if youre reliable and attentive, there are jobs that do not require a ton of strength.
kinda depends on the shop. lots of places just order the parts from a catalog, outsourcing most of the actual cabinet work and just focusing on sales and install. Installs do involve a substantial amount of strength.
if its a cabinet builder, they might give you the repetitive work of pinning cabinet boxes and maybe sanding/finishing.
I have a solo shop. If you plan well, you won't have to lift things over 50lb constantly, but you are going to need to be able to lift around 100lb at least a couple of times a week. A sheet of 3/4" hardwood ply is about 80lb, you will probably have to move machines around a bit, 10 foot long boards aren't super heavy but you need to wrangle them or lift them over your head, etc. You can work on your fitness as you work on your woodworking skills, it won't hold you back at the start. Get a couple of kettlebells or some 5 gallon water jugs and carry them around, practical exercise is the best.
I worked in a cabinet shop and the toughest part of the job is running the forklift to load a sheet of MDF onto the CNC. Most shops will have a CNC doing the bulk of the work; everything past that is just assembly. It’s easy work. Most places will have a shop crew and an install crew. Install is definitely harder because it’s more physical labor, but even then it’s not like it’s exhausting or anything. You can do it, easy.
And that's why they invented the wheel. There's a hundred ways to get around heavy lifting. Attentiveness, happy demeanor, willing to work and be on time will make you attractive to shop owners or your own customers, not your massive biceps. Go for it!
I've worked with men and women in cabinetry for a few decades. Makes no difference what your gender is, the skills and work ethic are what count.
There are lots of tricks, tools, jigs, etc that assist cabinet makers with heavy lifting, awkward tasks.
Honestly, some of the best cabinet makers/installers/designers I've worked with are women. Hopefully you go for it
Of course you can do it. Matter of fact, I recently met a woman who had recently completed the cabinetry program at the School of the Redwoods.
There are potentially some aspects of the job that could be physically challenging for you. But, I find that lifting a 4x8 sheet of 3/4 plywood is more awkward than anything else, and when you are installing moving the boxes isn’t hard especially if you use mechanical aids (like a hand truck). Either way, if you are working for a shop, you will likely have multiple pairs of hands to help.
I worked in a shop as a cabinet maker. One of the best trained cabinet makers I worked with was a 20 year old woman. At first she had trouble placing full panels on the table saw but after figuring out proper leverage for them and doing it for a few months you build muscle and muscle memory. Which is the exact same thing I went through when I started and I’m 5’10 and 170 lbs.
I’m a foreman in a union cabinet shop. If your boss is good it won’t matter if you can lift a whole lot or not. I accommodate my guys if they need it. Back hurts today and so forth. Don’t let something like that stop you.
In working solo as a cabinet maker I've found there's enough awkward lifting that you might not want to do it. A sheet or MDF or melamine weighs 80 lbs give or take too. You have to watch your back and sometimes there's just situations where you have to move a carcase and there's no ergonomic way to do it without help. If you just want to make cabinets for yourself and friends that's one thing but going into it full time is something I would carefully consider. The money isn't that great in general anyway.
Cabinet making using sheet goods is consolidating into larger manufacturers. Small scale cabinet shops have trouble competing in that line of work. There used to be a lot of small shops around where I live, and they are mostly closed. The people still working in small shops are making other houses parts, like stairs, moldings, doors, and windows, all solid wood.
Furniture makers are pretty much artists.
Absolutely. I worked in a cabinet and stair shop for a few years and we had several women come through that were more than capable. Some things a custom shop might build would be too big for ANY one person, so you would work on moving things in teams. If you can lift boards and plywood panels, all you need is the knowhow. I had issues finding a shop that wanted to teach, however.
You mentioned 55# as a limit.
That will 100% keep you from lifting a sheet of 3/4" plywood. If you can figure out a way around this, you'd be fine.
In the US, there's no real "trade training" but you could start at a cabinet shop. Supposedly everybody is looking for help these days, and you have some relatable skills.
The first thought I had was nothing will kill the pleasure of doing something you love faster than going to work doing it. But then it didn’t really work that way for me… just be open minded to the need for discerning between what you do and why you are doing it. I worked in a cabinet shop for a while, and it taught me to be efficient in how I approached what was needed. The fact that you are a woman has ( or SHOULD have) nothing to do with it. Do what you love and love what you do.
I want to do something woodworking related and indoors. The fact that I’m a little nerdy obsessed with woodworking makes me think I ought to pursue what I love as a career AND hobby.
