Hot Coffee Table

Happy Christmas to my lovely wife.

We don't drink coffee, but we should start. A coffee table like this deserves some expensive Columbian or Seattle brewed sippage. Mmmmm, bottoms and feet up.

The adventures of Pepe le Pooh and the Damn Shop Dogs

There I was, 10:30 at night, all by my lonesome with my head down pounding it out. The doors were open with a good little breeze flowing thru the shop. Fall has been thus far, toasty. The pups were out roaming in the field and they know mom doesn't want them out rolling in pooh, or something dead, or the dead somethings pooh. I'm still not sure what it is that makes them roll around in the most awful smells God creates. They love it. Mmmm, dead mouse on the ground. I want it on me. Mmmm, dead cat on the road. Yummy. Mmmm, dead fish, that's the best, get on me fish!

And then it came wafting in, no, streaming in and crawled up my nostrils all the way to the back of my skull. I thought of Loony Tunes and Pepe le Pooh.

This time Elly got a little more than she was looking for. Poor damn dog took one for the team right in the face. There she was foaming at the mouth with a very forlorn look on her face. And Betty who is not the model dog, somehow missed her shot. But, not to be left out, she quickly resolved that sniffing then grinding her neck and shoulder and rolling around in Ellys foam on the ground.

The odor then filled the whole shop, and did not go away. When I got home, it followed me, and when I got in the truck to come to work the next morning, it was there too. And I'm sure it is still on me, just like a turd you can't shake. The vinegar, baking soda and dish soap worked okay but they won't make it home for a day or three. Because, I really don't have anything better to do than wash the dogs.

Hence, my two favorite words to mutter every day: damn dogs.

The Best Stain in the World

18 months. It has been at least that long. I can't remember exactly when we started trying to figure this one out, it has been that long. This photo is missing at least 1 gallon, 3 or 4 quarts and twice as many samples than are here. No kidding. At $28 a pop for the quarts, $75 for each gallon, delivery fees, and weeks of staining, finishing, and staring at the samples and then chatting about tones, hues, shading, muddying, transparency, satin and matte over tea and cake, I think we might have a winner. It looks amazazing. Really.

A few years back, I was working at another shop which I won't mention cause we are in serious competition with them now (their shop is the best shop in the state and we are going for the 2nd best). I told Chris I needed a new blade to cut small trim on the table saw. A few hours later, he showed up with a brand new blade from a brand I didn't know. "Is this a good brand?" I asked. "Not sure, but it was the most expensive" he said. So, the more expensive it is, the better it is. Sure. That will make this stain the best in the world.

I learned something from Lorna and Leslie one day that I will never forget. They asked what hinges I was thinking of using for the office and I said whatever they wanted. They told me that was the right answer. For Leslie, that is the way to go. She knows what she wants, and there is a reason why. She knows her stuff.

Some days I wondered if it was worth it. I have never seen such attention go into one color. If this house doesn't get the blue ribbon, I'm not sure which one will.

Gridwork work

These columns (or pilasters) are one of the first designs Leslie gave us on Kelly's home in Park City. The mantle we built several months ago fits right between these two columns that sit floor to ceiling. I wish I would have taken more shots during the process.

I started with 3 pieces of wood each, with 3 different widths. Marlin set up a program to run the gridwork on his CNC for each panel after they were glued up flat. I made a sample for Lelslie 18 months ago with a router and a few jigs but there was no room for error. I was a bit nervous waiting for them to be done and Marlin ran them flawlessly. That's what you would expect from a $250,000 machine and one smart dude.

We brought them back to the shop and cut the mitres right where each joint on the glue up met, glued them together so each line continued around the mitre. It couldn't have turned out better. Each groove lines up perfect, which could have been a nightmare. We won't make any money on the mantles, they have definitely challenged me a bit, but I can't wait to get finish on this one.

Kevin has been in the finish room all week with the Laundry Room cabinets, and as soon as he gets out and we get our final nod from Leslie for the mahogany finish (which gets its very own post soon) it is finish time for all the parts that have been stacking up since January.

Rules to live by: Don't borrow stuff.

When I was a kid, my pops used to tell me that if I ever borrowed something from someone, I should always return it in the same or better shape than when I got it. I think this is why to this day I do not like to borrow stuff. That's all it really is tho, is stuff. But to some, those things are really important. Pops said if I borrowed a car to go to Mexico, and it broke down, it is my responsibility to repair the car even if it wasn't my fault.

That is crazy and ridiculous some might say. But, how could you ever make it right unless you did repair the car?

