I owe much of my basic woodworking from my step grandfather. He owned Daytona Beach Millworks and had a workshop in Astor, Florida. When I was growing up, I used to visit him and he would let me work beside him. He, like me, was left handed which gave me the fundamental lessons on safety and tool operation from a lefty’s point of view.
What I lack in his blood DNA is overflowed with his spiritual DNA that keeps me building arts of wood that are one of a kind. Thanks Earl!!!
I started building projects that I needed for my own use around the house. As I continued working with wood, my love for it grew bigger and started producing pieces of furniture art soley visualzed in my mind. The blueprint of what I wanted embedded in the brain and all I have to do now is build it.
My collection of this furniture art is looking for a good home. I have an accumulation of “one of a kind” wood furniture/art that is functional and creates a unique statement.
First, I get inspired by a piece of wood and then create a way to incorporate other forms of art. I try to use non-native wood, whenever possible. This is my attempt to help Florida rid unwanted species and create a use for them. (see my current wood inventory for exact species). What I do, I create one of a kind furniture/art that is in my head.
What I don’t do, I don’t build custom pieces that you have a visual for. It is too difficult to have your idea transferred over to my visual brain blueprint and the outcome would not be the same. I build custom pieces that are blueprinted in my creative mind and go from there as I grab a chunk of wood and create the arts of work.
If you like what you see, there is a price beside the piece. Feel free to ask any questions.
Thanks for visiting the Southern Carpenter! Jerry Carr.
The very first wooden chandelier made with a river type pour using cherry wood and black metallic epoxy. I planed to 1/2” thickness and cut it in 6 pieces. I then built a top and bottom frame to keep the 6 sides parallel and 60 degrees. After attaching the sides to the frame. I used pallet walnut wood I purchased about 30 years ago to build the dividers between the sides. I finished the top and bottom with decorative routed walnut.
The finished used is Arm-R-Seal poly.
This chandelier was challenging. My wife and her mathematics skills in the beginning of the project was double the size. We ended up having to reconfigure to a smaller size which required disassembling and cutting the wood down for a smaller sized lighting in the kitchen niche. A very patient man who wasn’t going to give up and successfully made the chandelier smaller . Another masterpiece family heirloom. Signed by the master craftsman , Jerry Carr
Woodworking is his passion. And he never builds the same thing twice. He uses no plans and the concept most times is a “doodle sketch”. My hubby can build anything and everything. You will never see a duplicate. Each piece of furniture is numbered and signed. I love everything my husband has built. He has done incredible projects and never had a wood working lesson in his life.
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.
In the workshop Making a jig for the base table legs Glueing the table legs Table Base This is where the table went in. Epoxy poured. Table Base Finished
This beautiful piece of swamp mahogany was purchased from Against the Grain. A great source of slabs. I needed a dictated size, which allowed me to build a slightly smaller dining room table for our home. The base of the table had to be built first, in which swamp mahogany was also used that was harvested locally about 5 years ago.
I had to build a jig and cut 1/4” slices to form a semi-circle. After gluing 10 pieces together and obtaining my desired hand sculpted shape. Not an easy feat to get curved table base as you will see in the pictures. After the base of table was completed , this being my first project having to build a mold from Melamine , the size 1/2 inch larger than planned for the top table size of 63”long by 36” wide.
As you can see in the photographs , the slab purchased was not Rectangle. In order to get it to rectangle , additional wood mahogany had to be carefully cut and added to the slab to complete a perfect rectangle table.
The next step was Epoxy pour which is the first time I’ve ever worked with. The epoxy is pure black pigment and a total of four pours needed.
Once the waiting was over and the epoxy was dried, the table needed many hours of patient sanding. Days of sanding this table to obtain the finest and smoothest table top I’ve ever built.
The table was then finished with a Rubio Monocoat.
I want to thank my supporters who have helped me immensely in getting my table built. Building a one of a kind table and never having worked with epoxy. Thank you to Against the Grain in Central Florida and You Tube Channel – Blacktail Studios for all their step by step tutorials. Without your knowledge and sharing valuable teachings for woodworkers. I could not have done this table without your help.
Here she is – our new dining room table from start to finish. It was a labor of love that took a lot of patience and determination.
The table and missing woodBuilding a jig to glue 10 pieces of wood to get the curve on the base of the table. The jig First table leg with curvature 10 pieces 1/4 inch thick. Legs of 1 of 2 pieces Glue and shaping the curve for table base Finished Base of Table and Insert for Table top Built rectangular form made out of Melamine. Built 1/2 inch larger than the planned top size 63 inch x 36 inch
This rocking made from Swamp Mahogany . What an amazing piece of artwork “Sam Maloof” style. The seat is made from pecan wood as are the spindles. The rocker laminated with swamp Mahogany. This pice of art took many man hours to complete. By far the most challenging wood work art piece ever made. The seat was sandpapered fine for weeks. If interested , please go to http://www.southerncarpenter.com
Made from Pecan. Custom made by Jerry Carr. This piece is sold. If you would like a custom made headboard – please go to http://www.southern carpenter.com
There was a need for a front desk. Designed by Jerry Carr. Including the art piece in front of desk made from Barnwood. The cat is Jean Luc – The Orlando Cat Cafe Mascot. Orlando Cat Cafe is located in Orlando at Cagan’s Crossing. A wonderful place to visit and interact with young and older kitties all available for adoption. Cost is $4.00 per adult for 1 hour of playtime. You will find your furever baby or older kitty. To date there has been almost 1100 adoptions. All proceeds go to the SPCA who are working with the Orlando Cat Cafe. Making dreams come true and finding the purrfect kitty. Please visit the Orlando Cat Cafe. You are guaranteed a great time playing with these fur babies. Your Heart will be filled with Love and you will get many laughs as you play with the kitties. Adopting from Orlando Cat Cafe will guarantee you the most pleasant experience. Ensuring all kitties are placed into the perfect home. You will enter into the Minch Cafe where you can purchase coffees, teas, pastries and sandwiches. Drinks and Food allowed into the Orlando Cat Cafe where the curious kitties might help themselves to a whipped cream lick. Check out their website at http://www.orlandocatcafe.com
A custom made kitchen island made from eucalyptus wood. Shelving and drawers along with hooks to hang whatever your needs are. Fits very nicely into small spaces. Any size can be costumed built to fit your needs. One of a kind custom pieces. There are no duplicates. Designed and built by Jerry Carr. http://www.southerncarpenter.com
$195 Authentic Chest Wood Wine Beautifully made and one of a kind. There is no duplicate. The wood is authentic Chestnut 32” wide, 20” high and 12” thickAuthentic Chest Wood Wine Beautifully made and one of a kind. There is no duplicate. The wood is authentic Chestnut 32” wide, 20” high and 12” thick.
Southern Carpenter
www.southerncarpenter.com 
