The Lost Art of Bespoke Joinery with Master Joiner Tom Cottington

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