Torchora
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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Furniture Repairer

💰 $35,000 - $65,000

Skilled TradesArtisanManufacturingCustomer Service

🎯 Role Definition

Are you a hands-on artisan with a passion for preserving the beauty and integrity of fine furniture? This role requires a dedicated and skilled Furniture Repairer / Restoration Technician to join our dynamic team. In this role, you will be the cornerstone of our commitment to quality, meticulously repairing, refinishing, and restoring a wide range of furniture pieces. You will diagnose issues, develop creative repair strategies, and execute flawless work that honors the original craftsmanship while ensuring lasting durability. This position requires a blend of technical woodworking skill, artistic sensibility for color and finish matching, and a problem-solver's mindset. If you find satisfaction in transforming a damaged item into a treasured piece, we want to hear from you.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Apprentice Carpenter / Woodworker
  • Cabinet Maker's Assistant
  • Woodworking Hobbyist with a strong portfolio
  • Finisher or Sander in a manufacturing environment

Advancement To:

  • Master Furniture Restorer
  • Workshop or Production Manager
  • Custom Furniture Designer & Builder
  • Small Business Owner (Furniture Repair/Restoration)

Lateral Moves:

  • Cabinet Maker
  • Antique Restoration Specialist
  • Upholsterer
  • Luthier (Musical Instrument Repair)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Assess the condition of damaged furniture to accurately determine the scope of necessary repairs, providing detailed estimates for labor and materials.
  • Perform complex structural repairs, including mending broken frames, re-gluing and reinforcing loose joints, and correcting splits or warps in solid wood.
  • Skillfully dismantle furniture to access and repair internal components, meticulously documenting the process to ensure precise and accurate reassembly.
  • Operate a comprehensive range of woodworking machinery and hand tools, such as table saws, routers, sanders, planers, and chisels, with a strict adherence to safety standards.
  • Fabricate or hand-carve replacement parts and decorative elements to match the original design, style, and wood species of the piece.
  • Execute flawless surface preparation, including the careful stripping of old finishes, sanding, and filling of imperfections to create a perfect canvas for new coatings.
  • Expertly apply a variety of finishes, including stains, varnishes, lacquers, shellac, and oils, to achieve the desired color, sheen, and protective quality.
  • Conduct advanced color and grain matching using pigments, dyes, and toners to seamlessly blend repairs with the existing, original finish.
  • Perform intricate touch-up repairs on-site or in the workshop, addressing scratches, dents, gouges, water rings, and heat marks with precision.
  • Specialize in the repair and restoration of various materials, including solid wood, veneers, laminates, and medium-density fiberboard (MDF).
  • Address and resolve functional issues with furniture mechanisms, such as drawers, glides, hinges, and reclining or lifting systems.
  • Manage the art of veneer repair, including patching, splicing, and re-adhering lifted or bubbled sections to restore a smooth, continuous surface.
  • Evaluate and select the most appropriate repair methods and materials to ensure both the aesthetic integrity and long-term durability of the furniture.
  • Maintain a deep working knowledge of different wood species, understanding their unique characteristics, grain patterns, and reactions to various treatments.
  • Perform specialized finishing techniques like French polishing, distressing, or cerusing for high-end, antique, or custom-designed pieces.

Secondary Functions

  • Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment, ensuring all tools, equipment, and supplies are properly stored and maintained.
  • Manage an inventory of repair supplies, finishing materials, and wood stock, proactively reordering materials to avoid project delays.
  • Communicate professionally and effectively with customers, service managers, and team members to provide status updates, explain repair processes, and ensure client satisfaction.
  • Accurately document all work performed, including time logs and materials used, for precise invoicing and internal record-keeping.
  • Provide in-home service consultations to assess furniture damage, offer on-the-spot repair solutions, and create detailed service orders.
  • Continuously research and stay current with emerging industry techniques, new products, and best practices in furniture repair and restoration.
  • Assist in the careful movement, handling, and transportation of furniture to and from the workshop and client locations.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Advanced Woodworking & Joinery: Proficient in techniques like mortise and tenon, dovetails, and doweling for strong structural repairs.
  • Color Matching & Finish Application: Expertise in mixing stains, toners, and glazes to match existing finishes and applying coatings (spraying, brushing) for a flawless look.
  • Structural Repair & Stabilization: Ability to diagnose and fix structural failures in frames, legs, and joints using glue, clamps, and reinforcements.
  • Veneer & Laminate Repair: Skilled in patching, splicing, and re-adhering delicate surface materials.
  • Woodworking Tool Proficiency: Safe and efficient operation of power tools (saws, sanders, routers) and hand tools (chisels, planes, hand saws).
  • Surface Preparation: Mastery of stripping, sanding, and filling techniques to prepare a piece for refinishing.
  • Wood Species Identification: Ability to identify various woods to select appropriate repair and finishing methods.
  • Mechanism Repair: Knowledge of how to repair and adjust drawers, hinges, slides, and reclining functions.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional Attention to Detail: A meticulous eye for spotting subtle imperfections and ensuring every repair is precise and clean.
  • Problem-Solving: The ability to creatively and logically troubleshoot complex structural and cosmetic issues.
  • Patience & a Methodical Approach: The temperament to work carefully and deliberately on intricate and time-consuming tasks.
  • Artistic Sensibility: A strong sense of aesthetics, proportion, and color to make artistically sound repair decisions.
  • Time Management: Ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously to meet deadlines.
  • Customer Communication: Strong interpersonal skills to clearly explain repair options and manage client expectations effectively.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or GED. Verifiable hands-on experience and a strong portfolio are highly valued.

Preferred Education:

Certificate, Diploma, or Associate's Degree from a vocational or technical college in Woodworking, Cabinetmaking, or Furniture Restoration.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Fine Woodworking
  • Furniture Design & Construction
  • Cabinetmaking
  • Historic Preservation / Antique Restoration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-5+ years of professional experience in furniture repair, refinishing, or high-end cabinetmaking.

Preferred: A strong portfolio demonstrating a wide range of repair and finishing skills across various furniture styles and periods. Experience with both in-shop and in-home service is a significant plus.

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