| Project by Thos. Angle | posted 671 days ago | 1446 views | 1 time favorited | 46 comments | ![]() |
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Last fall, I was at Flynn’s Saddle Shop in Boise, Idaho. I dropped off a portfolio and discussed having the business show case some of my saddles.The manager of the western department was agreeable to that and I left the portfolio with one of the owner’s wives. I also learned that they were just about to start construction on a new and much bigger building. I said I was interested in doing some of the furnishings for the new building. they called me when they had the architect’s drawings and I went down to see them. To say the least they were not do-able. I bid on the job and then had to go back several times and wound up completely redesigning the front counter and office space. When I went in to get the final say on the colors, I was informed that they also wanted a pergola over the check-out counter. I didn’t even know how to spell pergola. I soon learned and designed it as well. I got the bid and was going to start on it the 1rst of December because they had stated an opening date of 15 January, 2008. On the 15th of November I got a call and asked if I could bump it up to open the 1rst of January. Well, it was a big enough contract that I sure could. I went down and got my deposit and headed off for a load of material. As you might expect we were just in today and took these photos and the place is still not open. The best part is the checks cashed and were available whenever I wanted them. Great folks to work with and today they told me to design some more things for the store. Dandy. The pergola started out as re-claimed fir 6×6 ’s and 4×6’s. They were planed down some and then I began to work. I allowed 50 hours to build the pergola and wasn’t far off. It is mortise and tenon construction with some exterior knee braces held on with lag bolts. The mortises were done with a hand drill and chisels and the tenons were cut with a hand saw. The joints are draw bore pinned. It could not be assembled until it was in place. I rough planed it with a #4 and then sanded over to smooth it. The finish is BLO, shellac, then gel stain and more shellac. The sign was done by someone else but seems to fit very well.
The cabinets(12) are Red Oak ply with Red oak face frames. All are open and there are two drawers on the two computer desks in the office space. The faces are frame and panel construction with 1/4 inch Red Oak ply panels.The shelf units on the front of the counter are part of my contract as well. There are two lazy susans in the back corner cabinets. The finish is my own Golden Brown Oak. 120 drops of TransTint Golden Brown to 1 pint of De-natured Alcohol. Then two coats of Light Walnut Danish Oil. The counter top is two layers of particle board with Red Oak edge band then Formica laminate on top.
While at the Denver Market last week, the owners showed photos of this to the owner of one of the biggest saddle and tack stores in the US. He said he would be interested in talking to me as he was going to remodel in a short while. If Todd can work in Ohio, I can work in Colorado. Yippee!! I’m glad this is done. I’m enjoying building a bunch of saddles.
-- Thos. Angle































46 comments so far
Brad_Nailor
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1224 posts in 855 days
posted 671 days ago
Beautiful! A real piece of craftsmanship. Nice job on the pergola…
-- David, South Windsor, CT "I love the smell of sawdust in the morning"
Karson
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25806 posts in 1298 days
posted 671 days ago
Thomas A great job. Great commisssion.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Bob A in NJ
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530 posts in 896 days
posted 671 days ago
Wow, very nice, looks like you’re in business. Beautiful design and craftsmanship, well done!
-- Bob A in NJ
Peter O
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1027 posts in 772 days
posted 671 days ago
This is Tom’s jobsite that Marianne and I invaded. We found Tom in the middle of this big empty room, carefully measuring exactly where the cabinets should be placed. The pergola wasn’t assembled when we were there. It sure looks great now!
Tom, I can’t help thinking, “Last week I couldn’t even spell ‘pergola’ and now I are building one”! Good luck with the big store in Colorado!
-- http://www.north40custom.com -- http://north40studios.etsy.com --
Douglas Bordner
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3427 posts in 961 days
posted 671 days ago
Great that more business is pouring in. I can’t remember exactly, but I think I recall that you had to get a new truck. Looks like you’ll need it. Great job, Thomas.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Scott Bryan
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20746 posts in 719 days
posted 671 days ago
Thomas that is a great job on the pergola. To design and build something like this without having a basic concept of the structure is just awesome. It speaks well of your grasp of woodworking and design skills.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Blake
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2760 posts in 772 days
posted 671 days ago
Wow! Congratulations on your beautiful accomplishment and future contracts. I can tell you’re exited—and I’m exited for you. It really MAKES that store!
