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I build all my furniture using time-honored methods that will outlast you and me. Dovetails and mortise and tenons (often pinned or wedged for more strength) are the primary joints I use, along with finger joints, sliding dovetails, and keyed mitres where appropriate.
While my power planer, jointer, bandsaw, and tablesaw allow me to quickly turn rough lumber into the straight, flat stock necessary for building furniture, it is the skilled use of hand tools for joinery and final fitting, shaping, and smoothing that sets my (and many other custom makers') furniture apart from factory produced pieces.
My shop dog, Jackson, also appreciates the peace and quiet of hand tools!
Materials
I work primarily in domestic woods such as Cherry, Quartersawn White Oak, Walnut, and Maple, which are not endangered. I have also started using Lyptus, which is a sustainably-grown and harvested hybrid wood that looks like Mahogany. For variety and visual interest, I also use exotic woods (Ebony, Bubinga, Lacewood, etc.) for accents such as decorative splines and pulls. I can readily obtain most wood species that you may want for your project.
Finishes
I prefer to finish my pieces with hand-rubbed oil and wax. I don't like to stain wood; with all of the beautiful woods available, any desired color can be achieved simply by picking the right wood to start with, rather than trying to turn a species of wood into something it's not. Just visit any large furniture store to see what I mean. You can get a Maple dining table finished as Cherry, Oak, Walnut, or Mahagony! Why not just start with Cherry, Oak, or Walnut?
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