Profile: Marco Cecala
Woodworker West|January-February, 2017

Marco Cecala of Phoenix, AZ is a talented craftsman, beginning a transition into full-time furnituremaking. Here is Marco’s story, in his own words:

Profile: Marco Cecala

I was born into a family of jewelry makers in the Buffalo, NY area. Growing up behind a bench, I developed an eye for detail and was a competent jeweler by my 10th birthday. With a soft economy in the Northeast, I chose to start my own jewelry business in Houston, where the economy was booming. When it went south, I turned to residential construction for my living.

I literally began in the trenches, but being a fast learner, I gained continual responsibilities, until I was promoted to an office job involving road construction for a developer. When computers were introduced for estimating and job construction, I was the first, out of curiosity, to flip the power switch, and all of a sudden, I was defined as the computer guy. As software advanced, I developed civil engineering applications utilizing GPS for construction machine control and formed my own business, Take-off Professionals.

Woodworking, initially, was an avocation; a creative outlet in contrast to the black & white nature of engineering. I made things for myself that were practical and Marco Cecala demonstrating routing for inlay. certainly functional—a kitchen table, a coffee table, chairs—but nothing that I would consider fine furniture. I did a series of little experiments, such as trying my hand at carving Federal furniture elements (fans and ball and claw feet).

As I was ready to push myself from pocket screws and biscuits to fine furniture, I started looking at what other people were doing and challenged myself to do what the big guys did.

Denne historien er fra January-February, 2017-utgaven av Woodworker West.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra January-February, 2017-utgaven av Woodworker West.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA WOODWORKER WESTSe alt
Education: 2022 Design Emphasis
Woodworker West

Education: 2022 Design Emphasis

The next generation of furniture designers were on display at the 2022 Design Emphasis, the biennial student design competition exhibition held in conjunction with last summer’s International Woodworking Fair IWF) in Atlanta, GA.

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1 min  |
November - December 2022
Profile: Leo Litto
Woodworker West

Profile: Leo Litto

Leo Litto of Austin, TX is an award-winning maker of heirloom quality furniture. Here is Leo's story, in his own words:

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4 mins  |
November - December 2022
Tools & Techniques
Woodworker West

Tools & Techniques

It’s All Problems

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10 mins  |
November - December 2022
Profile: John P. McCormack
Woodworker West

Profile: John P. McCormack

As the Port Townsend School of Woodworking welcomes master woodworkers from around the Northwest to their November Woodworking Show, we caught up with its newest faculty member, John P. McCormack. Here is John’s story in his own words:

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3 mins  |
November - December 2019
From David Marks Studio- Patina Applications & Questions
Woodworker West

From David Marks Studio- Patina Applications & Questions

For years, many of you have read my discussions about gilding and chemical patination techniques, but are unsure about its application to your own work. I'd like to share a recent email from Sandra Walkin of Louisiana, who took my Gilding & Chemical & Patination class and a 2-day private class in 2015:

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4 mins  |
November - December 2019
Education: NW Woodworking Studio
Woodworker West

Education: NW Woodworking Studio

Education: NW Woodworking Studio

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1 min  |
November - December 2019
Tools & Techniques Small Shop Design
Woodworker West

Tools & Techniques Small Shop Design

Tools & Techniques Small Shop Design

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7 mins  |
March-April, 2017
From David Marks Studio Answering Reader's Questions
Woodworker West

From David Marks Studio Answering Reader's Questions

From David Marks Studio Answering Reader's Questions

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5 mins  |
March-April, 2017
Profile: Marco Cecala
Woodworker West

Profile: Marco Cecala

Marco Cecala of Phoenix, AZ is a talented craftsman, beginning a transition into full-time furnituremaking. Here is Marco’s story, in his own words:

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4 mins  |
January-February, 2017
Turning Topics AAW Members' Exhibition
Woodworker West

Turning Topics AAW Members' Exhibition

Continuum

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1 min  |
July - August, 2019