Carpentry Course in Colares

Carpentry course in Colares at Quinta dos 7 Nomes, a comprehensive introductory woodworking programme at 275 euros across seven modules totalling 30 hours, giving participants the essential knowledge, tools, techniques and practical skills needed to work confidently with wood. From the fundamentals of tools and joinery through traditional joints to three full hands-on furniture projects, this course is designed to take you from complete beginner to genuinely capable woodworker, regardless of prior experience. Set in the heart of the Algarve countryside, the quinta is a place where traditional craftsmanship, creativity and hands-on learning come together in a slower and more mindful way of life.

The course moves through seven structured modules.

• Module 1 introduces fundamental tools and woodworking accessories including manual tools, power tools and joining techniques, with participants building a workbench helper jig and a wooden mallet.
• Module 2 covers natural solid woods including Portuguese species like pine, chestnut and oak alongside imported species and engineered materials, with practical sawing and mitre joint exercises.
• Module 3 focuses on core woodworking operations and joinery techniques including dowel, mitre, box, dovetail and mortise and tenon joints, building decorative wooden frames as the practical project.
• Modules 4, 5 and 6 are the three core hands-on builds: a wooden serving tray using box-joint construction, a wooden chest with dovetail joinery, a hinged lid and lock installation, and a wooden chair using traditional mortise and tenon joinery.
• Module 7 closes the course with professional tips and safety, covering safe workshop practices, tool sharpening and maintenance, repair techniques and personal protective equipment.

What you’ll learn

🪚 Fundamental hand tools, power tools and traditional joining techniques
🪵 Natural solid wood species, engineered materials and surface finishes
🔨 Core woodworking operations including measuring, cutting, chiselling and shaping
📦 Box-joint construction building a wooden serving tray
🗄️ Dovetail joinery, hinged lid and hardware installation building a wooden chest
🪑 Mortise and tenon joinery and furniture-making principles building a wooden chair
⚠️ Professional safety practices, tool maintenance and proper workpiece fixation

What’s included

🛠️ Seven structured modules across 30 hours of hands-on instruction
🛠️ Three complete furniture projects: serving tray, chest and chair
🛠️ Full guidance on tools, materials, joinery and safety throughout
🛠️ A genuinely comprehensive introduction to traditional woodworking craftsmanship

What you leave with

Three finished wooden pieces made entirely by your own hands, including a serving tray, a chest and a chair, alongside a complete foundation in traditional joinery and woodworking technique that you can continue building on independently.

We are Quinta dos 7 Nomes, nestled in the heart of the Algarve countryside, a place where traditional craftsmanship, creativity and hands-on learning come together. Founded with a passion for preserving traditional knowledge and sharing it with future generations, we host workshops and experiences that celebrate craftsmanship, self-sufficiency and the connection between people and the natural world. More than just a learning space, we are a community where curiosity is encouraged and participants leave with newfound confidence, knowledge and inspiration.

Price 275 euros. Seven modules totalling approximately 30 hours. Takes place at Quinta dos 7 Nomes, Colares. No prior woodworking experience needed.