Off we go to the shop of Thomas Angle and his wife Carleen, in Jordan Valley, Oregon. Here he operates two businesses, Owyhee Design and Thos. Angle Saddlery. I asked Tom about the name of the wood business Owyhee. Named after the local mountains and river that brace his property, Owyhee when sounded out takes on a different slant.
“In about 1812? Peter Skene Ogden came down the Snake River with a trapping brigade from the Hudson’ Bay Company post at Vancouver, Washington. He had two or three Hawaiians with him who were trappers. He sent them up an unnamed river that emptied into the Snake. The “Owyhees” never came back and no trace of them
was ever found. Owyhee is an old spelling for Hawaii.” As Tom put it, ”So… I guess us buckaroos in this neck of the woods can wear them flowerdy High-wayan shirts if we want!!!” I think I’d pay good money just to see that!
Here is a shot in from the front door
Good lighting. Check. Nice big cabinet saw, planer (there’s a big orange jointer tucked away down there, too)
I like that B.O.S.S. spindle sander down there. Tom has just finished an outfeed table for the saw as well as this massive workbench. Gotta build a station for that Oscillator, too!
Plenty of dog holes to manage large stock. Wait till you get a load of the handplanes he’ll use here,
Beautiful storage for this arsenal…Check! Kreg jig, Check!
Next it’s to the sheet stock storage and another venerable woodworking partner “Big Green”. It’s a Delta from just this side of the Rockwell era.
and why you ask would Tom need to remind someone to use this saw for wood only?
Because tucked away in another part of the shop is the leather room… (no lewd thoughts allowed here, boys)
I could smell the Fiebing dyes before we were 10 feet away. My Grandmother was the repair and gold-leaf lady in an old-fashion luggage and tack shop in Topeka, Kansas when I was growing up. I had the run of the place as a kid, and this was like old home week.
I had to steer Deb away from this little nook. Extension cords…sheesh…gotta watch ‘em like a hawk.
This is the thing… the perfect marriage of saddle work and woodwork. Check this out! Absolutely unique and beautiful.
Wow. This shop and it’s owners pass the inspection. Thanks for the invite, Tom. Get your certificate.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
12 comments so far
MsDebbieP
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11014 posts in 562 days
posted 333 days ago
oh yah.. I was in heaven!!! One of my artistic dreams is to mesh my hobbies together, either with wood and photography or wood and leather. And here I was surrounded by all those hides and leather works.. ooooooo ((drooling)). Good think you kept me away from the electrical cords and such, Douglas – cause drool and electricity just don’t mix!!
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Bill
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2508 posts in 563 days
posted 333 days ago
Very cool shop. Interesting combination, leather and wood.
-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com
Thos. Angle
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3243 posts in 364 days
posted 333 days ago
Doug and Debbie, Thanks for dropping by. Too bad you couldn’t stay for some of Carleen’s great apple pie. By the way Doug, I’ve got that Delta spindle sander trained to jump up on the big work bench when I tell it to.
Saves my back.
-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon
Lee A. Jesberger
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2170 posts in 381 days
posted 333 days ago
Hi Doug and Debbie, and Tom
Poor Debie, all that traveling around, she must be beat. Too bad we didn’t get to see her riding a horse with Tom.
Great Space to “PLAY”
As usual Doug, you travel arrangements are terrific!
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
Bob Babcock
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1809 posts in 488 days
posted 333 days ago
Wow…what a great shop Thomas.
You know just when I think I’m OK with my little shop I get shop envy again…....:(
Nice job Doug and Deb.
-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org
Bill
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2508 posts in 563 days
posted 333 days ago
With all those frequent flyer miles Debbie is piling up, she should be taking a vacation in the south seas during winter.
Nice work Debbie and Doug.
-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com
MsDebbieP
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11014 posts in 562 days
posted 333 days ago
yah, I sure do appreciate Doug’s efforts and the great idea he had, starting all this off. And to think, it all began with a silly and brave moment in front of a camera!
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Don
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2585 posts in 579 days
posted 333 days ago
Man, I’m enjoying these visits!
-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/
Douglas Bordner
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2286 posts in 466 days
posted 333 days ago
Tom,
Can I send my Performax 10-20 out your way? If you could bust it to hopping down (and sweeping up) when it’s time to spray the waterbourne lacquer, and then jumping back up, I would be eternally grateful.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Karson
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11923 posts in 802 days
posted 333 days ago
Great shop Tom and Thanks Douglas and Debbie for the tour.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
Thos. Angle
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3243 posts in 364 days
posted 333 days ago
Send ‘er out here Doug, I’ll take a crack at anything!!
-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon
Dorje
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1704 posts in 399 days
posted 311 days ago
Looks great in there! I can smell the leather from the other room.
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA