Process:

making a custom piece

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it.

I often hear from customers that they have searched high and low for a specific item, only to discover that having one hand-crafted is much simpler and more financially obtainable than they thought. You will get a piece that’s exactly what you wanted. It’s my goal to listen to your wish list and then go above and beyond, building on your ideas to maximize the potential of a design.

  • Write me with info about what you have in mind. Approximate size, where it’s going, and time needed are helpful. Once I have this I’ll send a ballpark cost for you to review.

  • I can provide sketches, 3D drawings, and a scale model to provide for your peace of mind. Many customers however choose to allow me the ability to make on-the-fly decisions while building their piece, so highly-detailed drawings aren’t necessary. Running with just a basic concept is sufficient. They end up giving the most creative freedom and having quicker turnaround and better design for the cost.

    For every piece I do include your required specifications in the order invoice, so you know the most important details will be covered. If you would like more assurance of what I’ll be making through sketches or a model, I can provide these for a nominal charge.

  • Once you’re fully satisfied with the plan and costs, I’ll submit an invoice for 50% of the total for you to pay. This is non-refundable as it’s covering my material costs and some labour.

  • The fun! I begin making your piece by hand, sending you photo updates along the way. You’re welcome to ask questions and even come by, in-person, to check on your piece! The making step takes 1-6 weeks depending on the size and complexity of the project.

  • With the project now finished, you’ll pay the balance and either pickup the item in person or await delivery.

A holistic process.

Good woodworking to me is looking at the entire process of making and asking how can we maximize every skill and interaction in imagining an item and making it. From the initial inspiration and design, relationships encountered along the way, to the making, machines, and materials, in every step, all our senses must be engaged in a satisfying and enriching way.

This means the design must be well thought out. The designs I conceptualise must be free from era and stylistic constraints and fast fashion. When a piece enters your home, it should be there for keeps.

Relationships are so critical to my methods that when I started, I told Tanya that I would rather find a different career than be a solitary woodworker. There are several ways I seek out relationships in my woodworking. When searching for ideas, I try to honor other makers by giving a shout out when they inspire me. Local woodworkers regularly come to the shop for a hand with a project or to run material through a machine. And I enjoy engaging an apprentice to do my part in getting the next generation excited about making.

Materials selection is more than just an evaluation of beauty. Each product must be safe to breathe, touch, even eat from. Our sense of smell is awakened by the sweet plant products in tanned leather, and by the rich aroma of walnut. I avoid materials and protective finishes that off-gas noxious and unhealthy odors. Our sense of touch is one of my favorite. Using the best angle, stopping at just the right amount of sanding, and belaboring the radius of a curve can make or break a piece. The user must be enticed to reach in, to connect what their hands feel with what their eyes perceive. Also of note, materials must be durable and maintenance-friendly, not yellowing or breaking down with time.

Shop environmental consideration is given to waste utilisation and airspace quality. Sawdust is given to local gardeners. The tiniest of scraps are used for heat or a fire with friends. My shop floor is usually clean, the air low in dust, and the space is free from WIFI and Bluetooth radiation. I avoid spraying chemicals, opting for cleaning and finishing solutions that won’t get into our lungs and pores.

Machines purchased must either be used or if new they have been made in a fashion so as to be good stewards of this earth. Many of my machines are well-built, older pieces that are easy to upkeep. I expect to have them the rest of my career, then give them to my kids.

Finally, for me, good woodworking promotes family and friendship. Sure, sometimes I may work 60 hours in a week, but this is always balanced with extra time taken for my family the following week. During the design and building phases I look for ways to engage those around me, whether in asking their opinion, or in seeking their expertise. In the end, my family comes first, my friends second, and woodworking last.