Custom Woodwork

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. Shelf units, desks, cabinetry, and tables, but have built things I didn't know existed until I was asked to design them. Most recently, a small Japanese style desk with folding legs, the only metal in it is sixteen short and hidden brad nails.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Have a good idea of what you want. Pictures are extremely helpful. Look up different types of wood on the internet and be ready with some ideas and questions. Be patient, this stuff will not happen fast, this is not production work. It will be worth the extra time.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. What it takes to properly join two different pieces of wood in a way that is pleasing to the eye and will take a stick of dynamite to separate. I would wish I had a good working vocabulary to articulate what I want, or at least, a good picture or two.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. Sizes of things, types of wood (general or specific), and how much they want to spend.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. Other than the fact that everything I build is unique to any other piece, the only thing that stands out is the design work and the craftsmanship. There are many fine woodworkers out there who can legitimately make the same claim.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. Solving interesting design riddles and seeing them come to life.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. Are you Jim? My answer is always the same, yes. But seriously, I field a vast variety of questions from potential customers. Sometimes I know the answer, if I don't, I do research.

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. Each project is a story unto itself. All of them are interesting.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. I only wish my customers, or potential customers as the case may be, knew that I am not in this profession to swindle anyone. I am in it because I love the trade and I am simply trying to make an honest, and modest, living. It takes time and patience to do quality woodwork, it costs more than going out and buying a kit from any number of different retail outfits. Without disparaging the product from big retail, I will only say, you will likely be passing what I build for you onto your grandchildren and beyond.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. I was a construction laborer, I became a carpenter, moved into finished carpentry, tried cabinetry, built a front door for a new bar, built the back bar, found I had a knack for this thing, tooled up, studied up, made some mistakes, learned, and am still learning. The more I know, the more I know I don't yet know.

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. I just did. The legs fold on wooden hinges, pivot on dowels, and have wooden keys that make it all work smoothly.

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. The latest developments in my field only serve to make the process faster, certainly not better, save for the development of better wood glues. The more I learn, the further back I travel in the evolution of woodwork. New technology for ancient methodology, some good, some not so good. Hand tools are still the preferred treatment.

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. Anything that is known about fine woodwork was known long, long ago. Tap the ancients on the shoulder and ask 'em for a tip. Perhaps we will develop tree farms for exotic, rare species that will make some of these materials available and affordable, while leaving compromised Eco systems alone.

Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.

A. This is getting a little repetitious no. I am currently building a maple computer desk with a shadow box desk top. While working on it I have taken a number of smaller projects on to keep cash flow. One of which being the small Japanese style desk with folding legs. I needed to design an all wood hinge system for the legs that involved 79 degrees of movement, interlocking movement, doweled pivots, and key pins to keep it all working properly. I did not charge for the research and development, as I will use this design in the future, including the computer desk. The desk cost $280.00 finished and I was graciously given a $20.00 bonus.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. Somewhere between what the customer can afford and what I need to charge to stay in business is usually where we settle.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. Get rich first, have a trust fund, or keep your day job. Seriously, we are now trying to compete with the buy now cheap, buy again in two years program, in the middle of a recession. It's tough to break in to this one and always good to have a plan B or an exit strategy. Learn as much as you can, don't be in a hurry, and don't be misled by high priced, fantastic, "new" technologies. Stay true to the art and to yourself, and good luck.

Q. Write your own question and answer it.

A. What is your name? Anyone interested in, and respectful of, beautiful, hand crafted, one of a kind, made locally, made conscientiously, works of functional art.