Road kill

Author:: David DeCristoforo
Publish date:: Aug 8, 2017

For the better part of my life, I have unconsciously been looking for wood. Everywhere I go, I’m always looking, checking out trees for burls or trying to spot that potential chunk of tree lying by the side of the road.

If I see a tree crew, the brake lights come on immediately.

I keep track of trees loaded with burls or display other characteristics that promise an interesting figure locked within. I just lost one that was taken down when I wasn’t looking.

I have built projects for people out of wood that came from trees that had some sentimental value for them and these projects have always been the most satisfying. We are in business, yes, but most of us were woodworkers before we were business people.

It’s hard to resist the chance to pick up something special.

D.D.

This Business About Woodworking

For some reason I’m having a really hard time wrapping my head around the fact that it’s 2018.

This Business About Woodworking

I have a lot of pieces of wood that are too good to throw away but too small to really be useful. We sometimes call pieces like this scrap, but I have always maintained that there is no such thing as scrap.

This Business About Woodworking

I have always tried to maintain a positive outlook. Even when things get difficult, it’s not impossible to envision things improving. But these days, I’m finding that it is taking a lot more mental energy to combat the negative energy that seems to be pervading everything.

This Business About Woodworking

I have a machine that has a timer switch as part of the controls. After a number of years, the switch began to fail so I was faced with another repair.

This Business About Woodworking

I have always tried to pay a living wage. The actual dollar amount is irrelevant because a living wage can vary dramatically depending on where your business is located.

This Business About Woodworking

When is it good enough? I am at a stage in life where most people would consider me to be a master. And you’d think, at this point, I have little left to learn.

This Business About Woodworking

Having made the decision to remain in working mode and not retire, I am finding that as time goes on, there is less and less time available.

This Business About Woodworking

We all know about spring cleaning, the once-a-year, take-everything-out cleaning binge that is usually accompanied by a dozen other tasks that have been put off for one reason or another.

This Business About Woodworking

I have tried to avoid discussing anything political here. This is supposed to be about running a shop. But completely separating business and politics is like separating the cart and the horse.