Oregon Makers

08/29/2026

I had this old Bordeaux wine box from the 1960s and decided it was time to give it a new purpose.
The original bottle grid came out, I added some hardware and latches, and mounted it to my cargo bike.
It was a quick little project, but I also added a small surprise that you'll see at the end. 💡🚲
Full video is up now!

I found an old Bordeaux wine box from the 1960s and decided to give...

08/22/2026

I’ve been having some fun turning old whiskey barrel staves into bottle openers.

The idea sounds pretty simple until you actually start working with the wood.

Barrel staves aren't flat. They're curved, the edges are beveled, and every piece is different. Even getting the bottle opener properly inlaid into the stave turned out to be a bit of a challenge.

But that's also what makes these so much fun to make.

Every bottle opener is individually made and labeled, and because they're made from different pieces of barrel stave, no two are exactly alike.

I filmed the whole process, so if you'd like to see how they're made, here's the video.

And if you'd like one for yourself, they're now available in the Oregon Makers shop.

There’s something pretty satisfying about taking a piece of an old ...

08/19/2026

Lumber for the next 3 projects. Let’s hope I can make more than $5/ hour.

08/17/2026

Some places don't need much narration.
Cedar Wetlands Preserve in Rockaway Beach is one of those places. A quiet boardwalk winds through old-growth cedar wetlands to one of Oregon's largest Western Red Cedar trees.
As a woodworker, I also found myself appreciating the craftsmanship of the boardwalk itself. The way it curves around the trees and roots with carefully fitted tapered boards is worth noticing.
I hope you enjoy the walk as much as I did.

Welcome to The Cedar Wetlands Preserve in Rockaway Beach, Oregon.T...

08/15/2026

I just finished a pair of Craftsman-style deck chairs.
This was a pretty straightforward maker project—breaking down the materials, assembling the parts, and putting everything together. I really like the simple, substantial look of these chairs.
I filmed the build and put the whole thing together in a new video on Oregon Makers.

I built a pair of Craftsman-style deck chairs for the deck or patio...

08/08/2026

Most people think the finish is complete after applying milk paint.

I like taking it a few steps further by adding oil and then wax.

The result is a finish with a soft sheen, depth, and a look that feels right at home on traditional furniture.

I walk through the entire finishing process in this video.

This cabinet gets a finish that you don’t see very often.Instead ...

08/03/2026

Sometimes the best walks aren’t the most difficult—they’re simply the most peaceful.

This visit to Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge includes quiet forest trails, river views, wildlife, and beautiful early signs of spring along one of my favorite places on the Oregon Coast.

I hope you enjoy coming along.

Today we’re exploring Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge on the ...

08/02/2026

One of the things I enjoy most about exploring Oregon is finding places that encourage you to slow down.

Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge is full of peaceful scenery, wildlife, and beautiful views where two rivers come together before reaching the bay.

The full walk is now on my YouTube channel.

08/01/2026

This traditional chimney cabinet was a fun build from rough lumber to finished assembly.

I edited the project into a fast-paced build using jump cuts and time-lapse to keep things moving while still showing the process.

The finishing video is coming next, where I’ll use an uncommon combination of milk paint, oil, and wax that gives the cabinet a beautiful aged look.

I’d love to hear what you think!

Today I’m building a traditional Shaker style chimney cabinet from ...

07/25/2026

I finally upgraded my shop with a JET JCDC-2 cyclone dust collector.

After years of using a shop vac, the first thing I noticed wasn’t the suction—it was how much quieter it is. It’s also built for continuous operation, which makes a lot more sense for woodworking projects that last hours instead of minutes.

In this video I unbox it, assemble it, and share my first impressions.

Watch the full video on YouTube and let me know what dust collection system you’re using in your shop.

For years I’ve relied on a shop vac in my woodworking shop, but it ...