Hey, can you build me a table just like the one you built for your neighbor? That’s a loaded question. Do you want the table for free? What do you have in mind? Any budgetary dollar figure.
Oh, I thought you could just bang out a table overnight. You are so good at it! My budget they claim is less than $300.
Unfortunately the wood alone will cost up to 600 to 800 dollars and more! And that is just the slab.
The many man hours building it visually with a doodle sketch in front of me.
The design complexities and stains and colors, epoxy, shape, style , etc. can be a hard feat. You don’t want to a screw up an $800 slab of wood. That would make me cry!
I’ve always loved woodworking and started with little projects. Now that I’m retired, it gives me great pleasure to open my workshop every morning and work on a new project or begin a project I’ve never built. I prefer to use my own creativity when working with wood. I love live edge design and creative woodworks that are unique.
I’ve only built one Sam Maloof style rocking chair that is completely handmade doesn’t have one nail in the rocking chair. And that will be the only one I will ever build. This rocking chair tested my limits and I’m grateful that my family loves it so much. It is a masterpiece that took plenty of patience and engineering. A family heirloom that my daughter has claimed.
I only build projects that will make my heart skip a beat. Usually it starts with harvesting the wood and getting the wood tried and cut into slabs. I start thinking ahead and ask what will I build this time round.
No you can’t go to a retail store and purchase solid wood furniture.
I’m not a a furniture store. I build wood projects that are one of a kind pieces and have a story behind it all. Where the wood was harvested and the many places I would end up with a large slab and build dining room tables.
I never build the same project twice unless it’s a cocktail table and you need an end table to match. Or cookie tables that I create that are very unique and useable as end tables and small cocktail tables for small spaces.
My Grandfather, who owned Daytona Beach Millworks in the 1950’s was a woodworker and he had a lot to talk about. As a young man, I fell in love with my grandfathers woodwork.
I was always interested in what my grandfather was building next. He taught me many things including history of getting logs from the Astor (St Johns River ) so many years ago. My grandfather was an expert and built anything and everything. I would watch him work on the many projects.
Today, I have my grandfathers workbench sitting in my shop and she is beauty at over 120 years old.
Woodworking is far different than purchasing a piece of furniture at local retailer.
Woodworkers realize what it takes to do custom woodworks.
Each woodworker knows that woodworking is a complex and requires lots of patience.
I do not do kitchen cabinetry work or cabinet bases for bathrooms. I prefer to purchase at a retail store that can help me design a new bathroom , choose my colors. Get cabinets built and then rip out the bathrooms and do a renovation. Except , the only renovations I do is for my own house. I am always thinking about my next project!
Custom woodworking is expensive. The wood isn’t free. The supplies are expensive and the machinery is a huge investment that also requires maintenance and repairs.
When you decide on a custom piece of solid wood art – the costs are much higher.
A custom piece of woodwork is truly a family heirloom.
Being a master craftsman and building unique items is what I enjoy.
I built this dining room table for my wife. We’ve sold the previous dining room tables I’ve made over the years. Getting a new slab of wood costing $800, I knew then that I was going to build her a dining room table with all her favorite colors. By the time I finished this beauty , my wife was extremely happy. It is clearly aone of a kind piece!
Many people love designer pieces that can’t be duplicated. And are happy to pay the price to have a dining room that no one else owns.
I understand budgets and don’t mind big box stores selling me a living room set or recliner and bedroom furniture.
I also create my own cocktail and end tables.
Woodworking is art-form and the amount of time it takes to finish a project is underestimated. Patience is required and some good luck along the way.
Designing a new table from scratch and creating your own visuals such as shape , type of wood, legs, base of table, color of epoxy and stain you will use.
The first furniture I’ve built was many Adirondack chairs. Then I built several outdoor rocking chairs. In wanted to get into doing more complex pieces of furniture. And started building dining room tables. End tables , cocktail tables including designer lamps. If you are interested in a custom made piece of furniture and are interested in getting a one of a kind piece of furniture , please reach out.
If you are interested in a custom piece of furniture such as a dining table , reach out. My email address is southerncarpenter@yahoo.com or go to my website: http://www.southerncarpenter.com
Southern Carpenter 
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