The Lost Art of Bespoke Joinery with Master Joiner Tom Cottington
Yours For The Making with Robin JohnsonShow Notes
Master joiner Tom has spent more than 20 years developing the precision, problem solving and traditional skills behind bespoke joinery. In this episode of Yours for the Making, Robin Johnson speaks with Tom Cottington about his journey from furniture restoration and demanding apprenticeships to complex architectural joinery at Johnson Bespoke. Tom shares lessons from restoring period furniture, learning traditional techniques and making costly mistakes that ultimately shaped his approach to craftsmanship. They explore the precision behind staircases, doors, windows and furniture, the difference between carpentry and joinery, and the growing competition from mass produced CNC products. It is a practical look at the skill, experience and resilience required to build bespoke work properly.
Key Topics Covered ✦ Tom Cottington’s journey into bespoke joinery ✦ Traditional furniture making and antique restoration ✦ What a demanding apprenticeship actually teaches ✦ Why problem solving is central to joinery ✦ The precision required to build staircases ✦ The difference between joinery and carpentry ✦ Traditional craftsmanship versus CNC production ✦ Why handmade joinery costs more ✦ Learning from mistakes and criticism ✦ The satisfaction of making complex work from start to finish
Check out Johnson Bespoke: https://www.johnsonbespoke.co.uk/
Enjoying the show? Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world. Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson, founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop, this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love. Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms. Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. Check out Yours For The Making in YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUuzYPW_uJfM2B1XXRuZLUg
Key Moments: 00:00 Tom’s early obsession with making things 01:04 Furniture making, restoration and apprenticeships 07:47 The mistake that ruined a set of window sashes 12:14 Why joinery is 50 percent problem solving 18:25 Spending months learning to sand properly 19:41 Learning to build staircases 22:34 Why joiners mark timber with a knife 26:02 The three skills every complete joiner needs 27:26 Joinery versus carpentry explained 37:58 Competing with mass produced CNC joinery 41:30 Why Tom enjoys difficult projects 48:34 The appeal of complex bespoke work 55:57 Tom’s advice after 20 years in joinery
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What makes a building work for the people who actually use it?