Expert: Jamie Yocono - 10/2/2006

Question
Hello.
I have been searching high and low for a old plank top/barnwood farm/harvest table.  I have very specific height and width requirements.  My husband said that we would probably have to have a table custom made.  We are located in CT and wanted to know if you know of any places in the northeast that make these or if you know of a place we could be the distressed wood and perhaps take an attempt at making our own table.
Any advise you have would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Vanessa Walker

Answer
Hi Vanessa,

I have a few suggestions about getting that piece of furniture built. As in any endeavor, you get what you pay for. So there are many avenues that you could pursue, and I'll try to cover some of them.

First, I would check your local phone book to find someone. I'd look under a few categories, like Woodworking, Furniture builders, Cabinet makers, and even art galleries. When I'm searching for someone in a situation similar to this, I don't go for the biggest or flashiest ad. Someone is paying for that ad, and I don't want it to be me! Small shops do every bit as good of a job, and their overhead is less, which translates into a better price for you.

I belong to an international organization called the Furniture Society. The website is www.furnituresociety.org. On the website, there is a list of worldwide members, and you can do a search by their location. I just looked and there are 32 members in your state, so chances are you will find a woodworker right in your own back yard. In some cases, you'll see a link to their website, if they have one. This will allow you to see their style, and get a sense of what they build.

You'll also be able to discern if they're a student or a professional. In some cases, hiring a student might be every bit as advantageous as hiring the pro. Be sure to ask to see some of their past work, and if possible, a reference or two. Or visit their studio. I receive quite a few calls from people who have seem my website, and wish to visit my shop.

So that's my first suggestion, if you're looking to hire someone.

I used to teach adult education classes for my local college. Classes were held 2 or 3 nights a week, and it was common to have someone wander into the woodshop with a piece that needed a repair, or with a sketch of something that someone wanted to be built. After a while, I could look at a piece and come up with the perfect person to build it. In my area alone, I knew people who specialized in a variety of styles, so it was easy to come up with a couple of names. Now- these people were more along the "hobbyist" type of woodworkers, and as I mentioned above- you get what you pay for. So you might be sacrificing quality for price. Make sure they know what they're talking about, and that they can do the job properly.

Another way to find woodworkers is to go to your local woodworking store. Those places often have bulletin boards where people can hang their business card. You might find a retiree who makes furniture in their basement; once again, ask for pictures and possibly, ask to see a sample of their work.

Those bulletin boards might even help you locate that barn siding that you want. There are usually some notes pinned up for various tools and wood for sale, so check those out. Also, I've seen barn siding for sale in the Sunday paper under "building supplies" and/or "lumber" so you might want to check there.

One of the premier woodworking magazines is Fine Woodworking, and in their advertisements, I see barn siding for sale quite often. In fact, I feel like I've seen a pretty big ad from a company that's in your area, specifically for this. So try to get a current copy of Fine Woodworking and check out their ads. I don't think you'll have a problem finding the wood, just my opinion.

To review- you can locate a professional woodworker though the Furniture Society's website. Or the yellow pages in your area. If that doesn't work out, look for hobbyists and/or retirees in your area. They're out there, you just might have to poke around to find them.

Last thing- you mentioned building it yourself. If it's a simple design and you have access to some tools, you probably can to this. But tables are tricky things to build. There are certain methods of joinery that have to be used, as a table undergoes quite a bit of strain and stress on a daily basis. Also, there are certain clearances and minimum distances that you need, so it's a little more complicated that just putting a table top on 4 legs.

It would be my opinion that it's best to hire someone to build it, but don't let me discourage you if you want to build it. I mentioned those classes that I used to teach. Try to find a class like that in your area and think about building your table in one of the classes. That way, you'll have some guidance, and be allowed to use their tools, as well. It's a good way to get it built, without having to buy $2000 worth of tools.

Good luck, I hope this helps. Please feel free to write back if you have any further questions after reading this. And if this answer was helpful... please take a minute and rate my service. Thanks!

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com