Features

Michael Jury, principal designer and craftsman at M. Jury Woodworks, won Best in Show (Furniture Design) for his cherry Asa-no-ha sideboard at the 27th annual Fine Furnishings Show, held Nov. 4-6 in Providence, R.I. Other Best in Show winners included Geoffrey Warner (Furniture Innovation) of Geoffrey Warner Studio in Stonington, Maine; Ben Kotis (Traditional Student Work) and Svetlana Daneva (Contemporary Student Work) from the North Bennet Street School, and Corrinn Jusell (Accessory) of Made by Corrinn in New Bedford, Mass.

In the current labor market, material handling equipment can be less expensive, easier to acquire, and easier to manage than adding new employees.

There are several design and detail options that won’t destroy budgets or disrupt production as they elevate the value of work. Those include outsourcing design elements, adding hi-tech accents such as controls and lighting, introducing materials other than wood-based products, and getting creative with hardware.

From swooping spiral staircases and elaborate multi-tiered layouts, to traditional straight patterns and floating, embellished, ornamental designs, Hardwood Design Inc. of Exeter, R.I. can do it all.

Multi-function woodworking machines are, by their nature, a trade-off. The idea is that the woodworker gains floor space and surrenders some speed and convenience.

Brian Clancy, an Irish native who immigrated to America in his 20s, pursued several career interests before taking the leap to open Clancy Woodworking, a custom cabinet shop in Sherman, Conn., in 1999.

Perhaps the most obvious aspect of the workshop environment is lighting.

Panel saws let a shop break down full sheets of material into manageable pieces such as door and case panels and other flat parts such as shelves.

In early September, 14 woodworkers gathered at Rubio Monocoat’s headquarters in Izegem, Belgium for the Rubio Monocoat Atelier event.

Portable power tool innovation continues with better batteries, brushless motors and improved ergonomics

Picking a surface material can make a break a project, so it’s important to consider the pros and cons amongst the myriad of choices

Jeff Headley and Steve Hamilton carry on building period furniture at their century-old business in Berryville, Va.

A survey of the latest CAD programs shows an array of features and functions

Taking the leap into CNC machining can be a bit unnerving because, unlike other shop machines, digital fabrication requires an entirely new skill set.

Castleman Carpentry started as a small operation in 2003 and is now a mid-sized company offering custom residential cabinetry and general contracting services.

Shaper Tools, manufacturer of the Shaper Origin hand-held, self-guiding router, has announced the winners of its online contest, the #shaperbox challenge, where entrants designed and built unique boxes.

Increased CNC automation is one way through the hiring crunch, but it can also cut costs over time, ramp up production (sometimes dramatically), increase throughput speed, save floor space, improve accuracy, and open new design options.

Traditional assembly still makes sense for small shops that neither build a lot of boxes nor own a CNC.

Kerf & Burled designs and builds custom furniture for homes, offices and restaurants nationwide with a heavy focus on bars and breweries.

The biggest environmental challenges to a woodshop are fine dust, spray booth exhaust, and chemical emissions from adhesives, but addressing them will almost always improve profitability.