Each piece of wood cuts differently, moves differently and reacts differently over time, woodworker Mark Cramer said. That is what he said he loves most about making custom wood pieces—he learns what each piece wants to become, working with the wood rather than fighting it.
“The wood almost has its own personality,” Cramer said. “Even though you would think it is completely dead after you’ve cut it down and started working with it, it still has kind of a mind of its own.”
Cramer said he got into woodworking after retiring from the Army and as a police officer. He said he realized those careers were not for him, and he would much rather work with his hands all day, prompting him to study craftsmanship.
After searching for jobs with custom furniture makers in the area and coming up short, Cramer said he decided to open his own business—Heirloom Custom Woodworking—in 2018 where he specializes in custom, hand-made large furniture pieces.
