Custom Woodworking and Unique Furniture

[SteelCity]

Hi all, just thought it would be fun to start a thread showcasing one of my hobbies and "side hustles". My father and I do custom woodworking together, primarily made to order kitchens and hardwood doors, but in my downtime I like to come up with some creative ideas for unique tables, desks, bars, etc. Thought it could be fun to showcase some of my projects here, and if any of you have the same or similar interests could do the same. Here's a few pics of some recently completed or near completed projects.

[Chewbacca]

Very nice work.

I drink people’s milkshakes and my lumber co. clearcuts forests to make toothpicks and raise oil derricks.

[derekhayden]

Damn....nice work

[enjoythemusic]

Wow wow wow!!!

[Dan Pierce]

Excellent results right there!
dP

[AzPaul]

Not only cool tables, but cooler still that you do that with your father.

[TheVTCGuy]

Wow… You sir, are one talented individual. Much respect


I put up a wood wall shelf the other day and nearly tore my condo down

[Boothroyd]

Very impressive and really nice work!

[Boopie]

Very impressive! You are very artistic and talented!

[pk552502]

I love a nice solid wood piece. Today pretty much all furniture is particle board- what a shame. Nice to see you're keeping the woodworking tradition alive. I like finding old furniture made from real wood for cheap on craigslist.

[SteelCity]

Thanks for all the positive feedback, guys. It's nice to be appreciated for things you put your mind, sweat, and (unfortunately sometimes) blood into. Here's just a couple more samples of things I've done around my own place.
*The big walnut slab picture I'm currently working on as an office conference table for a customer. But I love the grain and texture so I threw it in.

[TK-710]

Amazing talent.

[Shadow Play]

In a world of mass produced goods the world needs artists like you more than ever. I really hope you have an apprentice that you can pass your skills onto.

[SteelCity]

Originally Posted by Shadow Play

In a world of mass produced goods the world needs artists like you more than ever. I really hope you have an apprentice that you can pass your skills onto.

Eh, I’m 33 so I suppose there’s still time. Truthfully, as a kid I hated wood. I was always having to sticker lumber by hand to air dry and then reload them into a hot kiln. Was not into it.

Went to college, got a couple degrees, and hated being in an office even worse. I could get my work done quick and correct, and then just had to pass time until I could leave, which isn’t my style.

Everyone needs a kitchen and doors. If not now, eventually. Which is our main focus. But then I get to have fun with my own inventions, all on my own time. I don’t want all the money in the world, but get paid for good work and to make my own schedule and actually have a good time.

[Andy0331]

Excellent work, looks great!

I have decent enough "man skills", to make household repairs, basic fabrication, etc., but I truly lack any refinement that would enable me to make such precise cuts & fits. I really appreciate seeing the work of those who can.

[m j b]

I do woodworking as a hobby. Once I start doing it for money, it becomes work and that just sucks all of the joy out of it.

This is one of my tables, made out of cherry. Every piece I make, I try to do something different/unusual. In this case, it has power outlets in the back, one of which is switched, and controls all of my phone/tablet chargers. The other one is for a lamp.

[m j b]

These are the bunk beds I made for my youngest many years ago. He loved the idea of climbing up the ladder.

It's made out of knotty pine.

[BNA/LION]

Beautiful wood working guys! Thanks for sharing.

[Carguy87]

Super cool pics!

[Easy E]

Fantastic!

[DLRIDES]

Such beautiful work by you both!

[aczaja10]

Amazing work. They look incredible

[minute_man]

Absolutely love what I'm seeing here Thank you all for sharing.

[albertf]

Can you share pictures of your tools? I've always liked the idea of getting into woodworking but the initial cost of entry and space required kept me away.

[ltmgeller]

Very nice!!!

[m j b]

Originally Posted by albertf

Can you share pictures of your tools? I've always liked the idea of getting into woodworking but the initial cost of entry and space required kept me away.

I'm sorry, no, the tools are shy and won't let me photograph them.

Seriously though, these days with youtube and tikky-toks there are lots of "how to" guides ... well, I presume that there are. I learned by watching PBS woodworking shows (pre-Internet). And many local technical schools have classes and some will let you (for a minor fee) use their equipment after hours. One of my coworkers does that.

My suggestion is to start small and work your way up. Lots of fancy specialized tools are not needed. A hand saw, hammer, drill with a nice bit assortment is all you need to start. Then you can add chisels, clamps and hand planes. Of course you'll need consumables like sandpaper, nails, screws, glue...

Then you can start buying power tools. The biggest and yet most flexible and useful is a table saw. Spend the money and buy something with a solid cast iron top and a good fence. Then you'll need to spend more money on some good blades. If you can't afford the space or money for a table saw, a circular saw can do a lot of things, but it's not nearly as accurate or easy to use.

Add to that a good router, and then spend your children's inheritance on bits.

And buy more clamps. You can never have too many clamps.

Never buy cheap tools. Cheap tools won't last, they won't produce good results and they can hurt you. Spend the money and buy the good stuff, which will last you forever. Kind of like a watch.

[Rock]

Thank you for showing us some of your beautiful and interesting work.
Some years ago, whilst visiting our Daughter in the National Capital, we visited a town near Canberra that had a woodworking display centre. It was full of hundreds of the most beautiful items from furniture to novelty items - jewellery boxes, cigar boxes, etc.
I was blown away and I wish now that I had bought a couple of the chairs with the Ostrich-skin upholestry. It was all very expensive but worth every cent.