-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com
cajunpen
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5968 posts in 963 days
posted 671 days ago
Good for you. That is a nice commission and was well done. Hopefully you can take your Rodeo back on the road. Did you ever get to showcase your saddles?
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
clieb91
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681 posts in 832 days
posted 671 days ago
Thomas, Looks great. What a great welcome to the store.
CtL
-- Chris L. "Don't Dream it, Be it."
gbvinc
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540 posts in 844 days
posted 671 days ago
Very well done Thos. Your design and implementation creates the ambiance one would expect in this type of store. I expect the more people that see this, the more you will be asked to do it again.
Thos. Angle
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4013 posts in 860 days
posted 671 days ago
Thanks for the kind words.
Doug, I didn’t have to buy a new truck but the bill looked like I had. LOL
Bill, They are flooring my saddles. I am in the process of building 2 more for them right now. They also bought quite a bunch of chinks, etc. that I had in stock.
sbryan, I found some photos of pergolas so I did have an idea how one went together.
The deal in Colorado is a big maybe.
Blake, that is about what the owners said after they saw it all together. I think I really got lucky.
-- Thos. Angle
GaryK
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9537 posts in 886 days
posted 671 days ago
Great Job! Congratulations. I bet you’re glad that it’s done.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Thos. Angle
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4013 posts in 860 days
posted 671 days ago
You are 100 % correct, Gary.
-- Thos. Angle
Marge
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144 posts in 851 days
posted 671 days ago
Excellent, the design certainly makes the place – Colorado is not so bad.
-- Marge, Colorado
Hawgnutz
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522 posts in 974 days
posted 671 days ago
Well, I was wondering where you were the last week or so. Now we know. Great job on the display and pergola! I am sure Denver will like your style, too. I hope you will get to do well in my old stomping grounds in Colorado!
God Bless,
Hawg
-- Saving barnwood from the scrapyards
TomK
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504 posts in 772 days
posted 671 days ago
The pergola looks great, love the finish color. Post some photos of your saddles, if you will. I know guys that compete at Mesquite rodeo, and some of the Cowboy Churches around here. I would like to see your leatherwork too. BTW, I agree with your method (on making plane), of making center blocks, then gluing on sole, rather than FWW method of gluing on sole, then cutting cheeks off…..... Makes much more sense. Hock iron will be in this week, finishing handmirrors for my daughters now, will post both projects. Thanks for your advice.
-- If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait until it's free! PJ O'Rourke
Jeff
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997 posts in 991 days
posted 671 days ago
To quote my grand-pappy, I bet your are “tickled pink!” Excellent negotiation. Excellent work. Excellent opportunities. They are flooring your saddles too. Congratulations, Tom.
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
Dadoo
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1723 posts in 888 days
posted 671 days ago
Alright Thomas! Excellent piece! Glad everything worked out so well for you too! Hope the future brings more of the same.
-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!
EdC
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458 posts in 738 days
posted 671 days ago
Did you find a nice spot to display your saddles near you fine looking wood working.
My hats off to you Thos. on a job well done, great looking pergola
-- Ed - Milan, IN
mrtrim
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1698 posts in 778 days
posted 671 days ago
awsome piece of work thos. ! youve created an owyhee design classic . im awful glad things are going well for you as you really deserve a good break after that home show deal went bad for you . your an amazing craftsman , keep up the great work and thanks for shareing it with us
rikkor
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11335 posts in 772 days
posted 671 days ago
What excellent workmanship and design. No wonder you got a follow-up commission. Word of mouth is probably the best, anyway. It indicates the previous customer’s satisfaction. Good job!
miles125
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1439 posts in 903 days
posted 671 days ago
Thats a great looking project Thos…You go man!!!
-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""
Thos. Angle
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4013 posts in 860 days
posted 671 days ago
Thanks again for all the kind words. Over the years, I’ve found that every artist and craftsman needs to have his ego fed. Praise from one’s peers whom one really respects is the very finest of praise. Thank you, one and all. This store is over 12,000 sq.ft. They don’t sell clothes much mostly saddles, tack and feed. It will be by far the biggest and best stocked store in the Treasure Valley which takes in Caldwell, Nampa and Boise, Idaho and a lot of smaller suburbs of the metro area. Even with declining horse numbers and less and less involvement by young people, this business is going all out. It’s great to see optimism.
-- Thos. Angle
Bruce
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91 posts in 672 days
posted 671 days ago
awesome work.
