Future makers: Students showcase skills in Liberon competition
- 11 hours ago
- 3 min read
Students at Burton and South Derbyshire College and Newark College have taken part in a competition set by Liberon, the woodcare experts, to test their carpentry and joinery skills. The initiative aims to introduce students to specialist woodcare solutions and challenge them to apply the correct finishes to imaginative pieces they have created.
At Burton and South Derbyshire College, learners on the Level 2 Diploma in Bench Joinery course were tasked with designing, building and finishing an interior chair or bench. Meanwhile, students on the Level 3 Furniture Design and Making course at Newark College were asked to design, build and finish a stand for either a pair of spectacles or a mobile phone.
Burton and South Derbyshire College
Teams of students at Burton and South Derbyshire College were given approximately 15 hours to complete their projects. The winning team designed a button-themed chair, inspired by a photograph of an IKEA furniture piece. The finished chair features a removable horizontal section, creating a practical storage space. The team worked with plywood and a range of softwoods throughout the project.
Course Leader, Ian Vanes-Jones, commented: “We asked the students to design, build and finish a project to a tight schedule and they performed very well. The initiative showcased their design skills, their abilities using our CNC machine and lathe, and their teamwork.
“I’m particularly keen on Liberon’s Black Patinating Wax and Palette Wood Dyes, and this competition has highlighted the attractive effects these products can achieve.”
Newark College
The winning entry at Newark College was a spectacles stand featuring a striking bird design, with the bird’s beak forming a practical holder for glasses. It was finished to a very high standard. Other creative entries included designs inspired by various animals and even an Easter Island-style head.
Course Leader, Richard Preece, said: “The students produced some excellent work. They were able to choose from a range of timbers including oak, elm, ash, yew, maple and tulipwood. The project tested their accuracy in marking out and cutting, as well as their patience, attention to detail and ability to work with different materials.
“Yew’s interlocked grain, for example, makes it more challenging to plane than other timbers, so it proved to be a particularly valuable learning experience. In addition, the competition assessed the students’ finishing techniques, with a choice of Liberon oils, varnishes and stains available.”
Prizes
Entries were judged by college staff, who agreed that the standard of work was exceptionally high and that selecting winners was no easy task. Each member of the winning team at Burton and South Derbyshire College received a £25 Amazon voucher provided by Liberon. At Newark College, the winner, runner-up and second runner-up each received the same prize.
Richard Bradley, UK Head of Marketing at Liberon, said: “The students did brilliantly and produced some truly imaginative designs. While the winning entries are outstanding, I’d also like to congratulate all participants on their hard work. Many thanks to the students and the colleges for their enthusiastic support.”
About Liberon
Liberon is renowned for its high-quality woodcare products, including dyes, waxes, oils and varnishes. The brand supports both professional woodworkers and painters and decorators in achieving high-quality, reliable results.
In addition, Liberon offers a comprehensive range of solutions for wood preparation and repair, helping users achieve and maintain a flawless finish. These include touch-up pens for disguising scratches, burnishing cream for restoring polished surfaces, retouch crayons and creams for filling imperfections, ring remover for tackling water and heat marks, in addition to filler sticks for repairing cracks and holes.
For further information about Liberon and its extensive range of woodcare products, visit www.liberon.co.uk.
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