Biography:                                                              

In my early years I learned a lot about carpenter work by working with my Grandfather. When he was 72 we built a house and that man worked us 7 days a week sunrise to sunset until the house was done. Guess that is where my drive came from. After my Army time I opened a grocery store, then ice cream shop, then in 1980 started into carpenter work again. One day I was asked to do some craft items that were real simple. These were done on the band saw. As time went on the items they wanted kept getting smaller and more detailed. Finally I decided that maybe the answer would be a scrollsaw, so there I was in 1988 buying one. It took awhile before I really started to use the thing much , but once I started it was hard to quit. Before I knew what happened I was cutting 7 days a week to keep up cutting for about 14 crafters. They kept me busy that was for sure. I had 2 saws so that while one was in the shop I could cut on the other. Now I repair my own saws. As time went on I started to advance into my own style and projects.

I have been into scrollsawing for the last 15 years. This is my full time job that I do working at home. My biggest problem is knowing when I'm pleasure cutting and when I'm work cutting.

Over the years, since 1991, I have worked with "WOOD", "WEEKEND PROJECTS", "SCROLLSAW PATTERNS", and "DECORATIVE WOODCRAFTS" magazines. In the December 93 "WOOD" I had a feature article of scrollsaw tip. Some of my designs were in the Super Scrollsaw pattern packs.

 I wrote a regular column for the new " Scrollsaw Workshop " magazine.  And some of my designs were used in the magazine for a project article. 

Then I began writing for Creative Woodworks and Crafts in about 2003. My shop and antique scrollsaws have been feature articles in that magazine. My normal articles are now information articles on many different topics of scrollsawing. 

The Q3 Delta scrollsaw has been in the making for a few years and I was involved in it at a very early point and helped in a lot of the ideas and concepts that the finished product has. I work daily on the Q3 and am fairly well versed in the operation and how to make it work for you. Still in 2004 it is my favorite saw. Not that I don't have some to choose from. In my shop I have 3 of the Delta Q3 saws, Delta P20, Delta 16", Delta new model 16", RBI, Dewalt, 30" Excalibar, Hegner, and the Eclipse. Then there are over 170 antique saws upstairs in the showroom, many that are in good working order.

I also did a mail order business, for about 7 years, of selling ornaments. These are in "DECORATIVE WOODCRAFTS" and "COLLECTABLE COUNTRY ORNAMENTS" magazines. At one time I did about 300 ornaments for mail orders which broadens my knowledge for production type work. My average day was cutting 200-300 ornaments. But I also have made many things like the Dome Clock, Candelabra, Apostles Clock, Lords Prayer, many of the Scroller pictures, and a lot of the pictures from Spielman books. Even started in December of 1997 designing my own wood gear clocks.

I am a one man shop that keeps up with the orders. Most of the cutting is done on a Delta Q3 scrollsaw with a 5R Olson blade. The wood used for an ornament is whatever is called for in the magazine. Mostly the wood is pine, of any thickness, or Baltic Birch plywood. I also do custom cutting for those who do not have access to a saw or sawer.  But there is also a note offering the cutting of your pattern if you would send it to me. I will quote you a price for the cutting and shipping of it to you. It is amazing how many painters do not have access to a cutter.

I was asked on the forums if I worked for Delta. Sorry but no I do not get a paycheck from Delta for my work. I do however do Demos for them at times that they pay for. But I also do demos that are paid for by the business that I am working at, so I really don't consider that I work for Delta. I have worked with Delta in testing new saws and designs but I have not been paid to do that, I just like doing it to be able to input my ideas. Plus it gives me the opportunity to see what is coming out new. Like the Q3 I had for close to 4 years before it was on the market. At the demo for the WOODSMITH STORE I was told by the Delta rep that I knew more about what Delta was doing on scroll saws than he did. So I do keep in touch with them and informed of what is coming in hopes that I can get a chance to input my ideas on it. I still try the other brands of saws and always looking for something better than what I have now. As long as I use what I feel is the best available I'll back that choice and the reasons why.

After designing the wood gear clocks I have moved on to other things. I did 3 books of what I call "Word Art", then designed 15 patterns of " 4 Fun Spinners. After that I designed 2 patterns for building your own scrollsaw from wood. Then I became interested in drawing the old time patterns in 2000. That turned into a long run adventure. I am still drawing patterns from the pictures in the old catalogs. I have over 2000 patterns now divided into about 160 books. 

In 2002 I purchased a prototype CNC Router. This unit will be on the market later in the year. It is amazing what the router will do.

Then in March of 2006 I purchased the wood lathe. Now that started me into a whole new hobby. I have found that the lathe can be a lot of fun once you start learning how to use it.