I grew up with a lot of things that were exceptionally nice. The burgundy Pinto (yup a Ford) which I always wanted to see how fast would go in first gear, was classy. My XJ-900 shoes from the Shoe Source were sweet in 5th grade. And my mountain bikes were always in less than stellar shape thru high school. But by the grace of our wonderful banking system and the Joneses next door, I learned to take advantage of the nice things in life.

A few years back, a purchase was made that makes life wonderful at the shop. Many folks coveted our new possession and wanted to touch it. It was lent out several times and this investment satisfied well. One day, it was returned in less than stellar shape. The borrowers did not pass the word along, and even tried to repair it with Wal-Mart goods. Not acceptable. You gotta be quick to pull a fast one on me.

Although, I don't harbour any feelings, I learned a lesson. Some people don't view responsibility the way I was taught. I look up to a few people in life who don't believe in entitlement and are high quality examples of responsibility. What I mean to say, is they take care of their shit. I guess you could say their integrity is enough that I would even go into business with them. And you know what, business is funny. It does funny stuff to people. I guess the lure of money does the same thing that money does. It tweeks people out.

My good friend Rob from Dixieland is one of these dudes that is strait. I can say I don't have to watch my back with Rob, and I would lend him my firstborn (and the Tacoma). My grandpa Jo is on this list too. He is the one that passed it down I'm sure. Probably beat it into my dad. And, he gets the nod too. He would have beat it into me, but I never really got caught being irresponsible. I just got lucky. It's funny to see how things change, 3 years after being in business with my pops. I'm sure he would love to take a big stick to me some days, but he has mellowed out. Yah, he even tries to calm me down some days. Good luck with that one.

I say we appoint a Responsibility Czar. He could drive a Pinto and wear XJ-900's. That would be funny.

Russian Hats and Czars

Okay, you can stop sending money now. Thats enough. Thanks. I have been so busy spending all the money you sent, I totally forgot about the little things, like this blog. Now you can see what I spent my new money on.

I appointed myself a bodyguard. He is my new czar. That word makes me feel so warm and fuzzy. Fuzzy like one of those Russian hats they wear when it's cold out. It's the new thing these days, all the kids are doing it. Everyone wants a czar to take care of business and I'm not sure what a czar is supposed to do, but I have one and he is stout. He is our new "Get S#$% done Czar.

Alan is my stout little brother. My little 250 pound block of muscle. Hey Alan, go move that heavy stuff. Hey Alan, this guy wants to beat me up. Hey Alan, will you feed my fish? He is the new addition to the shop, but not for long, he is in school and when he gets done, he is out. No more sawdust.

Alan is a good dude. I have never seen this guy mad. I have heard of it happening, only twice. Yah, he gets bent, but not mad. I would hate to see 250 pounds of mad. I think the only two times he got mad was at my other little brother and that boy may have deserved it then. But Alan never held a grudge. He is so quick to befriend and quick to forgive. And I laugh more when he is around. He is the best czar I have ever had.

This summer has been rough and without my new czar, I would have lost all humor in keeping my head down. If you don't surround yourself with people you enjoy, you will go crazy. So, go appoint yourself a czar, and get s#$% done. Maybe then you will have more time to worry about the important things in life. You know, like how to keep someone from talking to children about education, self improvement and all the other terrible things our kids have to face these days. What the hell is a czar anyway? Russian conquistador or something??

Bail me out!!

The main difference in the UAW and us homely carpenters is we don't whine loud enough. Hell, im not sure there is a cabinet makers union, not that im proposing anything so lovely.

So now you all own stock in GM. Maybe I can sell my stock and use it to put a down payment on a sweet plastic car seein' as they won't be making those anymore. Now, people are more likely to buy Ford because it seems they know more about money management than GM. Strange, cause they haven't made anything decent since the 93 Taurus wagon. I loved the very back hide-a-seat that faced backwards. Ya, I was there.

Yes, Ford is more popular than Chevy. Note to all those with the 'Calvin urinating on the Ford insignia' sticker. The poll says that 57% of Americans would buy Ford over GM or Chrysler. The folks are bent cause their hard earned pyramid money is going to the UAW now. Americans are attached to their money. I wonder how AIG is doing. Are you buying?? I will hate Ford till they put that shoebox back into production.

So my proposal is this: I get tired at work. I get up at 530 (am) on most days and get after it making as much sawdust as possible. Oh, and the stuff I make, people actually buy. That's right. I actually need customers to keep the doors open. We don't get subsidies from the government to send our cabinets to parking lots with acres and acres of other cabinets from other cabinet shops for people to see. To see.

