All About Stribling Design Woodworks

Stribling   Design   Woodworks   is   a   small,   one man    shop    specializing    in    custom    designed    and fabricated     furniture     and     fine     woodworking.       Although    some    designs    have    been    created    in limited   production   runs,   the   bulk   of   my   business comes   from   customers   who   require   custom,   one- of-a-kind    pieces.    Designed    and    handcrafted    to meet    the    needs    and    tastes    of    each    client,    the finished    products    have    become    treasured,    first generation heirlooms. Since    my    first    commissioned    piece    in    1977,    woodworking had    been    a    part    time    venture,    until    1988    when    the    volume    of orders   enabled   me   to   design   and   build   custom   furniture   full   time. Mostly   self-taught   through   books,   magazines   and   trial   and   error,   I had   developed   enough   knowledge   and   experience   over   the   years   to teach   two   woodworking   classes   and   a   furniture   design   course   at Bellingham Technical College from 2002 to 2009. Design Process For   me,   the   design   process   is   one   of   the most     enjoyable     aspects     of     woodworking because   it   combines   customer   relations   and technical    wizardry.     I    enjoy    sitting    down with   clients,   getting   to   know   their   likes   and dislikes,   their   dreams   and   desires.    Most   of   all,   I   enjoy   playing   my part as their wishes become reality.   There   are   a   number   of   considerations   to   be   aware   of   when designing   a   piece   of   custom   furniture,   not   the   least   of   which   is price.    It   is   important   to   discuss   the   client’s   budget   early   on   at   this stage   since   custom   furniture   is   expensive   for   obvious   reasons.   If cost   is   a   major   issue,   I   sometimes   suggest   that   a   client   purchase retail   if   what   they   are   looking   for   is   available.   But   owning   a   one- of-a-kind   piece   of   custom   furniture   has   great   appeal   to   most   of   my clients. Where    a    piece    will    be    displayed,    the    style    of    the    surrounding furniture   and   the   color   scheme   of   the   room   also   play   a   part   in   the design   process.    Although   more   homes   are   furnished   in   a   more eclectic   style   today,   there   are   those   who   prefer   certain   themes   in individual   rooms.    I   don’t   do   reproductions,   per   se,   but   I   do   call upon    certain    styles    to    guide    my    designs    where    appropriate. Materials   selection,   joinery   techniques   and   finish   can   also   effect the   design   and   price.    These   details   are   worked   out   with   the   client during   the   design   process   if   they   are   committed   to   a   custom   piece of quality furniture. Methods and Techniques I     have     profound     respect     for     those woodworking   purists   who   shun   power   tools for   hand   work.    But   for   reasons   of   expediency and   cost   to   the   client,   I   try   to   find   a   balance between     machines     and     hand     tools. I     use stationary    power    tools    for    cutting,    drilling, planing,   and   jointing   the   lumber,   and   a   combination   of   power   and hand tools for joinery and finishing. I   am   partial   to   mortise   and   tenon   rather   than   dowel   joinery, frame   and   panel   rather   than   plywood,   and   dovetails   rather   than rabbets.    Some   applications   may   be   interchangeable   in   some   cases, but   where   the   choice   affects   the   structural   integrity   of   the   piece,   I cannot   sacrifice   quality   for   cost.   When   designing   a   piece,   I   apprise the   client   of   the   options   where   there   are   options,   and   where   there are not. Since    my    shop    is    small,    I    prefer    to    devote    100%    of    my energies   into   one   project   at   a   time.   But   I   am   able   to   work   on   a couple   of   projects   at   a   time,   depending   on   the   pieces.      I   have   to   be creative   at   times   trying   to   find   room   to   assemble   a   20   foot   long   by 5    foot    wide    conference    table,    for    instance.     Large    pieces    are designed   and   built   in   sections   for   ease   of   transport,   and   a   complete set of assembly instructions are included in each shipment. The    type    of    finish    used    on    a    piece    depends    on    the    look desired,   how   the   piece   will   be   used   and   where   it   will   be   displayed.  I   use   combinations   of   oil   and   paste   wax   in   situations   of   light   wear, lacquer   for   medium,   and   varnish   for   heavy   use   areas.    I   try   to avoid   staining   at   all   costs.   Staining   dulls   the   inner   light   of   natural wood   and   mutes   the   myriad   color   variations   within   each   board. Instead,    I    prefer    to    choose    boards    for    their    color    and    grain orientation    and    arrange    them    to    create    balance    of    the    piece overall.   These   considerations   and   other   choices   are   decided   upon during   the   design   process   and   are   determined   on   an   individual basis. All   in   all,   my   methods   and   techniques   are   custom   designed   to suit   the   project,   available   technology,   and   the   client’s   tastes   and budget.     Although    I    have    my    preferences,    I    will    not    sacrifice structural   or   design   integrity   for   price.    I   want   to   put   out   a   quality product   at   an   affordable   price.   This   has   been   the   cornerstone   of my business since 1977. I   hope   you   can   appreciate   the   kind   of   work   I   do   and   give   me the opportunity to help your dreams become reality.