2015 Wood Diamond Award

Main Category: Other
Sub Category: Other
Dollar Amount: Under $25,000

What materials/species were used in this project/item?
I used apsen tongue and groove, and aspen boards for trim and detail, as well as cherry for the doors. On the aspen I used JB Moser’s water-based urethane, and on the cherry I used Minwax Red Mahogany stain and Minwax oil-based poly.

Describe, in detail, the project/item’s construction.I used my Grizzly table saw, planer, shaper, and jointer, Porter Cable routers, and Festool sanders, Senco Nailers, and my DeWalt chop saw,hand planer, skill saw, and jig saw.
A very unusual problem to overcome was actually a blessing, too. For 8 weeks, 3 nights a week, volunteers from the Lander E. Free Church were in my shop with me finishing the tongue and groove boards to save money. There was 6,000 board feet of tongue and groove to finish, and it would have taken us too long to do ourselves.
Several people from the church also showed up and helped me when it was time to install.
I fabricated the mouldings and all trim work, as well as the cherry/aspen doors with crosses. I am in the process of planning the big cross for the alter.
What is the most unusual aspect or outstanding characteristic of this entry?The size of the room was an obstacle in itself, but it turned out beautifully. They wanted aspen crosses built into the doors, and that was a really interesting project. I enjoyed it. One congregation member told me that she cried when she saw them. This was one of my greatest honors.
In this case, the size of my shop was an obstacle. Having other jobs in progress, 6000 feet of aspen, and 4 volunteers in my small shop was interesting. I had to constantly think of safety. They worked in an area that was just for finishing, as I couldn’t have them around the tools.
List any items that were outsourced.
I bought the aspen tongue and groove from a mill in Minnesota, simply because it would have been too expensive for me to make that large amount in my small shop and it saved space. (Finishing by volunteers in my shop as stated above.)

How being a member of the CMA has benefited you and/or your business.
We have not only enjoyed getting to know other members, but we also have had wonderful advertising as a result of the CMA Wood Diamond contests. It was great meeting other members in Atlanta at the IWF, too!