Meet Nolen Mccafferty | Woodworker and Cabinet Maker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nolen Mccafferty and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nolen, looking back, what do you think was the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
There are many things that come to mind here. but by far and away was the decision to leave my previous employer of 21 years to begin my self employment. I had a very secure position at a deeply established business and was compensated very well for my position I held. Leaving that position left me in an environment of having to find and secure my own paychecks in a world where nothing is guarantied or given to you. Through a lot of faith and encouragement from friends and family I made the decision to leave and begin my career as a full time woodworker. It has been 3 years now and my business is continuing to grow every year.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Most people don’t think of woodworking as an art. To them it’s building a piece of furniture, it’s building a house, it’s making Christmas gifts from scrap wood. Without being in the industry it’s difficult to show the common person that there is much more to the craft. Choosing materials to build a specific item can totally make or break the end result, Choose a wood with too much moisture content and it’ll warp and twist. Attach two pieces of wood together incorrectly and it will also twist and warp. Failure to properly sand and finish the item can drastically impact the finished look. Glue not sanded can show up through stain. Improper sanding can show up as swirls patterns in the wood. Choosing stain and paint colors that compliment one another can highlight the beauty of the wood. There are many factors involved in creating a piece of furniture from start to finish, and messing up on the slightest of one of those steps will and can cause failure in your work.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In my home area we are known for an area called the hocking Hills. Thousands of acres of beautiful woods and extreme rock formations and caves. Many visitors come from all around to view this natural landmark. We are also somewhat local to many Amish communities that operate quaint little stores filled with Amish goods. It’s a nice option for naturally made foods compared to the highly processed stuff we buy in modern groceries. Central Ohio is also home to many fun breweries and wineries that are super fun to frequent and experience different beers and wines and some have absolutely delicious foods.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There’s one person in this world who I wouldn’t be able to do what I do if she wasn’t involved in my life. My beautiful wife Toni. She has always had my back, encourages me to do better, pushes me to grow, challenges me to power through situations where things seem impossible, and never doubts that I’m able to do any project that I take on. She works so hard herself as an elementary teacher and still makes time for our family. She’s my rock and I owe everything I’ve accomplished to her faith in me.

Website: www.woodwork740.com

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