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I have always been interested in woodworking since the days that I would tag along with my grandfather to his job sites. There he would proceed to build a house with a bare minimum of hand tools while I watched, learned, and got in his way. Much later, I started to dabble in woodworking after I realized that I could not afford to purchase the type of wooden furniture pieces I liked. My work was crude at first but later became good enough to use in my home. I was fortunate enough to have a father-in-law that owned a farm and enjoyed woodworking. He cut and dried his own lumber. As a result, the wood used in many of my projects over the years came from that very farm in Hart County, KY.
This seven-drawer dresser was my second large furniture project. The first was successful but I like this one better!
I built this walnut bench for the foyer to coordinate with the other walnut pieces in that entryway. I had never made any type of seating before, so this was an interesting project that required several new skill sets.
This three quarter size maple hutch was built for the upstairs bath to store towels and such, but it turned out to be too big for the space. The solution? Move it to the hallway for blanket storage. The maple came from my wife's family farm.
This is a small box I made from an old walnut mantle and the plans of a very accomplished and generous British woodworker.
Over the years I have tried to learn various new skills. With each new skill, I have tried to produce a project incorporating that skill. I have made numerous turned segmented bowls, hand-cut dovetail boxes, and even a few dozen rings. Here are some representative examples that include some simple inlays.
The knowledge that I have gained over the past few years from watching the craftsmen and craftswomen on the internet is remarkable. This source was unimaginable when I began my woodworking venture. I can only hope that others will take full advantage of it and that I, along with all my fellow woodworkers, can continue this journey for many years to come!
Charles can be reached directly via email at
charles.wimpee@wku.edu
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