The online learning portion of the UBC Certificate in Industrial Wood Finishing 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.