This video shows how cabinetmaking has become an environmentally-friendly industry. Jason Hindes, chief judge, is showcasing the use of 100% second hand or reclaimed material in cabinet making at WorldSkills.

Jason shows us the prototype hall table he designed for the competition. It is made out of 100% second hand material, including an old fence post and block ends. He points out the use of the different types of wood within the table, which has been hand-finished - Jason likes the idea of wind and solar energy and would love to be able to run his workshop machinery without the use of electrical power.

About Carpentry At Worldskills:

While sometimes called artistic carpenters, cabinetmakers belong to a specialised field of wood workers. Cabinetmakers use hand and machine skill in the manufacture and installation of custom built-in-commercial and traditional furniture. Competitors of WorldSkills will be making an artistic hall table made out of Tasmanian Oak and Silky Oak. Competitors are marked on machinery usage and they must manage their time by grouping tasks to avoid excess running time. Emphasis is on a hand finish instead of electric sanders.

About Jason:

Jason designed the Australian National competition project, runs his own cabinet making business in Adelaide and is a former WorldSkills International Champion competing in the 1989 Australian team finishing with a silver medal. In 2007 Jason was a judge at the WorldSkills International competition in Shizouku, Japan. Jason has been self-employed since he was 19 years old.

After winning the WorldSkills nationals and placing second at the international event, Jason’s cabinet making took him all over the world. He spent a year working in the Isle of Man. Australia’s International WorldSkills team went there to acclimatise before the international event and were billeted out to families who were in their category.

Jason was billeted out to a cabinetmaker and decided to go back and live and work with him for a year. During this time Jason and his boss exchanged a wide range of knowledge and skills of their industry and they still keep in touch to this day.

Jason’s goal is to get Australia a gold medal at the international competition next year and plans to work very closely with the Australian winner to achieve this. As an international judge, Jason would like a fair and smooth competition.