About Flotsam
Flotsam was born from a desire to create something out of the furniture found on the streets of Boston, destined for the landfill. From spoons and cutting boards to side tables and bookshelves, the wood I use in all my projects is "sourced" from the sidewalk, construction/demolition leftovers, woodworking shop scraps, and friendly neighbors. Handling scrap wood brings a host of new problems to solve, which adds a fun, creative energy to the artistic process of woodworking.
I use a mix of traditional and modern woodworking methods, taking pride in hand-cut dovetails while still appreciating the utility of modern tools. Most of what I know comes from doing projects with my father in Virginia, who continues to teach me the value of hand tools, precision and and a well-sharpened blade. In Boston, I worked for a short while as a part-time assistant teacher at the Eliot School in Jamaica Plain, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, and more recently helped out at Cannon Hill in Egleston Square, where I still get scraps and occasionally lend a hand. In the spring of 2020 I stepped away from my ten-year career on oceangoing research vessels to focus my energy on woodworking, and in 2021 I began to learn the art of compass adjustment while still growing my woodworking business. I now share a woodworking shop with Maple Hurst Builders in Boston and, in addition to doing custom work, I sell my creations online and at various local venues.
I use a mix of traditional and modern woodworking methods, taking pride in hand-cut dovetails while still appreciating the utility of modern tools. Most of what I know comes from doing projects with my father in Virginia, who continues to teach me the value of hand tools, precision and and a well-sharpened blade. In Boston, I worked for a short while as a part-time assistant teacher at the Eliot School in Jamaica Plain, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, and more recently helped out at Cannon Hill in Egleston Square, where I still get scraps and occasionally lend a hand. In the spring of 2020 I stepped away from my ten-year career on oceangoing research vessels to focus my energy on woodworking, and in 2021 I began to learn the art of compass adjustment while still growing my woodworking business. I now share a woodworking shop with Maple Hurst Builders in Boston and, in addition to doing custom work, I sell my creations online and at various local venues.
The Workshop
Before moving in to a real shop space, I was operating out of a private two-car garage. Although my workspace has changed considerably, below are some pictures of my orignal shop setup.
