David Bray's Page

"I can't do the large jobs because I do not have a home improvement license.  I can make the cabinetry and have a licensed person install it.  Most of my stuff is standalone - tables, cabinets, dressers, tables - things like…"

"A silversmith in Williamsburg summed it up.  In Paul Revere's time the object was to make it look as if it wer made by machine but make it by hand.  In current times, you have to make it by hand and not make it look as if it were…"

"And if I were in the same position, my answer would be pretty close to the same - with one difference.  Even though the customer may not care or know the difference, someone that (s)he  shows it to will know the differnce and appreciate…"

"When I was in Williamsburg, I had a conversation with a SIlversmith.  He summed this up rather nicely.  "At the time of Paul Revere, a craftsman's goal was to make an item as though it were machined - no lines, no tooling marks,…"

"I have had several conversations that started this way, they were a lot shorter becaused I excused myself by giving them a quote about twice as much as what I would have charged them.  I currently have one of these people that I gave the…"

"I have a cherry countertop and use marine poly.  You cannot cut on it but I wouldn't sut on marble, granite, soapstone or the others.  I used three good coats and let it cure fully between coats.  Once cured, it is food safe,…"

"I have been told by my lumber mill that what ever you buy, get the spiral cutting head.  It is more than worth its weight and chips out much less or not at all. "

"Maryland is a firm believer in taxing first, business second. If I were to start a business again, it would not be in Maryland. Beautiful state, expensive to live and more to have a company. If you live in an area that has tight reins on business…"

"Yes, I ran a computer business for some time from my house. Here in Maryland I ran into the gambit of federal, state, local, and for my location in a townhouse I have a homeowners association. For the woodworking, I have to be very careful about the…"

"Thank you, very helpful and I will check out the FAQ page"

"Question about the StopSaw. It works on resistance, what if the wood is on the wet side or green, like pressure treated, will this trip the action?"

"A note on refinishing that someone told me as a caution. Be careful sanding furniture legs and the like, not because of lead, because a lot of folks in the 50s and 60s brushed and sprayed on DDT containing chemicals to stop bugs. If any is still…"

"Your recommendations are highly noted and felt. Educating customers is very hard to do, many don’t want to hear it. As a result, I have learned to ask the questions that target value first – do you want a piece of heirloom quality…"

"I wouldn't touch them until they are stable. From some of the research I have done - and I am not saying that this applies, but if the wood was kiln dried but too wet when it was put into the kiln, this may be contributing to your problem. The…"

"It wouldn't be so bad if the rules didn't change every year but they do - just enough to spend more time than what's equitable. The small shops get hit the hardest. One thing I noticed when I had the business, when the state's…"