About

Like many kids, the first thing I remember building with “real” tools out of wood was a pinewood derby car. It wasn’t perfect, but it moved—and I remember thinking, I made this. It gave me a sense of empowerment, that I could shape the world around me.

Not long after, my family built a deck together. We didn’t grow up with much, so if something needed doing, we did it ourselves. When the deck was finished, I used the leftover lumber to build a bench. Decades later, both were still standing strong. That stuck with me. Wood, when treated right, lasts.

In college, I fell in love with furniture making. I studied techniques, but I didn’t have money for a proper shop. So I improvised. I bought tools slowly, only when a project demanded it. A hand-me-down table saw eventually changed everything—it opened the door to cleaner cuts, and bigger ideas.

Later, I found something even more powerful than tools: community. Joining a makerspace gave me access not just to equipment, but to people willing to share their knowledge. That’s where my skills accelerated. I built pieces I’m still proud of—a refined coffee table with contrasting inlays, and a cedar-lined toy box for my daughter. Building for someone you love changes the standard.

Life shifted. Time became tighter. But the drive to build never left. So I started again, slowly outfitting a garage shop, one tool at a time.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is simple: don’t let a lack of tools hold you back. Use what you have. Buy what you need when you can. Find a community. Get your hands dirty. Videos help—but nothing replaces making the cut yourself.

You don’t need perfect conditions to create something lasting. You just need to start.