Ron Feather's is an incredible woodworker amongst the Forest 2 Home community! We first came across his work on Instagram, as he began to share his final #BuiltWithF2H projects, workshop photos and more. We asked Ron to share some of his woodworking journey with us and this is what he wrote:
Ron's start with woodworking
The work-from-home mandate of 2020 was an interesting driver of change for a lot of people, myself included. Instead of being able to stroll around corporate hallways to clear my head, I found myself in the garage cleaning, tinkering, trying to come up with ways to occupy my mind. I’ve always been a tinkerer (there are always multiple projects underway), but most often I would use whatever I had on hand to create something. Planters, picture frames, boxes, so many little things usually made from leftover redwood or pallet wood. Then I found Forest 2 Home's page @shopf2h on Instagram, and thought I’d give hardwood cutting boards a try. My first one was a great success, and apparently, I was hooked. Hardwoods behave so differently than softwoods. You can get amazing results, and starting off with quality pieces makes my projects go super smooth.
First custom cutting board made with Cherry hardwood, Hard Maple hardwood and Walnut hardwood
Happy accidents in the woodworking shop
One thing I always keep in mind is that it’s totally OK to mess things up. I’ve completed dozens of projects over the past couple of years, and not all of them have gone to plan. I tend to think of Bob Ross when things go south (“We don't make mistakes. We just have happy accidents.”). One of the really great things about woodworking is that there are no rules that say a cutting board has to be exactly 8” by 10”. Slips on the router table, or errant tooth marks from the saw blade don’t necessarily ruin projects, instead, they give character!
Finding woodworking inspiration
I am always inspired by this amazing community of woodworkers. I’ll glide through posts seeing the things that people are building, and make a point to find something to try. A good example of this is the falling block board I made after seeing a few other examples by other amazing woodworkers.
Falling block cutting board built with Cherry wood, Hard Maple wood and Walnut wood.
More recently, my chess board was something I probably wouldn’t have even thought to try without the inspiration of the community.
Custom made chess board with Walnut wood and Ash wood.
One of my favorite #BuiltWithF2H projects was the keepsake box I made for the new parents. This was made from cherry, walnut and maple, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. The outside was painted by my ever-so-artistic wife and features the notes from the couple’s original lullaby for their sweet baby!
Custom keepsake wooden box with Cherry wood, Hard Maple wood and Walnut wood.
There is a downside to this inspiration, too, however. Sometimes, the new and unfamiliar projects I attempt get a little out of hand. One of my first resin projects was a charcuterie board, and in the process of mixing the resin, I inadvertently spun the liquid goo all over my workbench, my clothes, and my garage floor and created a mess that still partially remains. So much to learn!
The best part of woodworking
In the end, I love attending Farmer’s Markets (though I don’t get out there enough) and having people fall in love with the creations I make. Customers and passers-by tend to provide commentary, conversations, and inspiration (“have you ever thought of making a jewelry box?”), and this is what it’s all about for me. Well, that and money to buy new tools!
To see more of Ron's woodworking projects, head to his Instagram page @succulents_and_sawdust.
We would love to hear about your start with woodworking! Send an email to marketing@forest2home.com detailing your woodworking journey and we will feature you and your shop on the blog! Don't forget to use hashtag #BuiltWithF2H on your Forest 2 Home project photos so we can see and share your work. Happy Woodworking!
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