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ED SAYS HE’S A HOBBY WOODWORKER but his Woodmaster projects have “pro” written all over them

Published on May 14, 2015

ED SAYS HE’S A HOBBY WOODWORKER but his Woodmaster projects have “pro” written all over them

Here's a 12' gazebo Ed built using his Woodmaster Molder/Planer. "It's made from rough sawn Redwood I planed with my Woodmaster," he tells us. "It's my own design and I put lots of work into all the details, dado joints, curved rails, and CNC-carved star medallions."

Here’s a 12′ gazebo Ed built using his Woodmaster Molder/Planer. “It’s made from rough sawn Redwood I planed with my Woodmaster,” he tells us. “It’s my own design and I put lots of work into all the details, dado joints, curved rails, and CNC-carved star medallions.”


Ed Vitanovec tells us he’s a “home hobby woodworker.” But we think he’s being modest. The work he does is of far higher quality than anything you can buy in stores. His curio cabinet, below, is but the latest in a long line of handsome, well-made woodworking projects he’s created, many with his Woodmaster Molder/Planer.

A man and his Woodmaster! Here's Ed with his 718 Woodmaster Molder/Planer. He's ready to make molding and trim with the machine set up as a molder and plenty of cherry blanks on hand.

A man and his Woodmaster! Here’s Ed with his Woodmaster Molder/Planer. He’s ready to make molding and trim with the machine set up as a molder and plenty of cherry blanks on hand.

“My wife wanted a curio cabinet for our home but everything we saw was imported and not of great quality. I decided to build something special for her, something you can’t find in stores.

I designed and built her the curio cabinet in the photos out of 4/4 solid cherry. I had a Woodmaster and used it to plane the boards and rip them to width. All the stiles and rails had rabbet cuts in the back sides to hold the glass and mirrors. I assembled all parts into panels that I glued together with biscuits. It has a sliding door rather than one that swings.

I also used the Woodmaster set up as a molding machine to make the cabinet’s base and crown molding. I finished the cabinet with a cherry stain and several coats of oil. I have 60 hours into building this and the Woodmaster made it easy to rip the boards and make custom molding.

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I like to keep busy – saves money, gives personal satisfaction

Professionally, I’m a mechanical designer but I’ve been a home hobby woodworker for nearly 30 years. I’ve done lots of home fix-ups and made everything from coffee tables, to cabinets, beds, pergolas, gazebos, whole workshops; a little bit of everything including making molding for my home with the Woodmaster. I always like creating things. I like to keep busy. Doing projects myself saves money plus it gives me personal satisfaction.

Here's a sample of the cherry crown molding Ed made and installed in his home.

Here’s a sample of the cherry crown molding Ed made and used in his curio cabinet.

More of Ed's trim, made on his Woodmaster Molder/Planer -- cherry molding.

More of Ed’s trim, made on his Woodmaster Molder/Planer — cherry molding.

Ed's finished curio cabinet houses his wife's collection of "1,001 Dalmations" collectibles and memorabilia. Note the cabinet door SLIDES sideways to open. Nicely done, Ed!

Ed’s finished curio cabinet houses his wife’s collection of “101 Dalmations” collectibles and memorabilia. Note the cabinet door SLIDES sideways to open. Nicely done, Ed!

I’m serious about my tools. I like having the right tools because it makes any project easier and safer. I got my Woodmaster to do planing and to make molding for our home. I made cherry and oak baseboard, casing, and crown molding. I started with rough lumber, planed it, ripped it to width, and then set up the molding head. I ran blanks through to make the back cut, then ran them through to do the front detail.

He may make money running molding for others

Ed built this pergola as a home for his auto. Slatted roof provides good ventilation and protection from the hot Texas sun.

Ed built this pergola as a home for his auto. Slatted roof provides good ventilation and protection from the hot Texas sun.

In the future, I may do some side work and make some money running molding for others. It’s nice that Woodmaster’s custom knife service lets you duplicate old molding patterns or make your own new designs. I’ve ordered custom knives for baseboard and crown molding. Woodmaster did a good job making the knives and delivered them quickly.

4 beefy machines in 1: planer, molder, sander, saw

How about a new kitchen? Ed built and installed all the cabinetry.

How about a new kitchen? Ed built all the cabinetry using his Woodmaster Molder/Planer.

I chose Woodmaster because it’s beefy. I’ve used smaller machines but this is really beefy, beefier than the pictures show. I’ve been in manufacturing a long time so the fact that this is made in the USA is important to me. It’s rigid, heavy duty and I like that. It’s US-made, easy to work on, easy to change functions.

For me, the 12” 712 would probably have been fine but a bigger model has more capacity. I got the Pro Pack with it so I can set it up as a drum sander, molder, planer, and gang rip saw.

Best feature? The Variable Feed Rate

The best feature is the Variable Feed Rate on the drive system. The head turns at a constant speed but the drive belt has a separate motor. You can tweak the feed rate — speed it up or slow it down and get more cuts-per-inch. That gives you a very good quality finish. If someone’s looking for this kind of machine, I’d recommend Woodmaster. It’s easy to set for planing, ripping, and making molding.

I’m 100% satisfied with my Woodmaster machine as well as the service and parts I’ve bought from the Woodmaster Tools company. I’m really satisfied. It’s an all around excellent product. I’ve had no problem with the motors and everything works like it should. It’s beefy and doesn’t require adjustments to keep the head parallel with the bed. Maintenance is easy; the belts don’t slip; knives are all good quality. Everything’s really good.”

— Ed Vitanovec, Woodmaster Molder/Planer Owner, Richmond, Texas

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