Butcherblock Tabletop For Google Ventures

I started my business Puddle Town Woodworking over 20 years ago, specializing in one of kind creations.

Frustrated with the quality and craftsmanship of imported furnishings at a low cost, I feel that America has been "conditioned" for lack of a better term, to trade-off quality over lower prices. My furniture is completely the opposite as much time and heart goes into each piece I make. I "over engineer" each piece to last a lifetime and make the piece to be handed down or repurposed, hopefully avoiding the landfill. This simply can't be done with the imported particle board items which have been made with recycled materials already.

The beautiful thing is I get to make your “dream a reality” I enjoy the process of working with consumers as well as professional designers in making their vision come to life! Just like the author J.K Rowling whom created a series of books from a simple concept written on a napkin, I’ve created pieces from similar simple drawings or ideas.

Your project in connection with my experience will create beautiful pieces!

On a personal note: I'm a married family man with 2 daughters, one going into her third year of college and the youngest entering her second year of college. We live in the country and I wouldn't change that for the world! I also enjoy music and playing guitar especially sitting around with my girls and all playing music together! In my “off” time, I volunteer for an organization that provides services to low-income elderly homeowners who may need modifications such as a ramp built for their wheelchair or grab bars installed in their shower. It’s moments like those that make life worth while!

God Bless,
Kenny

SHOP RATES/ FEES:

I assess each individual project based on firstly time, complexity and then materials. My labor rate is $35hr. What a customer receives for this rate is "personal" attention and clarity for the end product. This rate also maintains the shop equipment, pays the electricity and the many other ancillary items, (blade sharpening/ replacement, adhesives, fasteners, finishing supplies, fuel to pick up materials and a myriad of other things that is involved in running a one-man woodworking shop.

CustomMade.com also receives a 12.7% commission for acceptance of any proposals accepted on this site. In comparison to what a consumer MAY be able to purchase from a furniture store, and the pricing associated, isn't realistic comparatively to having a piece custom tailored to their space and requirements. Heirloom sustainable quality is what you will receive.

DISCLAIMER:

Wood as a product of nature is what is known as hydroscopic. What this means is that for example, if you had a handful of drinking straws, the moisture that the tree receives as it's growing would be through these straws. When the tree is cut and milled these straws will be exposed to the environment and the moisture that was once in the tree slowly evaporates mostly through these 'straws'. However evaporation can also happen through the wall of the straw. For hardwood like maple, oak, cherry etc. the wood usually goes through a 'kiln drying' process where the wood is exposed to heat and humidity, which is slowly reduced over a period of time down to a relative moisture content of 6 - 8%. This prevents or minimizes cracking which can happen due to stress that the tree may have been exposed to as it was growing.

Now that the wood has been dried, one has to keep in mind that those 'straws' are still there and are somewhat hollow, with the ends exposed to the temperature and relative humidity around it. With this exposure, the wood will acclimate to it's environment, taking in moisture and expelling moisture associated with it's ambient surroundings. What this process does is allow the wood to expand and contract ever so slightly over the course of the four seasons which is dependent upon where in the USA the furniture will reside. Although this movement is minimal and the wood has been 'worked' within the acceptable moisture content of 6 - 8%, one may see or more likely feel a slight distortion where two pieces of wood have been joined together. This is considered normal and acceptable as there is little that can be done to stop this process. However adding a good quality finish will slow the process, but stopping it altogether is almost impossible.

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