Celebrating 25 Years of Woodworking

This month marks 25 years that I began my woodworking career. Fresh out of high school in 1987, I applied for an apprentice position at Sway's Wood Products in my hometown of Brooksville, FL. Since that time, I have built cabinetry and furniture in Florida, Georgia, Ohio and Colorado. While working in those states (for other woodworkers) my craftsmanship has been shipped to homes in several other states. The majority of my tenure has been spent in Colorado, with my work going into homes in Aspen, Snowmass Village, Telluride, Ouray, Crested Butte, Steamboat Springs, Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Silverthorne, Buena Vista and several other small towns in Colorado. I have just been commissioned to top my Long's Peak Gun Cabinet by a gentleman in The Lone Star State. Look for pictures and details about this signature piece in the coming months! It is an exciting new year with a lot of opportunity for The Knotty Woodworker to put heirloom quality furniture into the home of my clients. Thank you for dropping by my blog and checking out the happenings. If you are looking for custom one of a kind heirloom quality furniture, I would be flattered if you called me and discussed your needs. Happy New year!

The Madison River Desk

I have been working on an executive desk. It is made from Beetle Kill Pine, one of a kind, and of heirloom quality. It was built in such a way that it will still be functional and useable and beautiful forty years from now and longer even. Here are the pictures of it in the client's home. I can build you almost anything out of this amazing wood - entertainment center coffee/end table set/ bed, dresser, etc. You can choose the rustic accents I incorporated in the desk, or I can build in contemporary or traditional styles without rustic accents - The wood itself is very rustic in appearance. View some of my earlier blogs to see the story behind the Beetle kill pine, my all natural, non-toxic finishing process and just why you should choose to order your handmade heirloom quality furniture through The Knotty Woodworker. Feel free to call me at 303 246 4766 to discuss your furniture needs. The quality will exceed your expectations, the beauty will captivate your family and friends and the cost will make your dollar go further than you imagined possible.


If you click on the images below, they will open up super size so you can see the rich detail.





The desk is 74" x 68" x 30" high





The drawer bank features hardwood dove tailed drawers. The pulls were handmade from a limb killed by the Mountain Pine Beetle.





When properly worked, end grain can be very beautiful.





There are three wire holes in the desktop for electronics. The wire chase continues underneath in the up right studs between the panels that comprise the wall. The wires then run behind the cabinet and out of the side of the cbinet in the toe kick.





Non-symetrical contours were added to replicate the natural edges of the wood as found in a log.





I had to chisel away the bark, exposing beetle burrow tracks in the "live" edge.





A beautiful knot on the live edge of the return side.





A Knot on the edge of the top. A nice contrast with the blue/black staining left by the Mountain Pine Beetles.





Mountain Pine Beetle burrow tracks in the live edge.





Doubled up "biscuits" used for alignment of the slabs and strength in the joint. Quality.





The drawer bank prior to installation.





Beetle burrow tracks in the handmade knobs.





You can see how the tracks are obvious on the sides of the handmade pulls, also.




The limb from which I made all the pulls.





I had some of the wood milled while I waited after choosing the logs personally. A sign of good working is grain selection and board placement. A step I NEVER overlook.





There is an Executive Desk and a gun cabinet in the back of the truck. I am not sure what else, but there is a lot of this wood available. What does your house need to Express Yourself?