Tag Archives: Woodmaster Planer

I STARTED MY FURNITURE BUSINESS WITH JUST ONE CHAIR

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Curtis Wiemers - Woodmaster Woodworker of the Month
Curtis Wiemers is an accomplished woodworker from Hondo Texas — he’s our Woodmaster Woodworker of the Month! Read his story below…

“I was a company employee for 20 years. Then I wanted to get into business for myself and ran a franchise business. I tried it for 5 years but found I was working 8 to 12 hour days and not really making anything. So I got some woodworking tools and started my woodworking business.

Now I’m 82 years old and I’ve been making and selling tables and chairs for about 20 years. I started making cutting boards and lazy susans and sold them through a retailer. When I told them I needed to get 10% more money for my work, they said they couldn’t do it. I told them I couldn’t do it, either and decided to sell my work myself.

I took a course in making chairs and rockers. I made one and liked it so I made more. I’ve been making chairs and tables, chairs and tables, ever since. I learned a lot from that course and from watching online videos of how others make furniture.

It all started with one chair

A local lawyer saw one of my chairs and wanted to try it out. He tried it and wanted to buy it. He asked how much. I told him the price and he bought it. Then he ordered three more.

Later, he was remodeling an 1848 church into a home and told me he needed a table and chairs for his dining hall. He ordered a table 14’ long by 42” wide, along with eight matching chairs. Then he wanted a 10’ round table with chairs, and four or five bar chairs.

Then he built a house on the Texas coast and ordered an 8-foot table with six matching chairs. Then, lo and behold, he ordered six rockers from me!

Here’s an outstanding example of Curtis’ inlay work in a large and handsome dining table

I’ve got all the work I can handle

These days I’ve got all the work I can take care of. I’m selling my tables and chairs all by word of mouth and at shows and marketplaces. One of them is the big Mesquite Arts Festival in Fredericksburg, Texas each October. And right now I’m building things for a big festival coming up in Kerrville, Texas.

Curtis’ projects need a fine finish so he puts them through his big 50″ Woodmaster Drum Sander.

I enjoy what I’m doing

I enjoy what I’m doing and I always have. I used to cut my own trees, mesquite and pine. But these days I found a guy who cuts mesquite logs – straight ones, up to 12 feet long. That’s hard to find. I buy them from him by the ton.

I saw the logs on my TimberKing sawmill and dry the boards in my dry kiln. Then everything goes through my Woodmaster Planer/Molder. When I need things sanded down, they go through my Woodmaster Drum Sander.

Bigger projects, bigger Woodmasters

About my Woodmaster Drum Sander, I had a 38” Woodmaster Drum Sander. Then I started making 40” wide tables and needed a wider sander. So I got Woodmaster’s 50” drum sander. The boards sure come out nice.

And about my planer, I started with a 12” Woodmaster Planer, then the next bigger model. Now I’ve got the 25”. 12” wasn’t big enough so I sold it and bought the next bigger one. Now I’ve got the 25”. And I just got a CNC machine I use for some of the inlay work I do.

Here’s more inlay work by Curtis. He saws logs on his TimberKing sawmill, surfaces the boards on his Woodmaster Planer and Drum Sander, and adds inlay using his new shop tool, a CNC machine.

For the planer, I have the Woodmaster’s spiral cutterhead. I love it and I use it a lot. It beats the hell out of using planer knives – it makes a very smooth surface. It has dozens of little carbide cutter heads, each with four faces. When one set of faces get dull, you just rotate the cutter heads. I’ve rotated one face so far. It was easy to do – my son did it for me! I’ve got the 3-Side Molding System for my planer but I haven’t used it yet.

20 years in the furniture business and Curtis is busy as ever. Check out the row of clamps on the wall and the racks of wood inventory over his left shoulder.
“I enjoy what I’m doing and I always have!” — Curtis Wiemers

Everybody said, “Woodmaster”

I got going with Woodmaster 20 years ago. I didn’t have a planer so I asked around and everybody said, “get a Woodmaster.” So I did. These days, there’s a lot of talk on online forums; people saying “I need a planer.” Well, if you want a planer that’ll last for years, get a Woodmaster. If you want a drum sander, get a Woodmaster!

