Conestoga news

August 22, 2016 7:53 AM

Woodworking skills on display at student showcase

Second-year students in Conestoga’s Woodworking Technology (co-op) program presented their capstone projects at the Woodworking Centre’s annual showcase on August 18. 

Completed with 120 hours of shop time, the projects demonstrated a broad range of skills. Pieces on display included shelving units, tables, cabinets, a drum set and a gaming table. Students were provided with basic lumber, but were allowed to source other materials and wood at their own expense.

Faculty member Richard Bruckeder welcomed students, faculty, family members and event sponsor FS Tool to the event. “Be proud of what you have accomplished,” said Bruckeder to students before announcing the winners. “All the projects here are really well done.” Bruckeder also acknowledged the hard work, talent and number of hours that went into each carefully crafted piece.

Projects were judged to determine the winner of the Best in Manufactured Product Award. The judging panel included faculty and retired faculty who critiqued product design and development, craftsmanship and product presentation. Zack Snoei was awarded first place for a liquor cabinet he crafted out of cherry. Snoei’s piece included sliding doors, a keypad lock and lighting. “Today’s win is awesome,” said Snoei. “It justifies the amount of work that went into it.”

As winner of the showcase, Snoei received a $300 prize and entry into to Conestoga’s Summer 2017 Tech Showcase that features best of program final-year projects from a number of technical-related programs.

Grant Newhouse won second place for a wall cabinet crafted out of shedua -- an African wood that he said is both beautiful and nice to work with. The piece includes a hinged door, an adjustable shelf and three drawers with pulls that he created with wenge.

Third prize went to the only instrument in the showcase -- a drum set created by Nicolaas Killoran who said the hardest part of the project was trying to determine how to complete it as the wood had to be shaped. He sourced the hardware for the set on his own and worked with African mahogany.

Newhouse received a $150 prize and Killoran’s third place win received a $50 prize.

Conestoga’s Woodworking Centre of Ontario is a 50,000 square foot facility at Conestoga that ranks among the world’s top woodworking training centres. Students have access to custom woodworking and production training as well as the latest in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) and drafting technology.

For more information, visit the Centre's website.