Colombian church pew

As I pointed out in some recent posts, Gabriel Saenz's mother and stepfather both work in the trades in Colombia as a carpenter and steel fabricator, respectively. With my limited knowledge of Catholic furniture, I'm betting these pews are just that with the permanent knee rest on the backside. No padding? Hmm... sadistic indeed. Must be a tough monsignor...

Looks like steel framing with wood seats and backrests. Gabriel says they built 34 pews in total. Nice. Thanks for passing on the fine work from south of the equator...

Gabriel Saenz's bed

Long time "i can weld..." blog follower, Gabriel Saenz, recently commissioned this platform bed through Factor II Fabrication. The bed is actually a mass-produced piece from a large company, but is literally just plywood with some stained veneers glued to it. I checked out one in person and was less than impressed with the construction. For Gabriel, we've decided to build his queen-sized commission out of reclaimed barn wood; like so many of the other recent jobs being done around here in the wood shop!
I really enjoy building with the reclaimed stuff. I've said it before - when this stuff is gone, it's gone forever. We'll never see lumber or construction techniques like this ever again. It feels really satisfying to preserve some heritage while hopefully passing it on to future generations. Thank you so much, Gabriel.




And, it's not as if Gabriel doesn't know quality - or lack thereof - when he sees it. This is a photo he sent me of a door his mother and step-father collaborated on in Colombia, South America. (I believe you told me Colombia...correct me if I'm wrong!) His mother is the carpenter, while her husband tends to the fire forging the steel and welding. This set of doors is for a church under construction in their town. Absolutely gorgeous! I'd love to head down south to work a few weeks on something like this with the two of them. That'd be a great working holiday...

Randomness and poor grammar

So, I received the following email today. Somehow, my spam folder didn't catch it. I ALMOST believed it had it not been for the poor grammar and misconstrued syntax....yeah, almost.

Dear Sirs:
I got your name and address from Internet and knew you are one of the largest companies in your country, which is within the scope of our business. Take this opportunity, we introduce my company, as one of the biggest manufactures ofwelding wire in Hebei province, our mainly products include CO2 gas-shielded welding wires, submerged arc welding wires, argon arc welding wires and welding electrode flux. We export large quantity to Europe, Middle East, South Africa and the countries of America, Russia, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Philippines. It has won trust from customers. Deal to high quality and reasonable price, we shall be pleased to provide you our best prices and deliveries. Should you have interest of items mentioned above? Kindly let us know by return mail. For getting all the detailed information, you are invited to visit our web site。Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Best regards.
Savannah

Strummer Douglas Boone - 9.13.10

Last week, my wife and I welcomed our first child into our lives. Strummer Douglas Boone was born 9.13.10 at 10:23 am weighing in at 7 lbs. 7 oz. and 20" long. He is, without a doubt, our greatest creation.

Murturm observation tower

I saw this in a recent issue of Interior Design magazine. Apparently, the recently completed double-helix Murturm was built on the "no man's land" border between Austria and Yugoslavia that existed during the Cold War.

As a fabricator, I'm quite impressed with the sheer magnitude and geometry of this venture. At the top, you're standing 89' off the ground. Next trip to Europe will include a visit here...

Zart! Gallery custom doors

This week's focus is on an installation of twin doors based on the above staircase by Stephen Bondi. The rough opening is 96" wide by 89 1/2" tall - shown below in the frame I fabricated today out of 1 1/2" 14 ga. sq. tubing. Each door will have a tree cut from 14 ga. hot-rolled steel and then forged to give the tree some texture and dimensional relief. Additionally, 5/16" and 1/2" diameter vineyard bar will be forged and wrapped around the tree branches with handmade, forged leaves. The door frame, trees and all adornments will be finished with a forced oxidation and sealed with a satin, oil-based polyurethane.

Nightmares...

Someday, if any of my children want this bed, I'll happily build it for them. Maybe you have a twisted, macabre mind too and think this might suit your kids. Hit me up...we can make it happen.

*UPDATE*

If somebody is REALLY interested in this bed, I'll build it for them at cost just so I can see it come alive...Seriously...It has to be a child's bed or single mattress...I doubt it would be more than $200...

The Big 6

I was happy to finally deliver Daniel Hyland's totally-sleek, ultra-low, super-cool coffee table to him this evening. Daniel is in the midst of a home renovation himself; as evidenced by the dusty wood floors (walls and ceiling were just skim-coated.) Modern doesn't begin to describe this piece, or what the room will look like. Bethany will be shooting some better pics of this when Daniel completes his living room.

Thanks again, D....

Specs:
Design and concept: Daniel J. Hyland Interior Design
Fabrication: Boonie - Factor II Fabrication
Materials: 1" mild steel sq. tube, 14 ga. hot rolled steel
Finish: Raw!
Dimensions: 72"L, 48"W, 6"H

Hero

Joe

Solitude...

I don't show my face a lot on this blog. There's no need. I don't want what I do to revolve around my "image." But my wife came over to the shop with me last week to shoot a few shots of the shop and what I do. Being totally modest, she even makes me look somewhat toleable...





I generally work alone...and love it. I work at my own pace. I work when I want to. I listen to the music I want to listen to, as loud or as quiet as I want to. I don't blame anybody for the mistakes I make, but thank everyone that lends me a hand when a job is complete and turns out better than planned. I start and end my day as I like - as short or as long as I want. I give myself no limitations as to what I can achieve, but never scorn myself about shortcomings or misgivings - they're simply lessons to be learned. The paycheck isn't always the greatest, but there's no monetary value that can be placed on this kind of freedom...True. Solitary. Freedom...



Looking at these pictures makes me realize a happiness that would in most circumstances be unattainable in any other environment. Many thanks go to my wife for her unending support, encouragement and love. And many thanks to my dear friend Bob Wagaman whose level of generosity is seldom seen by most individuals these days. Funny how solitude can bring one closer to the ones he or she loves.

"Freedom is..."

"Heritage" lumber...

Here's the beginning of what will be three tables that are a collaboration with interior designer, Daniel Hyland. Daniel and I took a trip down to Winterset this past Saturday to visit my friends Scott and Beth Henderson. They deal in reclaimed barnwood...LOTS of it. This was the first piece we looked at and it may as well have been the only one. We were told this came from a barn near Pella. It was a floorboard in a cattle barn. Everything about this piece of oak screams character: the patina, texture and knots. Dimensions? Yeah, 2" x 18"(!) x 15'.

When's the last time you saw an 8/4 oak board this wide and long?...

...Didn't think so.

Thank you Scott and Beth. We'll be back soon.

Skull cutting board - Mr. Bourdain

Yesterday, I had the honor of meeting a culinary figure I have a lot of respect and admiration for...Anthony Bourdain. After a pleasant and entertaining evening of oratory onstage, we were able to meet Mr. Bourdain for a brief period to have him sign some books and one of my Cochon cutting boards; personalized "For Boonie and Bethany." He was very humble and accepted the above gift I fashioned for him this week. It's a butcher block construction of his chef's skull/"Cook Free Or Die" logo. The darkened areas were wood-burned and a magnet was inlaid under the mouth to hold a knife. I told him he was welcome to it if he'd use it and that I wouldn't be offended if he didn't accept it. He dug it, and said it was "small enough that it would fit in his luggage." Cool.

Thanks go to D. Boone and Patti for the sweet b-day present. Thanks also go out to Dr. Bill McCallum and Kevin Dennis with Ames Lab at I.S.U. for the uber strong magnet.

Cool cabinet

I've admired this cabinet at my dentist's office for a couple of years now. Awesome deco styling; clean, sleek lines. I dig.