LumberJocks

reedwood

  • View all advertisers
  • Advertise with us
View reedwood's:homeworkshopprojects (36)blog (16)reviews (0)forum topics (1)buddies (70)favorites (42)activity logWatch

384 posts in 874 days

Location: Grayslake, IL.
Website:

Summer 1974

At 15 yrs old, I began my apprenticeship with master carpenter, Alan Melhiser during the summers in Austin Texas. I learned how to build cabinets on the jobsite, conventional stick framing and custom trim work. He patiently showed me by example and with a kind voice how to have a strong work ethic.

Back then, we used a Stanley back saw mitre box (no cord) and eventually, upgraded to a Porter Cable mitre box with a sacrificial wooden table. We had a 9" Rockwell table saw with a tilt top for angle cuts, 8" all aluminum Porter Cable #315 skill saws - no carbide blades yet, Yankee ratchet screwdrivers, American mahogany and brass wood levels, brass plumb bobs, Disston hand saws (8 and 12 pt.) and wood handled Blue Grass hammers with bees wax in a hole in the end for the 4,6 and 8 penny common trim nails so the trim wouldn't split from nailing it by hand.

Woodworking came naturally to me. I was a student shop teacher and I went to a Cabinet and Mill-work trade school during High school.

My Grandfather was an inventor and opened my eyes to what you can do with the right tools and a great idea. My mother is an artist and was very inspirational. I remember working on many projects and in the garden together.

1982 - After a tour in the Navy on the aircraft carrier, Enterprise, I moved to Lake Forest Illinois, met a girl, got married and started a remodeling business:

Reed Builders, inc.

I went to the local community college at night to study Construction Tech., Real Estate Practice and Small Business Management.

I also followed opportunity and excepted a few offers to work for prominent north shore contractors such as Traditional Concepts, Page Builders and Chicago's oldest union cabinet shop, Dettmers.

They offered a way for me to work on larger projects and learn many things about the Union way, high end project management and office politics.

But I always maintained my cabinetry business on the side which kept me busy during slow times, like we have now.

We avoid huge overhead costs with our in home office and small cabinet shop. We prefer to finance our own jobs and stay manageable with only 4 - 8 men. The rest of the crew are sub contractors, some we've known for over 23 years.

I have been fortunate to work mostly in Lake Forest and Lake bluff IL. The people here are very nice and appreciate good quality work. Most of my clients know each other. I prefer to work with references only but enjoy meeting new people to see if we are a good fit.

We are mostly a kitchen and bath remodeler these days. We handle everything including design service and 3D drawings. We provide and install Plato Cabinetry or custom built ins such as: paneled libraries, mantles, home theaters, wine rooms, organizer closets and pantries for clients and Architects.

We also do complete house gut and remodels, historic restorations, timber frame additions, furniture repairs, Halloween props, shade arbors and decks.

Me personally?

I believe we should pay it forward.
Our immortality lies in the knowledge we leave behind.
Our mark in the world lives on in the things we create.

-- mark

Latest Projects | view all 36 »

Latest Blog Entries | view all 16 »


Grab widget

16 comments so far

View ND2ELK's profile

ND2ELK

13495 posts in 1972 days


#1 posted 874 days ago

Welcome to Lumberjocks. The projects are an inspiration, the information is priceless and the people are supportive. The only problem is, the site can get addictive.

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

View SnowyRiver's profile

SnowyRiver

47635 posts in 1678 days


#2 posted 874 days ago

Welcome aboard. Nice that you could join us on Lumberjocks.

-- Wayne - Plymouth MN

View surfin2's profile

surfin2

42890 posts in 1334 days


#3 posted 874 days ago

Welcome To LumberJocks, Good Luck…

-- Rick

View Splinterman's profile

Splinterman

23056 posts in 1559 days


#4 posted 874 days ago

“WELCOME to LJ’s” …Enjoy the experience.

View reedwood's profile

reedwood

384 posts in 874 days


#5 posted 873 days ago

Hi everybody,
Mark here. Thanks for the hearty welcome! I have enjoyed this reading this site so far.

-- mark

View Max's profile

Max

55744 posts in 2471 days


#6 posted 873 days ago

Glad to see that you have made LumberJocks a part of your Woodworking experience… Welcome

-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT

View woodzy's profile

woodzy

413 posts in 876 days


#7 posted 872 days ago

Welcome, i typically leave the hello’s to the friendly welcome wagon, but your stoy is interesting. Your toolbox has me interested in any futurre project you post. Thanks.

-- Anthony

View Chris's profile

Chris

27 posts in 1047 days


#8 posted 871 days ago

Welcome from a fellow contractor just to your north.
You have a great business philosophy and looking at your work so far I think you will be a great asset to this site. I cant wait to see more.

-- Chris, Hubertus, WI

View Beginningwoodworker's profile

Beginningwoodworker

13238 posts in 1871 days


#9 posted 871 days ago

Welcome to LumberJocks!

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

View Rogue's profile

Rogue

256 posts in 1668 days


#10 posted 870 days ago

Hey new buddy! The fishtack stand is made out of hard maple that I milled on my sawmill and a few pieces of maple ply. The bends for the front a laminate bends. I look forward to seeing yours be sure to put it up on LJ.

-- Rogue

View HardWood's profile

HardWood

144 posts in 1093 days


#11 posted 869 days ago

That’s very inspiring. There is a tremendous difference between those who just play the game and those who have the game and its players at heart.

-- No matter how many factors go into thinking about a project, there is always one important new discovery to be made.

View ShopTinker's profile

ShopTinker

864 posts in 966 days


#12 posted 869 days ago

Welcome to LJ. This is best place on the net to share and learn from a great bunch of friendly, talented, helpful woodworkers. I’ll warn you, it’s very addictive.

-- Dan - Valparaiso, Indiana, "A smart man changes his mind, a fool never does."

View Tom Pritchard's profile

Tom Pritchard

60 posts in 889 days


#13 posted 859 days ago

Very beautiful finish and fantastic job. Next time I sell a stackable washer and dryer set at Lowe’s I’ll suggest they look to see what you have done.

Tom from Madison, Indiana (SE Indiana)

-- Tom in Madison, Indiana

View BTKS's profile

BTKS

1916 posts in 1662 days


#14 posted 858 days ago

Welcome to LJ’s. I look forward to seeing more of your craftsmanship.
BTKS

-- "Man's ingenuity has outrun his intelligence" (Joseph Wood Krutch)

View Dustin's profile

Dustin

377 posts in 1648 days


#15 posted 857 days ago

I admire your work quite a bit. You’re very talented and knowledgeable.

showing 1 through 15 of 16 comments

Have your say...

You must be signed in to post the comments.

DISCLAIMER: Any posts on LJ are posted by individuals acting in their own right and do not necessarily reflect the views of LJ. LJ will not be held liable for the actions of any user.

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

HomeRefurbers.com

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

GardenTenders.com :: gardening showcase