Proposal: I get tired. Around lunch time I eat some food and go back to making my wooden boxes to go in another larger wooden box for the people to live up on the hill. The ones who actually subsidize that sweet parking lot full of nice, expensive cabinetry. Cars, not cabinets, cars. Then, around 7 (pm) if im not too tired from making boxes and sawdust, I go for a nice bicycle ride. My proposal is this: How about everyone pay me, to build what I want, when I want, how I want, for who I want. Let's bypass the middle man in Washington, and just pay me directly. We don't get enough benefits for me and my employees, so I will be sure to purchase some sort of benefits with all the money you send. We need a new building too. This one will be too small now that we have so much work to do. Oh, and a few new tools. I really like the Altendorf sliders, and a new edgebander. I will hire alot of unemployed folks who need work so send lots of money. I am also considering land in North Las Vegas next to the freeway for a cabinet lot. Send checks Payable to Deep Creek Designs in Springville, Utah 84663 USA.

Im glad we are all on the same page now that you all agree with me. It sure makes sense. Now, with so many unemployed folks working at Deep Creek, I will have more time and money so I can ride my bike (maybe a new one...) and I won't be tired anymore. I will sleep in a little, and go home earlier. Thanks. I really appreciate it. I will be sure to post pictures of all the projects we do. Maybe I will get another car...

How big is your mantle?

Wow, that's a big piece of wood! My brother who has worked in a shop for almost as long as me, was even fooled.

Leslie wanted something big, thick and chunky. Again. But to find a piece of quartered African Mahogany this big would have been nothing short of a trip to the Ivory Coast. And, with a piece that big, the ends would have checked (cracks in the end grain) after a few. There were several designs thrown out, just nothing that would fit the home, or look good enough for this house.

This right here is why I would rather work for these folks than try to compete with a production shop. But, you gotta be willing to do what the guy next door is not willing to do.

For example, Jon from Sabrosa. Started several years back crafting cycling frames out of his garage out of steel. With his bare hands. Brilliant artist. This guy grabs a file for hours on end and won't stop till it's perfect. My fingers hurt just thinking of it. The cycles he puts out are incredible. Unless your looking for a sweet industry name attached to tubes of some new fangled material, or the next sweetest thing, you won't find attention to detail like this. What does Sabrosa even mean. seriously.

Tad at Dutchman is another fine example. He has the market cornered on rustic cabinetry. I have seen this guy spend days looking for the perfect juniper trees to make a piece, and until a few years ago that I know, his was the only shop to have homes from Utah with his cabinetry featured in Architectural Digest. But no one in the Utah County scene even knows who Tad is.

I told my pops when I went into business with him that I wanted nothing to do with production. I would rather do something different than compete with junk. I'm not one to deal with the people who are more concerned about how much their cabinets cost than what they actually look like. Utah county is notorious for this; folks who will spend more time working out the price, and not give a thought to having wasted so much time maybe doing something else more productive. Like coming up with ways to make it look super neato.

When money is not an option, that's when it gets fun. If money is just burning a hole and you appreciate custom, the possibilities are endless. You know, like spending a couple of days making a few little pieces look like one big piece.

Well, do you?

Growing up I could never understand why people would complain so much about their jobs. I never understood how people could be so bent at having to do what they just had to do. Being so "naive" I would think, well just find another job that you like. So simple. Why wouldn't you just go do something fun, something better. No brainer. Now that I am older and sooooo much smarter, I see why.

I came to this exact crossroads when my friend in English writing class told me that he was about to partake of the dusty Utah powder snowboarding at the Canyons ski resort in PC. I was out; I still had another class, homework, work and who knows what else. So I stayed and watched the flakes fall.

I couldn't take it. So I quit school, and never looked back. Ya, I heard it all, exactly what you're thinking. Alot.

That brings me to now, or last week. Every now and then, I have a week or a day that makes me rethink. The day I don't enjoy this any more, I'm done. Just find another job that I might like. Or move to a different state. Or move to a different country. Or sell my truck and get a bus pass. Or sell my bike and get dish network. Or get rid of my dogs and get a cat. Ya, I thought I might last week.

It was a little on the rough side. There were a few nights that turned into day, and a few days where I just wanted to pour clorox in my eyes and step in front of a bus. I thought right back to Marlin's advice: Don't get into woodworking, you won't make any money. And that is exactly why I'm here, is the money. I will be so rich someday. Wheelbarrows full.

It's fun again this week. I am convinced I do what I like. We got Leslie's cabinets done, the Peruvian turned out. The satisfaction is worth it. But I still keep the bottle of clorox close for justin.

