My name is Bob Kloes, and I want to thank you for visiting my handmade site.
We live in a world that is fast paced and mass-produced. I used to work for a large company for many years, but always longed for something more. My dream was to open my own business and pursue my passion for woodworking.
In the beginning I started with old used tools and a homemade table saw. I read every book and magazine I could find about furniture making. I had no training or schooling in woodworking or cabinetry. I learned by doing things every day in my spare time. I made a lot of mistakes and learned from each one. I would master each step until I was confident I had it perfected. I fell in love with traditional furniture: New England colonial, country, and shaker styles.
In 1999, I left my full time job and started working for myself. My wife and I were both in agreement it was time. It was a scary and yet a blessed time. I had been working 40 hours a week and also working 50 hours a week at woodworking. Now I could devote all the time needed to make this venture work. Giving up a regular paycheck and full benefits was a very hard choice though. I heard Dick Bennett telling a story about how he felt taking the job as head basketball coach at Wisconsin and his trusting God. He said, “It was like sitting on a tree branch and expecting God to hold you up there, while you cut the branch off the tree, and seeing the tree fall”. Faith is a powerful thing.
Everything I create is made in America. My lumber comes from Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, along with some from Indiana and Iowa. It is sourced from responsible loggers and mills. All my hardware and finishes come from the USA. I use water base dyes, paints, and finishes for most of my work.
The lumber I use is all figured. What that means is it has curl, stripes, bubbles, eyes, and colors that are not found on 99.7% of the wood used for furniture. I source all my lumber myself. I am proud to know good loggers and mill owners who care about the forests. A large part of my business now is providing this lumber to folks all across America. I select this special figured wood and then ship it to my clients. I can proudly say I have made furniture that is in 48 of 50 states.
As a furniture maker I look at wood differently than a cabinet shop or large furniture company. I look for the heavier figure, unusual color, and lumber that is from 1 tree. When making a piece, I want the lumber to be from one tree, so the color and figure are all consistent. It is the little things that set my work apart from mass produced furniture places. I consider myself fortunate to do a job that I love. I am very blessed.
I am now semi retired and am cutting back on the projects I take on. No
more large tables or cabinets. Just to hard to do by myself. I will do
lots of smaller items. Hanging cabinets like the one on the site, all
sorts of smaller tables and stands and I will be making many items I
have wanted to make over the years. I will post things as i make them
and if something works for you we can talk. Shipping is a huge issue for
a furniture maker. I don’t make crates and send furniture that way . If
you are local, I can maybe deliver it or you can pick it up. For
shipping, it is recommended to use a good moving company. Blanket wrap
and set up in your home. Its not an inexpensive process, but I never had
an issue in over 40 years of doing it that way. Thanks for reading this
far. I hope you enjoy what i make.
