asztalos

An asztalos is a Hungarian tradesperson who works with wood, commonly translated as carpenter or joiner in English. The term covers craftsmen who design, fabricate, assemble, and install wooden items ranging from furniture and fittings to structural components. In traditional usage, an asztalos might have specialized in making tables and other furniture, but the scope today includes both carpentry for buildings and cabinetmaking.

Typical tasks include constructing timber frames, stairs, doors, and window frames; building and installing cabinetry and built-in furniture; performing repairs, restorations, and interior fit-outs; and sometimes renovating historical woodwork. The work can involve both structural carpentry and fine woodworking, with specialization possible in areas such as furniture, interiors, or restoration.

Tools and methods commonly used by an asztalos range from hand tools—such as saws, chisels, planes, and mallets—to power tools and modern woodworking machinery. Precision in measuring, marking, and joinery is important, as is adherence to safety standards. Many contemporary asztalos also work with finished surfaces, veneers, and various wood types, including softwoods and hardwoods, and may use CNC equipment for complex components.

Training and qualifications typically occur through the Hungarian vocational education system, including apprenticeships and vocational schools. After completing a program or apprenticeship, a journeyman may work for a company; to operate independently or employ others, one may pursue the master craftsman exam (mesterlevel) to become a master asztalos. In the broader context, the term denotes a skilled woodworking tradesperson, with similar equivalents in English-speaking regions such as carpenter and joiner.

Related topics include carpentry, joinery, and woodworking trades.