The person behind the builds
About Me
I build things. Not because I have to — because I can't stop thinking about how they go together.
How it started
I grew up watching my grandfather turn rough lumber into furniture in a garage that smelled like sawdust and linseed oil. He never used plans. He'd look at a piece of wood for a long time, then start cutting. I didn't understand it then. I do now.
My first real build was a workbench — nothing fancy, just construction lumber and pocket screws. It wobbled. The top wasn't flat. I used it for ten years anyway. Every project since has been an attempt to understand something I didn't understand before.
I'm not a professional builder. I'm an engineer by training, which means I overthink joinery and under-think aesthetics. I've gotten better at both. The builds on this site span about eight years of weekends, early mornings, and the occasional vacation day spent in the shop instead of somewhere sensible.
How I think about building
Build to understand
Every project starts with a question. How does a mortise-and-tenon joint actually work? What happens when you mix copper and wood outdoors? The finished object is the answer.
Document everything
I photograph every stage — not for the internet, but because looking back at process photos teaches me things I missed in the moment. This site is that documentation, made public.
Embrace the mistake
The best lessons come from the cuts that went wrong, the joints that didn't fit, the finish that bubbled. I don't hide those. They're in the build stories.
Use real materials
Cedar, copper, reclaimed fir. Nothing engineered to look like something it isn't. The material should be honest about what it is and where it came from.
What's in the shop
- 10" contractor table saw
- 12" sliding compound miter saw
- 6" jointer / 13" planer combo
- Bench-top drill press
- Random orbit and belt sanders
- Hand planes — #4, #5, #7
- Chisels, mallets, marking gauges
- Propane torch and soldering kit
Want to talk builds?
I'm always happy to hear from fellow makers — whether you're working on something similar, have a question about a technique, or just want to share what you're building.
Get in touch