Show Us Your Shop!
by Jack Olson
Thomasville, GA
I come from a woodworking family. My dad was a cabinetmaker, and now my older brother carries on that tradition.
Though I was always interested, I never really got into woodworking seriously until I retired from
my information technology job in 2006. Shortly before then, my wife and I built a new house, and
somehow I sneaked plans for a workshop into the mix. Then I was off to the races with my
woodworking passion.
Here in south Georgia, we are very fortunate to have an abundance of black cherry and longleaf pine
– both superb woods for furniture making. Soon after I built my shop, a friend gave me three large
cherry logs he had cut on his property south of town. I then found out about a local fireman who
operates a portable sawmill and drying kiln on his off-days. Since then, I have been lucky to
acquire several more cherry and longleaf pine logs, and have become good friends with the fireman!
All of the furniture I have built has come from those logs.
My wife and I have always loved the simple beauty of Shaker-style furniture. As a result, most of
what I build in my shop is just that. Since I started in 2006 I have built well over a hundred
pieces. Most recently, I strayed a bit from the Shaker style and ventured into chair construction.
I built two bow-arm Morris chairs, and then tried my hand at building an Arts & Crafts side chair.
That was fun, but next on the docket is a Shaker harvest table – after I go on a scouting trip to
find another cherry tree or two, that is!
Jack can be reached directly via email at
jackdolson@rose.net
. See more photos on his website,
jackolsonwoodworking.com
.
