So what do you do when the economy is tanking all around you, new home construction is dropping like a rock, and everyone seems to build things shoddier and cheaper? Why, start up a new cabinet shop of course! Hmmm, I sure hope this is a good idea in the long run. . . :)
I trim houses for a living. I’ve grown up around the building industry, as my dad is a general contractor. As a child, I always just assumed that I would be in construction, like my dad. There really wasn’t any question. I loved framing houses. It was my favorite part of building. Toward the end of high school, I started having different ideas. I went to college, and started toward a major in Engineering. HA! That lasted 4 weeks. I changed majors a couple times (youth pastor, psychology) and worked for my dad during the summers. My dad and I are very much alike, and as a “know-it-all” college student, we butted heads a lot, until I finally walked off a job site swearing that I was done with construction.
I ended up working a couple different factory type jobs, driving a forklift. Moved to California. Got a desk job. It ate me alive. I’m just not made for offices! After I lost that job, I did some odd jobs in construction before finally having to move back to Michigan, basically begging my dad for some work. Ahhh, humility.
He just happened to have a cottage to remodel, but was getting into doing a lot of commercial construction and was going to turn the job down until I came back. It was my first experience of really doing most of the work myself, and I loved it. It just felt natural to be building. Over the next few years, I realized how much I enjoyed trimming. The attention to detail awakened something in me. And I haven’t looked back. I started my own business in 2005, S & L Construction, Inc. My dad had me trim the houses he contracted, and soon realized I wasn’t letting him near the trim part of the houses. :) I love my dad, he is an amazing contractor, but he isn’t as picky as I am on trim. That was a weird revelation to come to.
About a year and a half ago, he slowed way down as the Michigan economy really started to crumble. Fortunately, his painter had given my name to another contractor in the area who was looking for a quality trim carpenter around his age. He is building VERY nice homes, and it was very exciting when he asked me to trim for him. I had to step up my game. I’ve now trimmed 2 houses for him, with a few odds and ends stuff here and there. We had talked at the beginning about me eventually building cabinets, but I couldn’t afford to get a shop up and running (a new baby tends to limit that sort of thing). So I figured that maybe in a couple years or so. Well, in the course of these two houses, we ran into more issues with the cabinets we were installing. Its a brand that used to be top notch, but they have gone downhill fast as they got larger and skimped more and more on the materials they use to build the cabinets. Finally, Brian and I were fed up. He was wanting to get into a higher level of homes, and so custom built cabinets were really the only option. He had a building that he used to have a store in, but was just sitting unused and empty. So it is turning into a wood shop! I just built a mantel there today (will put some pictures up soon hopefully). Also today, we had our plywood delivered for the first batch of cabinets for the next house. Tomorrow, I will start cutting the sheets down with my Festool TS 55.
As it is a new shop, and still in progress of being put together, there are still a lot of tools and benches and other things missing. We are getting an 8” Steel City jointer, and a 15” Steel City Planer in the next couple weeks, when I will have to start dimensioning the maple for the face frames. For right now, another local shop is making our doors and drawer fronts. We hope to get a shaper later this year in order to do that ourselves also.
We are hoping that even if home sales continues to decline, people will still have a desire for quality cabinets if they remodel.
Our cabinets will truly be custom. No basic box sizes squeezed into a kitchen with a bunch of fillers. We plan on building sections of cabinets, as opposed to a bunch of boxes just screwed together. I want the cabinets I build to last, so that 50 years from now, the homeowner will be refinishing their kitchen and will admire how well built they are. We won’t have any extra wide drawers with 100 lb. Blumotion drawer guides, but only 1/4 inch plywood for the drawer bottom! Yeah, thats one of the disgusts we had with the cabinets we were installing. Unbelievable.
So anyway, I’m a little nervous as I move into this new direction. Its exciting to be going where I had hoped to go, but really scary stepping out there. I’ll just try to put my best into every part of it, remember to measure twice, cut once, and to always wear my safety goggles when using the power tools.
-- I get payed to play with power tools! What could be better than that?
20 comments so far
Betsy
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1560 posts in 298 days
posted 122 days ago
I hope it works out for you Sparky. Sounds like you have the drive and determination to make it work.
-- Betsy - There is no strength where there is no struggle
Pretzel
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92 posts in 147 days
posted 122 days ago
Welcome to Lumber Jock’s
It’ll be tough, gut it out, I work pt as a Machinist & concrete finisher, (my own investments). When things got slow I started building cabinets & furniture 6yrs ago. I’ve noticed, while doing my taxes, my w/w is doing very well for a 2-man shop. Hang in there. lots of luck to you.
-- Pretzel L8agn
Splinters
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129 posts in 585 days
posted 122 days ago
Good luck Sparky and welcome to lumberjocks…...you can do it…..
-- Splinters - Living and Loving life in the Rockies - http://www.splinterswoodworks.com/
cajunpen
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5291 posts in 468 days
posted 122 days ago
They say timing is everything. I wish you nothing but the best and hope your timing is right.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
ND2ELK
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1914 posts in 176 days
posted 122 days ago
Hi Sparky
Welcome to Lumberjocks. It sounds like you have a plan and desier to make it work. Good Luck!