I tried a Grizzly planer one time and it didn’t last long. I didn’t like it and I went back to Woodmaster. I love all the machines I got from Woodmaster!”

— Curtis Wiemers, Woodmaster Planer and Drum Sander owner, Hondo TX

SAVE BIG NOW on Woodmaster Molder/Planers – sale prices, online specials

SAVE BIG NOW on Woodmaster Drum Sanders – sale prices, online specials

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?

3 WAYS we can help you!

• Call us TOLL FREE 1-800-821-6651

• Email us info@woodmastertools.com

• Connect with us on Facebook

Would YOU like to be our next Woodmaster Woodworker of the Month?

Email editor@woodmastertools.com photos of you, your projects, and your Woodmaster, write a note about yourself.

WE QUIT SIX-FIGURE CAREERS to start our own woodworking business

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“My wife, Amy, and I left 6-figure careers to start our own hardwood products business with Woodmaster equipment. We both worked in the insurance industry – I was a Class A General Contractor doing insurance restoration and Amy was a director of marketing. We got tired of making money for other people and wanted to start making money for ourselves.

The Biglers put 3 Woodmasters to work. This one's set up with the 3-Side Molding attachment. It shapes 3 sides in 1 pass - tongue, groove, and back relief.

The Biglers put 3 Woodmasters to work. This one’s set up with the 3-Side Molding attachment. It shapes 3 sides in 1 pass – tongue, groove, and back relief.

Being in this industry for over 30 years, we know all kinds of contractors and subcontractors. And we know what they need for flooring, molding, casing, and all kinds of hardwood products.

Amy and Robert work side-by-side. Here's Amy with a big load of hardwood flooring they shipped out recently. Note the Woodmaster in the background.

Amy and Robert work side-by-side. Here’s Amy with a big load of hardwood flooring they shipped out recently. Note the Woodmaster in the background.

For example, we have a business associate who deals in hardwood flooring. He’s told us he’ll buy all the hardwood flooring we can make. And he’s a man of his word. We told him, ‘Get ready, we’re going to bury you with hardwood flooring!’

3 Woodmasters, 3 work stations. Though the Woodmaster can be set up to perform 4 different functions - planing, molding, sanding, ripping - they prefer to leave each one set up in a single-function, "dedicated" mode.

3 Woodmasters, 3 work stations. Though the Woodmaster can be set up to perform 4 different functions – planing, molding, sanding, ripping – they prefer to leave each one set up in a single-function, “dedicated” mode.

The phone’s blowing up

We planned our move for two years and got our equipment all set up. Then we gave our notices. Business is great and the phone is blowing up! The future is looking rosy. We took a leap of faith to start this business but we believe in Woodmaster’s products and in each other. We’re both very self-driven and have a lot of grit. We work at home and there are times we work until midnight. There’s something very good about being your own boss.

We really don’t do any advertising. This is taking off by word of mouth. For example, we supplied hardwood to a contractor we knew and he loved it. He told another project manager an he’s started calling  us now.

After 30 years in home restoration, the Biglers knew that duplicating original molding would be a valuable service to offer. They send a section of original molding to Woodmaster and Woodmaster makes molding knives to duplicate the original perfectly.

After 30 years in home restoration, the Biglers knew that duplicating original molding would be a valuable service to offer. They send a section of original molding to Woodmaster and Woodmaster makes molding knives to duplicate the original perfectly.

3 Woodmasters…may add another

We have three Woodmaster Molder/Planers: a 25” 725 and two midsize-models. We keep the 725 set up as a dedicated planer. One is set up as a dedicated molding machine. And another has the 3-Side Molding System attachment on it. If business grows, and we think it will, we may add another Woodmaster. We also have a TimberKing 1220 sawmill!

We love the Woodmaster’s 3-Side Molding System. To make our flooring, for example, we’ll put a hardwood blank through the machine and it cuts three sides in one pass: the tongue, the groove, and the back relief cut.

With the Woodmaster we have set up as a molder, we have Woodmaster’s high-production C2 molding head and we make crown molding, baseboard, chair rail, and more. We have Woodmaster’s helical Spiral Cutterhead, too. It creates a really smooth finish and it runs quietly. It doesn’t chatter and it works very efficiently.

