Professional Woodworking for Beginners
A course by Patricio Ortega (Maderística), Furniture woodworking instructor
Joined January 2019

Learn the concepts, techniques, and tools to start woodworking like an expert
If you want to get started in this age-old craft, then this course by Maderística is the one for you. Learn to make wooden furniture filled with passion and a marked identity, and who better to usher you into the world of signature carpentry than architect, carpenter, and co-founder of the Maderística workshop Patricio Ortega? Take the leap by building your very own piece of furniture!
In this course, learn the key concepts, techniques, and tools used in professional carpentry and build a pine plywood stool without needing any previous experience.
What will you learn in this online course?
26 lessons & 18 downloads
What's included in this course?
Start by getting to know Patricio Ortega, who tells you how he transitioned from architecture to carpentry and how the Maderística workshop was born under the umbrella of "signature carpentry." He also shares his main influences, some very personal and others from his previous profession as an architect.
Discover the necessary materials for the course, specifically plywood, what dimensions you need, and look at the importance of ordering the pieces by size and thickness following a series of useful tips.
Patricio also gives you a detailed look at all the tools, specifying which are essential for your project and which are complementary.
Learn to use your cutting table as an extra tool as well as a milling machine, a jigsaw, and a circular saw.
Now get straight to work defining the general dimensions of your piece and adjusting them to your liking. Then use the circular saw to cut out the individual pieces. Put your piece together seamlessly following some basic rules, before moving on to designing the legs, drawing the template, and cutting them out with the jigsaw before sanding.
After seeing how to mark the axes on the seat piece, cut it with the manual milling machine for a more precise result. Patricio teaches you how to make a cross lap joint template, cut out the seat, and adjust the tenon for the perfect fit.
Finally, Patricio shares the Maderística methods for achieving the perfect finish, adding details and retouching imperfections. Now all that’s left is assembling your brand new stool!
- 99% positive reviews (4.2K)
- 134,422 students
- 26 lessons (4h 1m)
- 18 downloads
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Spanish, English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
- Updated on 01/14/2021
What is this course's project?
Build a three-piece stool with half-lap joints and a cross lap joint on the seat.

Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone who wants to get started in carpentry or carpentry enthusiasts looking to achieve more professional results.
Requirements and materials
No previous experience is necessary for this course. Your teacher will walk you through everything step by step, from how to use the tools to the basic techniques.
In terms of materials, you need a ruler, a carpenter’s square, a combination square, a jigsaw, a circular saw (optional), a milling or cutting machine, sandpaper, a hammer, and a few other simple supplies.
If you don’t have all of these tools and are not familiar with what they are used for, this course provides a more detailed look into each one and its advantages, so that you can analyze your needs and acquire them at a later date.

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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Influences
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What are we going to do?
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U2
The material and its dimensions
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The key concept
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The material
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Design and dimensioning
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Create a Cutting List
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U3
The tools
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Materials and tools
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The working desk
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Measurement and plotting
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Circular saw (optional)
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Jigsaw
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Milling machine
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U4
The project: the legs
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Design and cutting plan
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Cutting the pieces
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Plotting the legs
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Cutting and construction of the form template
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From the template to the piece
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Insert in the middle of the wood
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U5
The project: the seat
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Circle cut
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Embedding template manufacturing
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Seat box cut
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U6
Assembly and adjustments
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Adjustment of the spike to the box and presentation of the stool
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Detail definition, sanding and assembly
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Assembling the stool
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Finish
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FP
Final project
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Your first wooden furniture
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
You’ll learn how to blend design, technique, and woodworking know-how to create furniture that’s both functional and beautiful. You’ll master cutting, joining, and material selection techniques, and be able to craft custom pieces while making the most of your resources and space.
Yes, this course is designed for people with basic to intermediate woodworking skills who want to refine their techniques, explore furniture design, and dive deeper into both traditional and modern crafting processes.
You’ll need woods like plywood, MDF, or solid wood, basic hand and power tools (square, saw, router, clamps), personal safety gear, and a well-organized workspace.
You’ll learn precise cutting techniques, half-lap joints, router use, marking and layout, edge rounding, template making, and finishing wood furniture.
Yes, the course teaches you how to design and build multifunctional furniture tailored to different spaces and needs, applying principles of optimization and modular design.
Yes, you’ll learn how to design and build lift-top coffee tables, stools, and other modern furniture, covering their construction processes and technical details.
The course explains the structural, functional, and aesthetic differences between MDF, MDP, plywood, and solid wood, so you can choose the best material for your project.




Me pareció buen profesor, explica muy didáctico y usa un lenguaje que puedo entender en esto de la carpintería, me parece excelente que nos presente las herramientas y nos enseñe su manejo y los riesgos que corremos al usarlas en fin me ha gustado mucho este curso
Muy bueno el curso. Muy didáctico y ofrece excelentes ideas y tips
Excelente curso!
"Me encantó. Muy didáctico, fácil de seguir y con información práctica desde el primer momento. 10 puntos."
Curso muy interesante para iniciarse de manera rápida y resumida.