I'm The Woodbodger. I build fine rocking chairs, woodturnings, and custom woodworking projects by hand, and I write about the tools and techniques that make good craft possible.
The bodgers of old worked fast, turning out chair legs by the hundreds in a day. I go the opposite direction: one piece at a time, slow and careful, because that's what quality takes.
Made-to-order, one at a time, in cherry, maple, and other fine hardwoods. Every chair is built and finished by hand in my Colorado workshop.
Bowls, boxes, and small turned pieces that celebrate the grain, figure, and character of the wood, from spalted maple to native ash.
Reclaimed lumber, offcuts, and estate-sale finds turned into something new: shop fixtures, small builds, and one-off pieces that would otherwise go to waste.
My upcoming book restores the reputation of a much-maligned shop tool, the radial arm saw, with real history and practical restoration guidance.
Bodgers were highly skilled itinerant wood-turners who cut timber and converted it into chair legs on a pole lathe, right in the forest, because it was easier to bring the tools to the timber than bring the timber to the tools.
Times have changed. These days it's easier to bring the timber to the workshop (and my lathe is electric), but the spirit of working wood by hand, with patience and skill, hasn't changed at all.
I work on one piece at a time, with the goal of making something that will last for generations. My pieces are built to be used, and nothing makes me happier than knowing that a rocking chair or bowl I made will be passed down through a family and used and enjoyed for years to come.
As my pieces age, they'll start to show the effects of time. I don't see the marks and dings they pick up along the way as damage. I see them as a record of the hands that have touched the piece and the life it's had.
Written off for decades as a "death trap," the radial arm saw is one of the most capable tools ever put in a home shop. The Forgotten Powerhouse sets the record straight, with real history, honest safety context, and a complete guide to restoring and maintaining these machines.
Get Notified at Launch →New chairs, turned pieces, and news about The Forgotten Powerhouse. No spam, just an occasional note when there's something worth sharing.
Submitting this opens your email client with your name and email ready to send. I'll add you to the list personally.