Planed 1,000 board feet of hardwood in 4 hours

We have a couple of nephews on standby for weekends and evenings when we get really busy. And our daughter, Courtney, comes in and helps, too. We had a big order recently so Courtney and Amy planed over 1,000 board feet of random width hardwood in about four hours.

Robert adjusts his TimberKing sawmill to saw boards he'll turn into molding, casing, flooring or other hardwood products. Both he and Amy run this mill.

Robert adjusts his TimberKing sawmill to saw boards he’ll turn into molding, casing, flooring or other hardwood products. Both he and Amy run this mill.

I’m one who believes bigger equipment is better. For us, the 12” Woodmaster isn’t wide enough. We got midsize Woodmasters because they’re bigger, wider, and heavier. I like the 725 because it’s got the massive, farm-rated, 7.5HP motor. Amy and Courtney planed 14” wide boards with it and it all went through like butter.

Woodmaster guys are great

The sales guys at Woodmaster have been great. I have to tell you Jake has been incredible. I can’t say enough good about him. We’ve developed a personal relationship so when I call and talk with him, he gives me tips and tells me how to fix things.

Bomb-proof

Woodmaster’s equipment is bomb-proof. It just lasts and lasts. It’s all strongly built. And because Woodmaster and TimberKing are sister companies, they have the same customer service policy – they both take care of their customers. If someone asked me, I’d recommend their machines because they’re so well built, the customer service is excellent, and they’re made in the USA.

People have to have grit and guts to make a move like this. But if you have faith and drive, you can do anything!”

— Robert & Amy Bigler, Heartland Millworks, Woodmaster & TimberKing Owners, Independence MO

SAVE BIG NOW on Woodmaster Molder/Planers – sale prices, online specials

SAVE BIG NOW on Woodmaster Drum Sanders – sale prices, online specials

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?

3 WAYS we can help you!

• Call us TOLL FREE 1-800-821-6651

• Email us info@woodmastertools.com

• Connect with us on Facebook

Would YOU like to be our next Woodmaster Woodworker of the Month?

Email editor@woodmastertools.com photos of you, your projects, and your Woodmaster, write a note about yourself.

MAKE LOG CABIN SIDING WITH A WOODMASTER — Twin brothers tell their woodworking story

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Todd and Tim James built Tim's new home on the 364 Pennsylvania acres that's been their family's farm since 1956. They made all their own log cabin siding with their Woodmaster.

Todd and Tim James built Tim’s new home on the 364 Pennsylvania acres that’s been their family’s farm since 1956. They made all their own log cabin siding with their Woodmaster.

Tim's design called for log cabin siding inside, too.

Tim’s design called for log cabin siding inside, too.  

Hi, Woodmaster,

This is Todd and Tim James writing. We’re twin brothers. We purchased a Woodmaster from you two years ago. We started a project building a log cabin two years ago. Everything you see in the pictures was done with our Woodmaster.

We build cottages, tables, benches, log beds, kids’ playhouses, tongue and groove boards, log siding, wood trim, hardwood flooring, and more.

Our Woodmaster has paid for itself and we’ve done a lot of log siding for customers. We love it and have had a lot of success with it. We like doing woodworking and we’ve run a lot of wood through this machine!

Tim and Todd James, Everett PA

Here's Todd James with the Woodmaster and its 3-Side Molding System.

Here’s Todd James with the Woodmaster and its 3-Side Molding System.

Tim James and the brothers' Woodmaster 718.

Tim James and the brothers’ Woodmaster Molder/Planer.

Now, this is a beautiful ceiling. The James brothers alternate narrower and wider boards to accentuate the beauty of the wood. Great job! Todd did the stonework, too.

Now, this is a beautiful ceiling. The James brothers alternate narrower and wider boards to accentuate the beauty of the wood. Great job! Todd did the stonework, too.

“We had never done any woodworking”

“We’re twins, 52 years old. Tim started building a house and wanted log siding so we got a Woodmaster and started making our own. Then I started building furniture. It’s getting so people are beginning to see my work and are ordering tables and more. We build log siding hunting shacks for people, nine of them so far.

