Finishing: a major skills challenge

Wood finishing typically represents at least 25% of the cost of the product, and the decisions made and actions taken at this stage of the production process are critical to the quality of the final product. Paradoxically however, formal training in this area is difficult to find. For many wood products companies, much of the skills training that is available to their employees are provided by the vendors or manufacturers of industrial machinery. This kind of training is commonly available for most types of cutting, drilling, and profiling machinery, including those using CNC technology. Wood finishing is a more complex area however, as it is directly and substantially affected by factors other than the operation of the equipment itself. These include the quality and surface properties of the wood used; the coatings and stains chosen; the finishing system used; environmental conditions within the plant; and the relevant air emissions and safety regulations in force in the manufacturer's location. Where training is available it is often limited, focused on proprietary products, or generic in nature. A 2003 study by the Wood Manufacturing Council ( Ottawa ) found that finishing technicians were one of the three most difficult occupations to recruit for.

In response to the need for accessible, non-proprietary, structured training, the Centre for Advanced Wood Processing has developed the Certificate in Industrial Wood Finishing. The program provides in-depth, comprehensive discussion of all of the key aspects of wood finishing. It has been designed to allow industry participants to study the theoretical aspects of finishing in a convenient, web-based format that is flexible to learners' work schedules and other commitments. At the conclusion of the web-based study period learners will spend one week in an intensive practical finishing session that includes hands-on exercises, demonstrations, and guest presentations by various technical specialists.

Training Program Goals, Target Audience, and Overview

This Certificate Program is designed to provide participants with a broad understanding of the field of wood finishing. The program involves a comprehensive review of the various dimensions of wood finishing, including wood properties, colour theory, the physical and chemical processes associated with the applications of stains and coatings, application methods; pre-treatments; coatings; application and curing equipment and automation; safety; environmental considerations; quality control and testing methods; and costs/economics. Throughout the course, workplace examples and case studies are referenced as much as possible, to provide real-world context to the discussions.

The course proceeds in a logical way following the important steps involved in the wood finishing process starting from selection of wood, colour theory, surface preparation, and staining through to the application and curing of top coats. At each of these stages the equipment involved in applying and curing finishes is described, and exercises and online discussions will be used to reinforce facts and concepts covered.

The UBC Certificate in Industrial Wood Finishing has been designed for individuals employed in the wood products industry who have some general experience in manufacturing (and possibly finishing) but would like to expand their specific knowledge and understanding of wood finishing processes. The broad aims of the program are to equip learners with the knowledge and experience to do the following:

• Understand why finishes are applied to wood, and how the properties of wood and finishes influence the performance of finishing systems.
• Have a broad understanding of all of the considerations that must be borne in mind when making decisions related to wood finishing.
• Select the most appropriate coatings systems and technology to apply finishes to wood and wood composites for specific product requirements.
• Apply finishes to wood using common application technologies (spraying systems and roller and curtain coaters) and test the properties of liquid finishes and the properties of the coatings.
• Design a finishing facility to minimize contamination of finishes and the probability of fire or explosions and reduce costs and emissions of volatile organic compounds.
• Access third-party information and resources that can be used on an ongoing basis to improve and successfully manage wood finishing processes.

Training Course Format and Delivery

The Certificate in Industrial Wood Finishing is a course which is run in two distinct phases. The first phase lasts approximately three months and is delivered via the Internet. During this phase of the course, learners study part-time using the course website. The website serves as an electronic textbook for the course, but it is also much more than that. All of the information required for the course can be found on the website – no additional text books or printed materials are required. Learners should set aside eight hours per week for study activities during this web-based phase, which includes the following;

• Reading and reviewing the lessons and viewing the supporting photos, diagrams and videos on the course website.
• Answering quiz questions.
• Following the web links provided to other websites related to wood finishing.
• Taking part in online discussions.
• Exchanging emails with course tutors and other learners.
• Writing and submitting reports and short assignments – both individually and in pairs or groups.

 Throughout this phase of the certificate program, learners will constant access to your course tutor and a technical support team. Learners who have not taken an online or distance education course before may be concerned about the level of computer literacy required. The course website is very intuitive and the various communication tools it contains are simple to learn and use. Individuals who have used a computer for word processing and other common applications and are familiar with surfing the Internet and sending and receiving email should have no difficulties. The first week of the course is dedicated to helping learners become comfortable with the course website and all of its functions.