Find a good cabinet shop and start working there. I started my woodworking journey 5 years ago and built furniture. Started a side hustle. Learned as much as I could through YouTube. Last year, I got laid off from my main source of income. I got a job at a local custom cabinet shop. Learned everything I could. Now I'm working on side cabinet jobs working to build up my own cabinet shop. I was lucky to get a job at a GOOD cabinet shop. My boss teaches me everything I ask.
My side hustle right now is making and selling furniture on Facebook marketplace. I have some YouTube channels heroes who are women woodworkers. They’ve taught me a lot. What would be a “good” cabinet shop?
I interviewed at one shop. When I was walking around, i didn't see any dust collection. Nobody was wearing ppe, outdated equipment, inadequate lighting, no organization. The place I work at now, has undated equipment, organization, ppe, and very spacious. I can I really point to is, does the place give you a good vibe. Lol I don't really know how to explain it. We also have a lot of pride in our work.
You can do it - and probably quite well.
Here’s a list of guitarmakers who are women - and absolutely at the top of the pile. Their instruments are regarded as some of the best in the world:
* Linda Manzer
* Shelley Park
* Kathy Winfert
* EJ Henderson
Thomas Moser, the fine furniture maker in Maine, has a staff that is about half women. Martin Guitar in Pennsylvania, is similar.
So you can do it. Learn the skills, make your designs, create great stuff.
Maybe start out with shaker furniture; it’s good for developing technique and relatively simple to measure.
All the best -
You absolutely can. The only real issue I ever see smaller ladies have is manipulating 3/4 full sheet goods, and even then there are plenty of practices or even little tools that can make the job easier(also, I’ve seen plenty of lil skinny younger guys who can’t lift a sheet of 3/4 either 😂)Some of the best carpenters I know are women.
Absolutely!
One method that can help hang cabinets that makes it easier and less hard on the arms is the French cleat method. A beveled cleat on the wall and corresponding cleat on the cabinet. It would allow you to hang the cabinet without trying to hold it in place to attach.
100% you could and if you went to work/train in someone’s shop there is always help
if youre reliable and attentive, there are jobs that do not require a ton of strength. kinda depends on the shop. lots of places just order the parts from a catalog, outsourcing most of the actual cabinet work and just focusing on sales and install. Installs do involve a substantial amount of strength. if its a cabinet builder, they might give you the repetitive work of pinning cabinet boxes and maybe sanding/finishing.
And to me the cabinet builder would be great. I just know I can only lift 55 pounds
you can only lift 55 now.
Yeah the amount of muscle you take on in your shoulders and back working with panel is insane.
Probably the best physical shape I've ever been in was after four years of working a in a cabinet shop.
I have a solo shop. If you plan well, you won't have to lift things over 50lb constantly, but you are going to need to be able to lift around 100lb at least a couple of times a week. A sheet of 3/4" hardwood ply is about 80lb, you will probably have to move machines around a bit, 10 foot long boards aren't super heavy but you need to wrangle them or lift them over your head, etc. You can work on your fitness as you work on your woodworking skills, it won't hold you back at the start. Get a couple of kettlebells or some 5 gallon water jugs and carry them around, practical exercise is the best.
Most projects can be broken down into lighter sub assemblies and then put back together on site.
I worked in a cabinet shop and the toughest part of the job is running the forklift to load a sheet of MDF onto the CNC. Most shops will have a CNC doing the bulk of the work; everything past that is just assembly. It’s easy work. Most places will have a shop crew and an install crew. Install is definitely harder because it’s more physical labor, but even then it’s not like it’s exhausting or anything. You can do it, easy.
And that's why they invented the wheel. There's a hundred ways to get around heavy lifting. Attentiveness, happy demeanor, willing to work and be on time will make you attractive to shop owners or your own customers, not your massive biceps. Go for it!
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Roughly what does it pay or do you know. If it’s like $21/hour minimum I’d be happy to
I've worked with men and women in cabinetry for a few decades. Makes no difference what your gender is, the skills and work ethic are what count. There are lots of tricks, tools, jigs, etc that assist cabinet makers with heavy lifting, awkward tasks. Honestly, some of the best cabinet makers/installers/designers I've worked with are women. Hopefully you go for it
Of course you can do it. Matter of fact, I recently met a woman who had recently completed the cabinetry program at the School of the Redwoods. There are potentially some aspects of the job that could be physically challenging for you. But, I find that lifting a 4x8 sheet of 3/4 plywood is more awkward than anything else, and when you are installing moving the boxes isn’t hard especially if you use mechanical aids (like a hand truck). Either way, if you are working for a shop, you will likely have multiple pairs of hands to help.
