<![CDATA[Artisan Timber Works - Craftsmans\' Corner]]>

<![CDATA[Artisan Timber Works - Craftsmans\' Corner]]>Wed, 15 Nov 2023 23:33:22 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Having The Right Gear For The Weather.]]>Fri, 07 Apr 2017 05:09:06 GMThttps://www.artisantimberworks.com/craftsmans-corner/having-the-right-gear-for-the-weather Staying safe on the job is the top priority. But who says you can't do it in style, check out the links below for some kickin deals on brand name duds.
Click the ''read more'' button for well... more...

Keep Warm As Well As Your Sense Of Style.

Milwaukee Heated Apparel $Sale$

Making sure you're properly geared up for the day can make a huge difference in the amount, and quality of work produced.

Whether you're heading to work, out on the boat, or hanging with friends. It's always a plus to be comfortable check out the links to deals on the Milwaukee heated jackets, (above) for apparel that literally turns up the heat if you're stuck in the cold.

As far as lunch goes, on really cold days you may want to go lite. After a big meal digestion can steal away precious warmth from your extremities and actually make you feel colder.

]]><![CDATA[Design Inspiration...]]>Wed, 22 Mar 2017 03:55:37 GMThttps://www.artisantimberworks.com/craftsmans-corner/design-inspiration Many things can influence the design of a place or piece of furniture. The creative mediums are able to be forged into many forms, and functions. It lies in your own imagination to come up with a physical representation that synchronizes with a particular application or individual's style. In this article I'll delve into a few of my own stimuli...

I like to think that matching a person's style with a renovated space or piece of custom furniture is a lot like adding a riff to someone's music. It may sound good to you but unless you're truly feeling the emotions intended, only to you will it harmonize.

A good place to start is becoming very perceptive of someone's personality and manner. especially if you're being commissioned by a client to build a custom piece of furniture, or renovate their space. The space someone occupies usually provides a lot of signs. Being invited in for more than just discussion of the project itself, and spending some time chatting over a cup of tea or lite lunch at a client's home often provides the relaxed setting for the client to stray off topic which can lend subtle but useful information on the attributes of a person's style.

A place can also give out silent hints as to what will complement or accent an area. Be conscious of the details and the disposition; recognize the space involved. The great thing about working with mediums such as wood and metal is that these materials come with their own characteristics that with proper selection and use can enhance this process.

Spend some time being mindful of these things prior to starting your design of an interior space or designing a piece of statement furniture. Give your imagination the reservoir of sense information needed to not only create but integrate.

]]><![CDATA[Restoration the right way.]]>Sun, 05 Mar 2017 02:30:42 GMThttps://www.artisantimberworks.com/craftsmans-corner/restoration-the-right-way

There's several ways to go at a restoration project. Some will enhance the piece, some will leave you wishing you would have left well enough alone...

The older a piece the more apt a restoration is, although therein lies the double edged blade. The older a piece becomes the more complex a restoration project...

  The difference between a patina and a project.
   Some pieces weather well with time, Considering whether they've had favorable conditions to weather. Moisture, Humidity, U.V. Light and temperature swings can wreak havoc on your favorite woodwork.   Any ''soft spots" or moisture in the wood will generally warrant a full restoration to prevent further damage. Though that memorable lite crazing or alligatoring, really "tells the story" it is what keeps some from going for a refurb because It's very difficult to replicate, yet not impossible.

Different materials can withstand the test of time better than others. Solid wood usually holds up to aging better than veneers or laminates.  Also the techniques and the finish coatings applied all play an important role in whether a complete or partial restoration is warranted.

luckily oils, varnish, lacquer or natural shellac were the go to finish coating for most older furniture. These finish coatings are generally easier to replicate but are often in need of repair. They have to be kept up with routine topcoats and waxings. Try to never use pledge or the likes on antiques because their residue is very difficult to remove.

   A technique called the french polish is a more intricate application involving several steps, leaving the piece with a lustrous shine that really accentuates the grain of the wood. This process was very prone to damage, coming in as the most needed, costliest, as well as most difficult to replicate.

Modern finishes are way more durable than these previous counterparts. Yet few of them applied per the directions will leave your restoration with that old-world wooden charm. Understanding the techniques used when these antiques were built is the key to keeping restoring them to their true original beauty.

