introduction to wood and its properties (behavior, deformation, resistance, influence of the shape and orientation of the section);
• Introduction to fittings (advantages as an alternative or complement to other fastening methods) and methodology for designing simple fittings (an additive approach);
• Introduction to tools (saw, chisel and mallet, file and rasp, pencil and square) and short exercises (and strategies to avoid common problems);
• Marking and beginning of the first fitting (drilling and wedging).

Classes 2 and 3 - Joinery Workshop:

• Continuing the execution of the first fitting;
• Execution of the second fitting (T-fork with dowel);
• Depending on each trainee's experience and speed of execution, it may be possible to start a third joint (castle and half-wood joint).

Waiting List

Cancellations may occur. If the training is sold out and you would like to receive an alert if there are any withdrawals, send an e-mail to workshop@fica-oc.pt, with the subject line 'waiting list-workshop joinery fittingsIf there is a cancellation for this specific workshop, we will let you know.
We don't take reservations for future courses. If you want to find out first-hand about the next month's courses, you can subscribe to our Newsletter.

Cancellation of Registration

IMPORTANT - Cancellation/postponement/refund of registrations (including gift voucher registrations) is only allowed if you give us at least 7 days' notice before the start of the workshop. If you cancel less than 7 days before the start of the workshop, we will do our best to fill your place, however, you can only postpone the workshop (or put the amount in a gift voucher) if your place is filled.

If a trainee fails to attend one or more training sessions, FICA is not responsible for replacing or compensating for that session.
To cancel/admit/refund, send an e-mail to workshop@fica-oc.pt
Find out more at terms and conditions from the website.

No. of trainees

Minimum number: 4pax / Maximum number: 4pax
According to our terms, the training may be canceled if the minimum number of trainees is not met - Find out more at terms and conditions from the website.
Minimum age for participation: 18 years / Accompanied by an adult (two entries): 16 years

Other Workshops

We have other woodworking workshops, in addition to the Joinery Workshop, such as the Wooden Spoon Workshop - Spoon Carving or the Enzo Mari Workshop - Build the Sedia chair1. It accompanies the Woodworking Workshops.

The workshop is held in Portuguese. If you don't speak Portuguese, we will try to translate in English. But understand that Portuguese will be the main language.