I'm thinking.... Thick and Chunky

Chunky is the way Leslie describes when she wants something beyond normal. Jon calls it gorgeous. We are talking wood of course, not peanut butter, or other. These are 2 doors (of the exotic Peruvian Walnut, I think I have the swine flu from breathing this stuff) headed for none other than Leslie's own house. She doesn't mess around when it comes time to beefin up the stiles and rails on doors, tops, posts, or anything for that matter. These are the biggest I have ever done: 5" on top and bottom, 3 1/2" on the sides. Ya, the standard from the nineties is 2 1/4 made from oak. It looks so nice together.

So if you are in the market for some timeless furniture or something thick and chunky, call Leslie. This is definitely gonna be a thick and chunky desk.

The Hard Way

You know those folks that do something the hard way just because its hard, or the hip thing to do? Ya, the guy who carves a cabinet out of one chunk of wood with fully functional hinges and drawer guides. Cause, I certainly don't have anything better to do and everyone wants one of those. And the ones who just don't know better, and do it the hard way. Im not sure which is worse.

According to some hosers that sell lumber, this wood is exotic. Not quite. Peruvian Walnut, as opposed to Fijian Walnut, or Thai Walnut. The difference from the two suppliers in the valley (Sierra and Mcbeath) was a hip hopping 3 dollars a board foot. Who's ever heard Peru to be exotic anyway?

Having never huffed the "exotic dust" of Peru, we decided to give this wood a go. We sold Leslie on it and have been looking back the whole time (should have gone Thai).

This photo is of an in house veneer we laid up on Thursday. We needed a panel with no movement. Wood is no different than any substrate, being exposed to certain elements, it grows and shrinks, and needs allowance. The movement is across the grain and a large panel like this one would move too much. The idea with a thin layer, such as a veneer, is it won't move.

We called around to our trusty suppliers. Nada. So we made our own. Usually in the past, contact cement (no different than shoe goo) has been the preferred method. But fearing the seams would curl, we called Tad from Dutchman and he recomended Titebond III. Good stuff.

After days of splitting and sanding wood into the thin veneer, and some evenly applied pressure for a while, it came out looking like a 90 dollar sheet of veneer. Better than expected. That was alot of work. I may have made 6 bucks an hour. Mmmm, thai walnuts.

A Hollywood Tan, Fake Bake

After a few days of baking, we popped the vanity and parts out of the oven. Mmmm, crispy. The piece laying on top is virgin white oak, not yet exposed to the ammonia. The white fletching you can see on the lighter piece turns darker than the other grains during the fuming. It was interesting to note how the ammonia penetrated thru the layers of wood, drawn in more on the end grains than the flats or edges.

I stopped in to meet Ed Creer of Creer Sheet Metal at his home, where I saw the most fascinating antique hutch built of white oak that has been in the family for a while. I'm gonna steal it one day unless they give it to me. I was so impressed by the piece. Maybe someday that sweet end table in your moms house will be an impressive antique... Stranger things have happened.

Shop Dogs

The wood shoppe tannin bed

Under this little tent, the tannin bed, (not to be confused with a tanning bed) lies a vanity adorned with oak (yes oak). No, it's not the sweet eighties oak that you would find in your best friends' mom's house. This oak is quartersawn and white, of which I am a fanatic. Having built many pieces in the aforementioned oak, we had never fumed anything. So we took our fuming class on the internet (the internet knows everything) and built a tannin bed. After several hours it should be nice and tan. The ammonia fumes trapped in the tent seep into the oak (loaded with tannin) darkening and deepening the color. Hence, our tannin bed. I'm anxious to see it when it comes out. Stay tuned.

More Doors

I have seen a lot of different door styles but this one is surely a flavorite. I thought of building it with just one panel and a cutout in the center, then adding the strips to the front of the panel as an inlay. Instead, there are 4 different panels with its own separate framework. This way, the door will be much more stable.




This is the same quartered African Mahogany we are using on the vanity with the radius doors. Leslie Schofield, the mastermind behind the whole project has a pretty cool mantle in the works too; will definitely keep you posted on that as well. It should be a treat.

Coopered Doors, well kind of

These doors aren't really coopered, they're just curved. We started out with three pieces of 8/4 African Mahogany to allow for the arc. We then used this hand built jig to cut the arc. After a lot of figuring and a lot of time and a little bit of sanding they matched up flawlessly with the bathroom vanity built for the Glenwild home in Park City. This is just one of Leslie's many designs at work here at Deep Creek.



I like this cabinet so much I think I'll just take it home for myself. Here are the doors. Almost done, just a few drawers, stain, and finish and this one's ready to go.