Gallery

Intrigued?

Why don't you take a look at our store, you will probably want to buy a whole bunch of things, or maybe even have us make something unique for your home, or porch, or office...

About

As opposed to the rest of this site, this bit will be all in the first person.
My dad would never have been accused of being handy, he had a little toolbox with a one speed power drill, and at least one drill bit, a hammer and a screwdriver. But in an apartment in Manhattan, with old plaster and lath walls that was all that was needed as long as you could sink a molly bolt.
I had an epiphany in high school the first time I drilled into metal, and the real change came in college. The first semester of my technical theater class was a real eye opener. Radial arm saw, table saw, band saw...

Carpentry stayed a college thing, but some time later, I built a deck in an apartment in the City, then another for a friend, then a big one, for a house, then a longer hiatus, twenty years or so.
Covid changed all that. I discovered that I really didn't care for making websites full time, I liked making things in a more plastic sense. I love cutting wood, tuning a saw, sharpening a blade, marking a cut, and I hope you like some of the work I have done.

What do we use?

10" 1992 3HP Craftsman Contractor's Saw
Craftsman ¾ HP Drill Press
Porter Cable Plunge Router
Bosch Router + Router Table
Rockwell Multi-tool
Ryobi Random Orbital Sander
Central Pneumatic Corner Sander
Craftsman Belt Sander
Clamps, Vises, etc
Japanese Saws (various)
Japanese Planes (kanna, various)
Western Planes (various)
Titebond Waterproof + Gorilla Glue
Varathane, Minwax, and home-brewed finishes

Home Décor

Despite the name, we're not just benches

Sometimes the best stuff comes from kismet, the serendipitous moment. Like these slatted pieces. For instance, these candle holders, and these slatted tables. they are all inspired by great finds, whether baulks of timber to make the candle holders, or when we found this cache of salvaged barn-wood, we couldn't help grabbing all that we could carry away.

Tall Slatted Tables

We rip down the wood and sand it, then build the table with vintage 6d nails and paint it in a wonderful shabby pink or stain it to your desire.
This is a terrific addition to any home, functional, beautiful, and a lot of fun.

Wide Slatted Tables

Like the benches, we couldn't help grabbing all that we could carry away of this wood. We rip down the wood and sand it, then build the table with vintage 6d nails and paint it in a wonderful shabby pink or stain it to your desire.

Low Slatted Tables

More uses for this salvaged barn wood...

Planters

Another salvaged barn-wood creation. Perfect for decks, or in front of a favorite window! We finish to order, whitewash or a a wonderful shabby pink, various colors

Candle Holders

This is a beautiful take on an antique sugar mold, available in either a nine or five hole version. Great for candles, and for little planters, a really stunning centerpiece.

Candle Holders - Dovetailed

A pretty little piece, fits any table...

Clothes Racks

Try these in your mud room, laundry room, front hall, back of a closet...

Other Pieces

Who knows what we'll make next!
The little crosses are maple or oak, and hang from hand-painted wooden beads, they are a very pretty ornament.
The little forest of snowy trees are so pretty on a table or side board.
We are just wrapping up a set of three custom cedar doors, as you can see below.

The little forest of snowy trees are so pretty on a table or side board

Recent Projects

May 27

Maple + Oak Crosses

3-½" maple and oak crosses for wall hangings, all mortised together, aged and stained!
fun fact-the oak came from a tree on our property that had fallen. I had removed the bulk, but saved some short pieces to play with.

May 15

Candle holders

These massive candle holders are the perfect centerpiece...

April 28

Slab benches

These benches are massive, and great looking - they are available in a number of colors, and really look perfect on a porch, under the spreading maple, in a hallway or at the foot of the bed...

April 28

Inventory

Yes, we keep inventory! Feel free to reach out for the current stock, we can ship within a few days...

Spotlight

Antique Sugar Molds

The perfect candle holder

We start with a massive 4" x 6" beam. The nine hole version is 35-½ inches in length, and we cut an 11° angle in the base to give it the unique shape. The cut takes two passes through the saw to complete, since it is a more massive piece of wood than our 35 year old saw can handle in one.

We use a 60mm Forstner bit in the drill press to make the 1" deep holes. The mess was inspiration for yet another attempt to make an efficient dust collection system...

Once cut, the fun starts. we plane it by hand using three different kanna, until the surface is as glassy as we can get, then we sand the monster on all sides with 80 | 150 | 320 grits using my multi-tool, much to the annoyance of the rest of the house.
Once smooth, we stain it with the Varathane Dark Walnut, twice, with a light sanding between coats. We then finish it with clear Butcher's paste wax, applied by hand, then polished using the multi-tool again.

Slab Benches

Massively Primitive

We rip a 2x10 to clean up the edges. After cutting the seat to size we then rip the two leg pieces up the center. We cut a nice angled cut out from the bottoms and then glue them back together with hidden dowels. We cut a notch from each leg to accommodate the slat, and using the same 1x, we cut the two side pieces.

Once the legs are ready, we plane, and then sand all the pieces down. If we are distressing it, we soften all the corners with the sander, hit the wood of the seat with chains, crow bars, old fashioned hammer heads, and then use a wire brush to complete the 'aging' process.

For quick antiquing, a solution of cider vinegar and steel wool gives a great, grey patina, or there are a variety of other mixes, including diluting high quality latex paint with white vinegar...

Assembly is done with waterproof carpenter's glue, then we drill holes to place dowels about three inches into the wood with gorilla glue. Once the body is dry, we add the sides using waterproof carpenter's glue and nails.
Very pretty