Thanks for reading
Questions??? leave a comment and I will too!

]]><![CDATA[Spotting a fake!]]>Sat, 04 Mar 2017 23:10:47 GMThttps://www.artisantimberworks.com/craftsmans-corner/spotting-a-fake

Getting the wool pulled over your eyes happens to the best of us. When it comes to home restorations, renovations and furnishings, it could be an especially costly one. Here are some tips to avoid wasting time and money on an imposter.

Tradesmen, tradeswomen, craftsmen, craftswomen, woodworkers, and carpenters come in all shapes and sizes as well as many different skill levels. It may be an artist using wood as their medium. Or a handyman especially good with wood.

Whatever they call themselves (I'll stick to craftsmen for this article) be wary of applicants who claim to do it all. Most craftsmen that have been around the trades a while will tend to have a specialty.

Before accepting quotes and interviewing your possible craftsmen, come up with a list of questions on the specifics of your project. Do some research on the subject beforehand. Allow some wiggle room for suggestions made, note and briefly research those later as well. use your list as a tool to find out how knowledgeable a craftsmen is on the subject presented.

Portfolios are a powerful tool. Your craftsmen should have a portfolio, lacking a hard copy portfolio is a sign of lack in pride your craftsmen has for his or her work. Seeing a craftsmen's portfolio is an easy way to find out the kind, quality, style, design, and amount of work they produce.

Whether you're seeking a quality furniture piece, to upgrade doors and windows, maybe modernize a space in your home, add some flair or pizazz to your wood trim package, or simply tune up your homes entryways. Take the extra time necessary to find the right craftsmen for the job, put in your due diligence & You won't regret paying the bill when it comes time.

]]><![CDATA[Optimise openings]]>Fri, 03 Mar 2017 04:23:05 GMThttps://www.artisantimberworks.com/craftsmans-corner/optimise-openings

Doors and windows can be tricky. With a little forethought and a few slick tricks. Anyone can debug their mystery.

1- Buy quality name brand doors/windows, made by a respected manufacturer. Doors are used A LOT, don't "cheese out" on your doors and windows. The peace of mind that comes with the fact they will cover their product should you discover a defect, should be enough to cover the higher price.

2- Check the threshold for level! This is the root to many door and window problems. Watch for the hinge side being low especially. If so shim accordingly.

3- The closer the opening is to plum and square the better. If that's not the case shim accordingly. (Always make the hinge side Plumb.)

4- Replace one of the top hinge jamb-side hinge screws with a 2"1/2. (Forgetting this is the most common reason for door malfunction!)

5- Make sure there is an even 1/8" reveal around the doors/windows slab(s)

6- With the door almost shut look for any variance between the slab and jamb. If so orient the jamb at the hinge until it matches the jamb on the strike side.

7- On doors adjust the seal at bottom threshold until it holds but doesn't tear a piece of printer paper (see image below)



Those are some simple ways to improve the function and efficiency of your openings, hopefully you've found this helpful.

Thanks for reading!

]]><![CDATA[Sharpening skills]]>Wed, 01 Mar 2017 17:30:00 GMThttps://www.artisantimberworks.com/craftsmans-corner/sharpening-skills

Honing your skills is all about following through. Challenging projects sometimes push you slightly out of your comfort zone. Thats where the magic happens, just beyond the brink of "I've got this".

   Whether it be in sports, business, politics, or life. If you've ever experienced that moment when you had to take a second look, make a phone call to a mentor, or make a last second gut decision, and then go with it. You know that the most rewarding accomplishments usually follow this moment of "Following through".

Forming true character follows this same formula, If it was easy everyone you meet would have amazing character. However this is defiantly not the case.

   Most of the skills I have learned over years in the carpentry trade, were sharpened just outside of my personal comfort zone. Outside the comfort zone is the place where the most memorable tricks that improve speed and quality are picked up. These are the lessons and feelings of true accomplishment that keep me looking for the next challenge, which in turn pushes me to sharpen an existing skill, or even learn a new skill to succeed.

]]><![CDATA[Keeping it real.]]>Wed, 01 Mar 2017 04:06:00 GMThttps://www.artisantimberworks.com/craftsmans-corner/keeping-it-real

These days it seems lots of businesses spend a lot of time and effort cutting corners. People putting on a show and advertising "Greatness" too often let you down once the check has cleared.

