MIND OF A BLACK WOODWORKER IN ARIZONA

As this fellow, me, grows older, and the ever changes world carries along it's flow. I some times struggle to keep up with ever changing winds that blow. We are well into our new shop and offices. Small and cramped as we skirt through the motion of the every day attempt to keep our head above the water line. I am ever hopeful that a life saver will be thrown my way, to pull me from this drowning carpentry bed. As I am ever hopeful that one day my endless devotion to the art of woodworking will save me, and I will be blessed with the prosperity of my continuing s of  the manifestation from my mind to my hands . Hey did I tell you that I once owned a company named "Manifestations" :) As I sit here, in the middle of the night, smoking a backwoods cigar, and drinking a glass of ice water. I think about how small things have change. For one instead of a single malt scotch I now drink water. What change this flow of life created... It's a beautiful night, here in Gil...

Photos - Google+ i,m not sure if this works. click on photo - google and see kitchen install We where out on this rainy day to install a kitchen, we just finished building. We still need to complete it, as you may see. A few doors, a drawer front, and some hardware items, trash pullout. The style is a mission style or craftsman's style doors. Everything went as to plan and our customer is very happy. We will return after the tile floor is laid. We are waiting on some solid surface (LG Hi Macs) to complete to counter tops. This kitchen will be a stunning addition to the renovation of this Tempe home. keep a look out for more updates.

Photos - Google+ i,m not sure if this works. click on photo - google and see kitchen install We where out on this rainy day to install a kitchen, we just finished building. We still need to complete it, as you may see. A few doors, a drawer front, and some hardware items, trash pullout. The style is a mission style or craftsman's style doors. Everything went as to plan and our customer is very happy. We will return after the tile floor is laid. We are waiting on some solid surface (LG Hi Macs) to complete to counter tops. This kitchen will be a stunning addition to the renovation of this Tempe home. keep a look out for more updates.

Well to update you just a little. We could not sell very many tools. I attempted to transfer the business to two younger fellows, my step son and man my stepson grew up with I worked and trained under me for many years. The friend also rents a space from me. I wanted to get them to run the business with me in the back ground. This did not work out. They just could not see eye to eye on operations. So now my son and I have relocated the business to a smaller suite. We have reduced our  activities to just a few client's we feel comfortable with and also only take on work that we feel fits a less  overwhelmed by paper work. We are working on a small kitchen. We have work lined up for a mouth, and leads that may take us into the coming fall. So we are busy, and it's just the two of us in a 2 thousand square foot suite.  we moved from a 3500 square foot space that we where in for many years. We are a little cramped but we are working on making productive. I like it, the space ...

here is a short note on the going on's of my life as owner operator of a cabinet shop. I have know for some time that a change must come. it's hard to to allow change, even though it is ever changing. I have found it more difficult to deal with suppliers who do not keep there word on delivery dates. Contracts just wanting to pass all responsibility to the superintendent and the sub's.  At the age of 54, I find it more difficult to juggle all the aspects, or to wear so many hats needed to operate a business of this nature. The business of commercial cabinet production, even on the small scale I have been reduced to, from the fall out of the rescission. I want out. I want to sell everything and start fresh, with an on line business.... We will see in the next couple of mouths.  Wish me luck and keep a look out for more updates.

The phony bugger compensates the activating follower.

I started a job I always wanted to stay away from. With that said here we go into the Gerard process of refinishing a natural colored red oak cabinetry.   I started by figuring out what would be the simplest process to maximize profit. My first thought, after getting the job, was that I bid it too low. The homeowner added 300 bucks to the bid, bad sign in my eyes...  The first step was to choose the color, they chose a nutmeg ( light walnut or brown stain color). I removed 4 door from the master bedroom and brought back to the shop. I first tried to tone the doors, after wiping a deglosser on the doors. This did work, but I thought buildup over the existing finish was too thick. So I proceeded to strip the doors. I then washed the door to removed the stripper, with lacquer thinner.  after the doors dried , wiped on a wood stabilizer to seal the door from excepting too much stain and maybe looking blotchy. I then wiped on a lacquer base stain mixer I had from a previou...