The equipment Don uses takes up very little space in his large workshop. A drill press, Dremel scroll saw, table saw and two sanders. The scroll saw blade is thinner than a nail file and flexible. “The orbital sander, which I use most often, goes in circles and vibrates and makes a lot of racket.” The mouse sander, which resembles a clothes iron is smaller. “The mouse just vibrates… and makes a lot of racket.” He chuckles. “Everything in here makes a lot of racket — Including me.” Don doesn’t have a favorite single piece. Whatever is the most complex is always at the top of his list. Like the nativity scene that took thirty hours of painstaking work to complete. The wood he primarily uses is Baltic birch plywood because, unlike hardwood which is very fragile, the birch doesn’t shatter. “It’s hard as all get-out until you start poking holes in it. When you start doing that, it’s a whole different ball game.” He especially likes working with purpleheart wood because of its color. When freshly cut the heartwood of purpleheart is a dull grayish/purplish brown. As it’s exposed, the wood becomes a deeper eggplant purple and with further age and exposure to UV light, the wood becomes a dark brown with a hint of purple. Interest in his work is primarily raised by word of mouth from friends, like Roberta at Uncle Roy’s convenience store and Jennifer at the library, who both praise his creations. In March, an independently owned store called Revamped Creations will open. Located at Farm Road 1218 and Hwy. 86E, just east of Eagle Rock, the
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consignment store will display several of Don’s pieces. The space for artists is free. All that’s expected is 10 percent of his sales. After creating a piece for a friend retired from the U.S. Navy, Don got inspired to do the same for every military branch of service. He’s completed all but the Coast Guard. “The Marines is the hardest to build,” he said. “But I think it’s the prettiest. The challenge is the thin ribbon with Sempre Fidelis on it.” Don’s home is essentially a gallery of his finished works. What won’t fit on the walls or bookshelves are displayed or stored in his workshop. True to his fun-loving nature, some of his favorite fun pieces are ones with words only, such as: “The neighbors have better stuff ”, “And your point is?” There is one he is rather partial to, however. Not solely because of the craftmanship required to create it, but also because of its unique and humorous message: “The midnight ride of Paul for beer led to a warmer atmosphere.”