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He makes heirloom-quality furniture with his Woodmaster – then gives it all away

Published on May 30, 2018

He makes heirloom-quality furniture with his Woodmaster – then gives it all away

“I’m a retired welding engineer from Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine — a shipbuilding facility focused primarily on Navy combatant vessels.  These days I play golf, exercise, and do a lot of woodworking. The woodworking projects go to family, friends, or charity fundraisers.

For this queen-size platform bed, I matched the arc of the cherry headboard with the laminated ash arched legs. These two woods contrast each other nicely. (The Cherry was re-purposed 3/4" thick molding, ripped to 5/8" thick, sanded both sides on my Woodmaster, and surface-glued to make 5/4 thick boards.) The Oak center beam supports the head and footboard making a very stable connection. The pine boards create a solid "platform".

For this queen-size platform bed, I matched the arc of the cherry headboard with the laminated ash arched legs. These two woods contrast each other nicely. (The Cherry was re-purposed 3/4″ thick molding, ripped to 5/8″ thick, sanded both sides on my Woodmaster, and surface-glued to make 5/4 thick boards.) The Oak center beam supports the head and footboard making a very stable connection. The pine boards create a solid “platform”.

Woodworking stimulates my creativity

Woodworking definitely stimulates my creativity, especially when designing and making a new item. Most projects are designed and planned using a computer draw program in an effort to make, and fix, all the design “mistakes” in these preliminary stages. The goal is to get it right prior to going into the shop.

This photo was snapped as I crawled under the platform bed to sign and date the work at the owner's home.

This photo was snapped as I crawled under the platform bed to sign and date the work at the owner’s home.

For each project, I make two lists: one for the ‘finished pieces” (typical parts list) and one for the ‘rough lumber’ to figure out my material needs.

The yurt couple also needed furniture, so I made a 40” x 70” table and matching benches out of some unique spalted maple. Finish is five coats of high-gloss tung oil; each coat is applied with 0000 steel wool.

A young couple needed furniture, so I made a 40” x 70” table and matching benches out of some unique spalted maple. Finish is five coats of high-gloss tung oil; each coat is applied with 0000 steel wool.

I have a fully equipped woodworking shop and 30+ years of experience making a variety of heirloom quality tables, beds, benches, music stands, desk clocks, and other unique accessory items using cherry, walnut, and other native woods.  Many of my product designs have lathe-turned components that enhance their character and reflect Old World design/craftsmanship.

The slat hickory bench was made for the lobby of my son’s business; there are lots of mortise and tenon joints. The hickory had been milled 50 or 60 years earlier and was just waiting for someone to use it.

The slat hickory bench was made for the lobby of my son’s business; there are lots of mortise and tenon joints. The hickory had been milled 50 or 60 years earlier and was just waiting for someone to use it.

Simple woodworking philosophy

My woodworking philosophy is simple: if I can imagine it, then I should be able to draw it; if I can draw it, then I can build it.

All my woodworking is done in a small one-man shop, where power tools and hand tools are used appropriately to produce strong joint connections and satin-finished surfaces.

The 24" x 48" maple workbench was made for a young couple currently living in a yurt. They use the wooden clamp mounted at one end to hold workpieces they’re carving.

The large “French Bench” has a 5″ thick laminated rock maple top and base structure.  It took four men to carry the top into a basement workshop. On the left side is a traditional woodworking vise.  The side plate (with lots of holes) slides left or right and the adjustable peg provides support for a long clamped piece.

 Why a Woodmaster Drum Sander?

 You can get a workpiece flat with a jointer / planer, but you can also get tearout because of grain variations.  With a drum sander, even ‘squirrely’ grain isn’t a problem. I bought my Woodmaster Drum Sander because it’s made in the USA, it’s rugged, and it’s easy to use.

The 24" x 48" maple workbench was made for a young couple currently living in a yurt. They use the wooden clamp mounted at one end to hold workpieces they’re carving.

The 24″ x 48″ maple workbench was made for a young couple currently living in a yurt. They use the wooden clamp mounted at one end to hold workpieces they’re carving.

Woodmaster does a great job designing / building their machines and a wonderful job of selling them online.  The write-ups and comments by other woodworkers are very helpful.  My Woodmaster Model 2675 sander was chosen to fit a small shop where all the equipment is on wheels and gets moved around as needed.

Rick Marco, Woodmaster Owner, Bath ME

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