About Flotsam
Flotsam was born from a desire to create something from furniture found on the streets of Boston, destined for the landfill. The wood I use in all my projects is "sourced" from the sidewalk, construction/demolition leftovers, woodworking shop scraps, and friendly neighbors. If you have some old wood furniture or wood scraps laying around that you'd like to get rid of (or better yet, if you'd like me turn to it into something specific), contact me with details. Paint and nails are fine, as long as it's solid wood in salvageable condition. 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.