Course Content

The course is divided into ten modules, each containing between one and three separate lessons. There are twenty-two lessons which must be covered over three months. Some of the lessons are quite brief, but learners should normally count on completing at least one module a week.  

Module Topics – Web-Based Component

Module 1. Introduction to Wood Finishing

Module 2. Colour Theory and Wood Colour

Module 3. Surface Preparation

Module 4: Surface Finishes

Module 5: Spraying Technology

Module 6: Automated Finishing

Module 7: Drying and Curing of Finishes

Module 8: Post-Treatments and Cost Considerations

Module 9: Coating Parameters, Recycling, Safety, Environmental

Module 10 : Quality Control and Finish Testing

 

The practical component of the course is held over an intensive 6-day period and involves 8 hours of instruction and hands-on exercises each day. Sessions are held at the Centre for Advanced Wood Processing in Vancouver . The practical component features presentations and demonstrations by a variety of guest technical specialists, as well as instruction by CAWP personnel. Topics covered in the practical sessions build upon the theoretical knowledge gained during the web-based component of the course, and include the following;

• Measuring the colour of Canadian wood species.
• Farnsworth-Munsell colour test.
• Finish sanding and surface preparation.
• Conditioning of surfaces for staining.
• Spraying basics – gun setup, correct use, and cleaning.
• Staining effects & simple finishes, chemical staining.
• Advanced staining systems.
• Preparing bleaches and removing stains from wood.
• Tests on liquid finishes.
• Tests on wet coatings.
• Water-based finishes.
• Roller coating.
• UV curing.
• Curtain coating.
• Powder coating of MDF.
• Achieving special finishing effects.
• Exterior finishes and testing.
• Testing the properties of finishes.
• Tours of various industrial finishing facilities.

  Prerequisites

1. Participants should have some knowledge or experience of value-added wood products manufacturing. There are no formal educational requirements, but participants should possess good numerical and writing skills.
2. Participants should have regular access to a Pentium 3 (or higher) computer with sound card and speakers, word processing software, reliable Internet connection, web browser, and their own email account. Participants will need to access the course website and their own email account at least three times per week to check for announcements and updates and perform assessed tasks.

Course Dates, Registration and Fees

The course is limited to 15 industry participants. The total program fee is $1,995 (Canadian dollars). This fee covers the three-month web-based study component and the 6-day intensive practical session, and represents approximately 150 hours of instruction/study time. The web-based study component begins in the second week of January and runs until the first week of April. The practical component is held during the second half of April at UBC.

 
To Register for the training program, either email us, call us, or download and print off a registration form. You can scan and email the form, or send it by regular mail to:

 Wood Finishing Certificate Program, 

Centre for Advanced Wood Processing
Suite 2900
Forest Sciences Centre
University of British Columbia
2424 Main Mall
Vancouver , BC
Canada
V6T 1Z4

 Toll free telephone: 1-866-822-2297

Fax: 604-822-9159

Email: cawp@cawp.ubc.ca

 You can also download a PDF copy of our Certificate in Industrial Wood Finishing brochure.

 The UBC Team

Course Author: Philip Evans

Dr. Phil Evans is a professor in UBC's Faculty of Forestry. He has taught wood science and wood utilization in universities in the UK , Australia and North America for twenty years, and his research has focused on wood surface properties and the development of methods to enhance the aesthetics and durability of finishes on wood.

Course Tutor: Jason Chiu

Jason Chiu is a quality control certification specialist and extension trainer at the Centre for Advanced Wood Processing, UBC. Jason holds a Bachelors degree in Wood Products Processing from UBC. He has worked for several secondary wood products companies including Laguna Woodcraft in Delta, BC; Schmitdke Millwork in Steinbach, Manitoba and Dynamic Windows and Doors in Abbotsford, BC, where he worked as a process engineer. Jason has conducted audits of several industrial finishing facilities and performed hands-on finishing training, as well as developing a comprehensive range of finishing testing services for industry.