Bob #2
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3053 posts in 919 days
posted 671 days ago
That’s a huge undertaking.
How did you get it erected in the store?
It came out very nice BTW!
Bob
-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner
Hutch
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91 posts in 795 days
posted 671 days ago
Wow, now you can spell it and you really can build it! Very nice, it really classes up the joint.
-- Hutch ...Montana ___ Life is a mystery to live, not a problem to solve! ___
TomFran
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2515 posts in 892 days
posted 671 days ago
You did an excellent job designing and building this. It looks great!
-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28
Popintraining
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109 posts in 735 days
posted 671 days ago
Very cool
-- Illegitimis nil carborundum - Don't let the bastards grind you down http://woodworkingtipsfrompop.com
mot
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4903 posts in 934 days
posted 671 days ago
Great job, Tom! Really an impressive piece of work!
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
Thos. Angle
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4013 posts in 860 days
posted 671 days ago
Bob,
My son-in-law, Bob, helps me install. We used all hands and the cook to erect the pergola. It’ s about 12 ft. high at the peak and 12 ft. wide.
-- Thos. Angle
Bob Babcock
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1808 posts in 984 days
posted 671 days ago
Beautiful work Thomas.
-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org
kjwoodworking
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202 posts in 785 days
posted 671 days ago
Great job. It doesn’t get any better than to do something you enjoy and get payed for it, and then the deal with the saddles on top of that! That’s great, I’m happy for you!!! I love that feeling when youve built something you worked hard on and are proud of and then those you built it for love it. It makes you feel good.
-- Kirk H. -- http://www.kjwoodworking.com
dennis mitchell
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3791 posts in 1212 days
posted 671 days ago
Great Job…hope I get to check it out soon.
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
gene
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2165 posts in 781 days
posted 670 days ago
Hay! Tom, I know ,this had to be a labor of love. I know the enjoyment that you get ,working with red oak.(LOL) Again, I’m with everyone else, a beautiful job!
God bless
-- Gene, a Christian in Virginia
CharlieM1958
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7670 posts in 1116 days
posted 670 days ago
Beautiful job, Tom… not that I would have expected any less from you!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Chris
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1469 posts in 889 days
posted 670 days ago
Simply beautiful work Tom…
-- Chris
shaun
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360 posts in 803 days
posted 670 days ago
Hey Tom, I know it was said a couple of times already but Im going to say it again. Without a doubt, your work “makes” the store. I”m happy that turned out to be good trip for you. You stopped in to drop off a portfolio and ended up builing a sweet checkout counter, selling some of your stock, your foot in the door n future work, AND your saddles are on the floor. That’s my definition of a good day!
By the way, a friend of mine was talking about pergolas for his patio, I asked him why in gods name would he want to put laminate flooring outside? DOH!
-- I've cut that board three times and it's still too short!
Grumpy
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14932 posts in 749 days
posted 670 days ago
Great job Thos. Excellent example of the use of hand tools.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
ND2ELK
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6220 posts in 671 days
posted 669 days ago
Outstanding! You are a craftsman in the true sence of the word. Over the years I have designed and built big reception centers and library counters but never any store fixtures. It is kind of nice to get repeat buisness off your work. I had a customer in North Dakota once that had me do a lot of work for him. He would tell me what he wanted and I’d make up some sketches. I would then ask if he wanted a price and he’d say no. I know about how much you would charge. Just let me how much you want for the deposit. I always charge 1/3 down and the remainder when the job was done. That way I never had to put money out of pocket for the materials.
Thanks for the welcome.
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
Thos. Angle
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4013 posts in 860 days
posted 669 days ago
Thanks again for all the kind words.
-- Thos. Angle
gizmodyne
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1678 posts in 987 days
posted 669 days ago
Excellent work! I like these indoor/ “outdoor” displays.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
Max
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14511 posts in 1171 days
posted 669 days ago
Thomas,
That turned out great. What a fantastic commission. It is no wonder that they asked you to do more…
-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT
MsDebbieP
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14167 posts in 1058 days
posted 669 days ago
awesome!!
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
WayneC
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6040 posts in 995 days
posted 667 days ago
Very nice. How are things going in general?
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
Dorje
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1767 posts in 894 days
posted 667 days ago
That’s some fine, fine work you do Thomas.
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
Dick, & Barb Cain
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7043 posts in 1197 days
posted 627 days ago
Very nice Tom!
I’m still catching up on your fine work.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1