We’re farm boys and had never done any woodworking. We’ve raised cattle and white tail deer on our 364 acres here in Pennsylvania.

Quite a lovely view from Tim's front porch.

Quite a lovely view from Tim’s front porch.

I spent $15,000 on siding for my doublewide. Then I got on the internet and looked at woodworking machinery. We found Woodmaster and saw you can make your own log siding. We got a Woodmaster and started making it. Woodmaster had the most capability and options for the price. Grizzly equipment can’t make log siding. That’s why we got the upgraded 5HP motor. When you make log siding, you’re taking off so much wood you want the extra power.

I had Woodmaster make me a log cabin siding knife. I sent a sample piece of siding that has a deeper profile than their stock knives. I also got the Trim Package and made the hardwood flooring for my house. It’s a good story…..

The James boys make furniture, too, with their Woodmaster. Todd tells us his furniture business is starting to take off.

The James boys make furniture, too, with their Woodmaster. Todd tells us his furniture business is starting to take off.

“If he’d known, he’d have charged me a lot more”

A fellow I know had six or seven pickup truck loads of logs sitting in the woods so long they looked like they’d gone all rotten. I offered him $50 for everything. I showed him a sample after I’d sawn, ripped, and planed it into flooring. I used Woodmaster’s 3-Side Molding System to cut the tongue and groove. He said if he’d known the wood would turn out that nice he’d have charged me a lot more!

Todd calls this his kids' playhouse. How'd your kids or grandkids like a playhouse like this?

Todd calls this his kids’ playhouse. How’d your kids or grandkids like a playhouse like this?

SAVE BIG NOW on Woodmaster Molder/Planers – sale prices, online specials

SAVE BIG NOW on Woodmaster Drum Sanders – sale prices, online specials

Pennsylvania, of course, has a long hunting heritage. Tim and Todd build log cabin hunting sheds — 9 so far and counting.

Pennsylvania, of course, has a long hunting heritage. Tim and Todd build log cabin hunting sheds — 9 so far and counting.

Tim works in manufacturing; I’m doing woodworking full time now. We got your Model 718 with an upgraded 5HP motor, a high production C2 molding head, a spiral cutterhead, and your 3-side molding system. I use our Woodmaster primarily as a planer, sometimes as a sander. I use the ripsaw, too.

Tips to make a wood floor look great

For flooring, I’ll make floorboards several widths. I may put a 7” board through the gang ripsaw attachment and rip it into two boards — one 4” and one 3”. I lay down a 4” board, then a 3”, then a 2”. That breaks up the contrast and really makes the floor look great. I put up ceiling boards the same way — an 8” board, then a 6”, then 8” and so on.

Woodmaster was less money than other machines even with all the extra attachments. If I’d bought separate machines for each function, I’d have to get a separate planer, a sander, a ripsaw, and a siding machine. My shop wouldn’t hold them all. Woodmaster is 4 machines in 1. Tool changes are easy, I can swap out heads in 20 minutes max. The heads swap easily.

Beautiful workmanship and an extraordinary surface on this handmade table.

Beautiful workmanship and an extraordinary surface on this handmade table.

“I can make up to $300 in a day”

Guys bring me lumber to plane into log siding and I charge them 20 cents a board foot. And they’re bringing 75 or 100 boards for me to run. I can make up to $300 a day just making log siding.I’m very happy with all this equipment. If I get busier, I might buy a bigger Woodmaster. I’d keep one set as a planer and the other for other jobs.

Nice little business —  lot of fun, too

I’m having a lot of fun doing this. My brother and I have put probably 10,000 board feet through the machine. I run it every day. This is turning into a nice little business, covers all I need. It keeps my mind occupied as I build things. That makes my day!”

— Todd & Tim James, Woodmaster Owners, Everett PA

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?

  3 WAYS we can help you!

Call us TOLL FREE 1-800-821-6651
• Email us info@woodmastertools.com
• Connect with us on Facebook

SAVE BIG NOW on Woodmaster Molder/Planers – sale prices, online specials

SAVE BIG NOW on Woodmaster Drum Sanders – sale prices, online specials