I’ve enjoyed woodworking since my first wood shop class back in Junior High School. The satisfaction of making something useful out of wood was appealing to me back then, just as it is now.
It amazes me to take a piece of wood in it’s rough form and turn it into a finished project that looks nothing like the rough and rugged piece I started with. In particular, I like the challenge of crafting a custom piece of furniture, something you won’t find in a store, and personalizing it for a person’s home or individual situation. It’s gratifying to take someone’s vision from concept to completion, especially when, after seeing the finished project, they comment that it’s exactly what they had hoped for.
In addition to hand crafted furniture, and custom orders I’ve most recently started making martial arts weapons and batons for law enforcement.
I’ve experimented and worked with different wood types through the years, and most recently have grown fond of exotic species such as Cocobolo and Bocote; both woods having characteristics that show the intricate beauty that Mother Nature hides in the most obscure places. This is also what sparked my interest in making batons, a natural progression for me, as I dedicated a major part of my life to police work.
Growing up in Southern California, I was inspired to get into law enforcement after seeing my friend’s dad, a Los Angeles Police Officer, come home from work one day during the legendary Watt’s riots. I vividly remember seeing what looked like blood stains on his normally spotless uniform; then I noticed the fresh cut on his forehead; that made the moment real. He stood there looking like a superhero, larger than life, and that was when I knew I would one day be a police officer.
I ended up spending 33 years in law enforcement, retiring at Assistant Police Chief of one of the top 15 largest cities in the state of California.
Since retirement from the Police Department I’ve been able to focus the last few years on woodworking, which has created a greater demand for the custom work that I do. This led me to start ’10-8 Woodworks’, a source for custom crafted wood products, made in the U.S.A.
If you’re interested in placing a baton order, or would like to discuss a custom order, please send a message via the contact page.
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