Some companies are better than others at keeping promises, but others are just campaigning.

Such is the case today in lots of areas outside of business as well: politics, schools, religion and even personal life. Lots of talk with little action! Then come the trades. In most trades competition tends to keep it a level playing field. Hence the reason word of mouth advertising still works so well within the trades. Like one of my many mentors told me, "There is no shortcut to quality"

Those words have stuck with me through my years in the carpentry trade. For good reason too, it rings true in all aspects of the carpentry trade. From my early years in the trade building custom homes in Boca Grande, Fl, to building furniture for five star resorts in Girdwood, Ak, there is always a moment where I could have shaved some time on a technique or maybe saved some money on materials. Then that quote will remind me that cutting corners will just haunt me in my finished product, as well as my reputation.

]]><![CDATA[combining feng shui with carpentry.]]>Tue, 28 Feb 2017 00:48:17 GMThttps://www.artisantimberworks.com/craftsmans-corner/combining-feng-shui-with-carpentry

There are lots of ways feng shui and woodwork go hand in hand. Having just the right furniture in a space can make all the difference in the world when it comes to the flow of energy through a space...

There is nothing that can help harmonize you and others to the space you're occupying than a personalized piece of organic furniture. although it is very important when having a piece made that the carpenter understands these flows of energy and uses that knowledge to orient the lumber correctly the way nature intended.
The high moisture content all woods even including kiln dried products, allows the scattered energy in the wind to be directed or channeled to alters of your choice. This process has been used in several cultures in traditional building techniques for centuries!

]]><![CDATA[Why Shellac is better than Polyurethane.]]>Mon, 27 Feb 2017 17:00:00 GMThttps://www.artisantimberworks.com/craftsmans-corner/why-shellac-is-better-than-polyurethane

I'll start with this shellac is by far a less durable product. However it is MUCH easier to work with shellac than poly. Let me explain.

Shellac Vs Poly's

1. Shellac can be applied over itself multiple times without forming a bulky appearance.

   2. Shellac dries in MINUTES not days! leaving it in another league entirely.

   3. Shellac will dry in a multitude of conditions. Including freezing temperatures!

4. Shellac literally feels like it wants to be in the wood, and wood wants Shellac in it.

  5. Poly stays on top of the wood as a thin plastic shield. Shellac soaks into the pores of the wood.

  6. When poly gets scratched it has to be completely removed then replaced. When you scratch shellac you can ruff it up with sandpaper and re-coat it.

7. If poly dries on a brush your brush is ruined, period. If shellac dries on your brush, soak it in denatured alcohol and viola it's as good as new!

8. Shellac dries to a food grade finish in 24hrs! The same can not be said for any other protective coating.

9. For some woods there is just no comparison for bringing out the awesome beauty of the grain the way shellac can. Curly maple is a great example of how shellac can rise above ANY OTHER coating.


Thanks for stopping by!

]]><![CDATA[Sustainable Woodworking]]>Mon, 27 Feb 2017 04:06:48 GMThttps://www.artisantimberworks.com/craftsmans-corner/sustainable-woodworking

This post is focusing on the ways you can improve your carbon footprint, and stay working in the trades you love. Since my start in the trades, I've always been interested in new ways to improve efficiency, Most times to the dismay of my mentors, when it didn't workout. (the traditional ways stick for a reason) Read more to hear the ways that I have improved woodworking efficiency to lessen the impact environmentally.

Thanks for stopping in.
Innovation in a trade that has been around for thousands of years, can be tough to say the least. Alas through more modern approaches they can be "tweaked" and improved.
1- I improve my impact by working with salvaged material. heritagesalvage.com Working with salvaged materials is not only more cost effective, but it limits the huge amount of waste created by others.
2- Working with more environmentally friendly, glues, thinners, and finish-coats. I pick turpentine over paint thinner because it is less toxic and still gets the job done. Elmer's wood glue over other brands, because it contains less toxic solvents/carriers. I always chose alcohol based finish coats like shellac over polyurethanes not because of durability but again to be a better eco-stewart.
3- Working from a shared makers space will also lower your impact, It's also a great way to learn new tricks, become more respectful, and meet new friends. www.chimeraarts.org

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