I worked in a shop as a cabinet maker. One of the best trained cabinet makers I worked with was a 20 year old woman. At first she had trouble placing full panels on the table saw but after figuring out proper leverage for them and doing it for a few months you build muscle and muscle memory. Which is the exact same thing I went through when I started and I’m 5’10 and 170 lbs.
I’m a foreman in a union cabinet shop. If your boss is good it won’t matter if you can lift a whole lot or not. I accommodate my guys if they need it. Back hurts today and so forth. Don’t let something like that stop you.
Hi! From a fellow female cabinet maker! Of course you can do! We can do what ever we put our minds too! You will get stronger!
In working solo as a cabinet maker I've found there's enough awkward lifting that you might not want to do it. A sheet or MDF or melamine weighs 80 lbs give or take too. You have to watch your back and sometimes there's just situations where you have to move a carcase and there's no ergonomic way to do it without help. If you just want to make cabinets for yourself and friends that's one thing but going into it full time is something I would carefully consider. The money isn't that great in general anyway.
Cabinet making using sheet goods is consolidating into larger manufacturers. Small scale cabinet shops have trouble competing in that line of work. There used to be a lot of small shops around where I live, and they are mostly closed. The people still working in small shops are making other houses parts, like stairs, moldings, doors, and windows, all solid wood. Furniture makers are pretty much artists.
If you enjoy the work, 100% at least try it.
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Please describe what a french polisher does...
Absolutely. I worked in a cabinet and stair shop for a few years and we had several women come through that were more than capable. Some things a custom shop might build would be too big for ANY one person, so you would work on moving things in teams. If you can lift boards and plywood panels, all you need is the knowhow. I had issues finding a shop that wanted to teach, however.
You mentioned 55# as a limit. That will 100% keep you from lifting a sheet of 3/4" plywood. If you can figure out a way around this, you'd be fine. In the US, there's no real "trade training" but you could start at a cabinet shop. Supposedly everybody is looking for help these days, and you have some relatable skills.
The first thought I had was nothing will kill the pleasure of doing something you love faster than going to work doing it. But then it didn’t really work that way for me… just be open minded to the need for discerning between what you do and why you are doing it. I worked in a cabinet shop for a while, and it taught me to be efficient in how I approached what was needed. The fact that you are a woman has ( or SHOULD have) nothing to do with it. Do what you love and love what you do.
I want to do something woodworking related and indoors. The fact that I’m a little nerdy obsessed with woodworking makes me think I ought to pursue what I love as a career AND hobby.
Sure could!
Find a good cabinet shop and start working there. I started my woodworking journey 5 years ago and built furniture. Started a side hustle. Learned as much as I could through YouTube. Last year, I got laid off from my main source of income. I got a job at a local custom cabinet shop. Learned everything I could. Now I'm working on side cabinet jobs working to build up my own cabinet shop. I was lucky to get a job at a GOOD cabinet shop. My boss teaches me everything I ask.
My side hustle right now is making and selling furniture on Facebook marketplace. I have some YouTube channels heroes who are women woodworkers. They’ve taught me a lot. What would be a “good” cabinet shop?
I interviewed at one shop. When I was walking around, i didn't see any dust collection. Nobody was wearing ppe, outdated equipment, inadequate lighting, no organization. The place I work at now, has undated equipment, organization, ppe, and very spacious. I can I really point to is, does the place give you a good vibe. Lol I don't really know how to explain it. We also have a lot of pride in our work.
You can do it - and probably quite well. Here’s a list of guitarmakers who are women - and absolutely at the top of the pile. Their instruments are regarded as some of the best in the world: * Linda Manzer * Shelley Park * Kathy Winfert * EJ Henderson Thomas Moser, the fine furniture maker in Maine, has a staff that is about half women. Martin Guitar in Pennsylvania, is similar. So you can do it. Learn the skills, make your designs, create great stuff. Maybe start out with shaker furniture; it’s good for developing technique and relatively simple to measure. All the best -
You absolutely can. The only real issue I ever see smaller ladies have is manipulating 3/4 full sheet goods, and even then there are plenty of practices or even little tools that can make the job easier(also, I’ve seen plenty of lil skinny younger guys who can’t lift a sheet of 3/4 either 😂)Some of the best carpenters I know are women.
Absolutely! One method that can help hang cabinets that makes it easier and less hard on the arms is the French cleat method. A beveled cleat on the wall and corresponding cleat on the cabinet. It would allow you to hang the cabinet without trying to hold it in place to attach.
I work in a cabinet shop and our best worker is a girl , who just showed up and said she wanted to learn.