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
Scott Bryan
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7968 posts in 224 days
posted 122 days ago
Sparky,
I wish you nothing but the best. Too often we are the obstacles to our success. We are simply afraid to let go of the safety tether in order to venture out onto a new but untried path. You have taken a bold step in this direction and, given your determination and desire for success, you are following your dream.
Congrats on the new space and new tools as well. It is always an exciting time, whether you are a pro or a hobbiest, to put new tools into service.
Thanks for the post.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
mrtrim
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1480 posts in 282 days
posted 122 days ago
sparky , i can very much relate to your story ! good luck
-- if you aint the lead dog the scenery never changes
MsDebbieP
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11014 posts in 562 days
posted 121 days ago
isn’t it exciting to look at how your life has unfolded. Congrats on accepting the opportunity!!
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
TedM
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635 posts in 134 days
posted 121 days ago
Sparky, all the best on this venture! Here’s a little ditty that my old man always said, “There’ll be trials and tribulations in everything you do but hard work and persistence will always see you thru!”. Feel free to use it if you ever need it. It’s a bit corny but it has served me well all these years and got me up and back in the game quite a few times… and still does. ;)
-- I'm a wood magician... I can turn fine lumber into firewood before your very eyes! - http://www.woodworkersguide.com
Thos. Angle
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3243 posts in 364 days
posted 121 days ago
Well, Sparky, I think you have a very good chance of making it work very well. The key is the contractor you are working with. When the economy is down the rich keep on going. The Great Depression made a lot of rich people richer. With his reputation and your own contacts you will have plenty of work. That is an enviable position to be in. It sounds like you build the same quality cabinet I do. I wish I had your contacts but I don’t. Make sure you let people know what they are getting. I ask people if they have in mind to remodel every 5 years. If they say yes I send them to Lowe’s. There is no point putting a $2000 vanity in a bathroom so it can go to the dump in 5 years. Of course, if they have the money I won’t turn it down. I think you will find that modular construction is a must. you have to be able to pick up the boxes and move them. If you make them too big it’s always a 2 man job and that costs money. I will say there are some very good door and drawer companies out there. It is a lot cheaper to out-source doors and drawers than hire people with all the problems that come with that. There’s also the time. It will all come together.
-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon
dennis mitchell
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2821 posts in 716 days
posted 121 days ago
Good luck. I’m just finishing a batch of kitchens. I’m in a situation much like yours, but I didn’t change enough so I’m done with deal. Good luck!
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
GaryK
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8250 posts in 390 days
posted 121 days ago
I wish you all the luck.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
dennis mitchell
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2821 posts in 716 days
posted 121 days ago
Charge enough! Guess I needed to change too!
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
HallTree
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563 posts in 169 days
posted 121 days ago
Welcome Sparky! I love post like your’s. You will find there are a lot of woodworkers here that are willing to help. Looking forward to see your progress on the shop and comments. Have fun and work safe.
-- Ron in Osseo, Minnesota
rikkor
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6617 posts in 276 days
posted 121 days ago
It’s an election year. In virtually every election year some stimulation is done to the economy to make it look better. Your timing might be very good, as housing seems a likely area to stimulate.
-- Maplewood, MN
Tom Adamski
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179 posts in 173 days
posted 121 days ago
Sparky,
Get up every day and give it all you have… and all will fall into place. If you make quality your halmark, your customes will eventualy seek you out. Good luck and keep us posted…
Tom
-- Anybody can become a woodworker, but only a Craftsman can hide his mistakes.
Thuan
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152 posts in 220 days
posted 121 days ago
Sparky,
You will go far with your attitude. I design and sell kitchens so I know that the core of a great kitchen is the cabinets. Get to know the basics guidelines of kitchen design and your quality cabinets will have function to work along the side the new built-in appliances of today. The modern kitchen has great potential with the right knowledge. Start off with this link, it will help you learn proper placement of the cabinets.
Then learn about the BLUM Cabinet hardware system, they are the Festool of hinges and glides. They are designed to make the life of a cabinet builder easier. Strong, innovative and easy to adjust during installation.
Good luck to you
-- Thuan
Sparky977
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55 posts in 122 days
posted 121 days ago
Thank you all so much for the encouragement! I can tell already that I am going to like Lumberjocks. :)
-- I get payed to play with power tools! What could be better than that?
Ad Marketing Guy - Bill
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302 posts in 200 days
posted 120 days ago
BEST of luck – Stay true to your craft but make certain you understand the value in making a business work. It is important to walk the tight rope between art – craft – and making money! You must find that “fine line” between making art and making money.
Much Success!
-- Bill - - Ad-Marketing Guy, Ramsey NJ
mtnbikecrash
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24 posts in 170 days
posted 120 days ago
Good luck to you. I am envious of your decision and hope that things go well for you. Like you I am continuously frustrated with poor craftsmanship just to make an extra buck. As Ad Marketing Guy – Bill stated the is an important walk the tight rope between craftsmanship and making money, but I think too many people skimp on the durability and quality craftsmanship so they can squeeze out a few extra bucks. Sad really. Many contruction activities have become just that, a means to the end, rather than a skill. I have seen so many poorly constructed cabinets and poorly installed trim in really expensive houses, that it makes me sick. Keep up the good attitude towards the actual skill and craftsmanship of woodworking and it will fair you well. I look forward to hearing more from you.
-- JD - Sand Springs, OK - "You can't steer a car that isn't moving..." Unknown