WOOD AND TECHNOLOGY
Traditionally, woodworking is seen as a hands-on skill. It is also one of the oldest as the man took the strength of his hands and paired it with his wisdom to transform ordinary pieces of wood into usable items for family and friends. Over the years, woodworkers have continued this artisan craft, but many have seen the benefits of combining their skill with the power of machinery. More can be created, but the quality is still monitored to ensure the results remain faithful to the craft’s standard. Founded nearly 25 years ago by Travis Walker, who has always been driven by his primary goal of customer satisfaction. This dedication to quality cabinets is why Walker Woodworking is what it is today and will continue producing stunning projects. Though much of the building process is still done by hand and always under constant supervision, Travis also recognized the value of technology.
The value of technology
As Travis began to expand his business into what it is today, he realized how certain tools and technology could help him craft a better cabinet. This is one reason why he spends time researching and staying up to date on what new machinery and methods are available that will allow us to efficiently craft our cabinets while meeting his standard of quality. Another motivation for Travis is to ensure that the services we provide are the best and can be tailor-made for each project. Over the years, specific tools were added to the shop when a particular aspect of a cabinet was needed to make specific custom features possible. Even though cabinet-making is a hands-on skill, Travis quickly realized how much machinery can be accomplished when blended correctly. Incorporating technology and machinery into our design and building process has not diminished human involvement, as we still have the human touch throughout the construction. Our team monitors each aspect of the process, which involves a machine that guarantees every piece of cabinetry is precisely to our specifications. Our number one priority will always be creating exceptional custom cabinets, and we look to technology to enhance the outcome.
Some shop favorites
Since moving from our 10,000-square-foot shop to over 70,000 square feet, there has been room to expand and explore new machines. The shop team has enjoyed learning and implementing new equipment, plus the increased amount we can accomplish has been a significant benefit. Recently, Travis purchased a sander with various grit capabilities, making it easier to complete more boards according to the project specs. Larger saw tables and planers are woven into the process, enabling our team to accomplish more pieces than before. Of all the machines in the shop, our number one favorite is the CNC machine. CNC stands for computer numerical control and has opened up many possibilities in cabinet design. Now, we can directly transfer designs from our engineer’s computer to the CNC, cutting, shaping, and engraving the wood perfectly. Another perk is less waste since this machine makes the most of each sheet of wood placed on it. Our production time is also faster because of the precision of the CNC machine, and we can accurately reproduce multiple cabinet pieces. Each one meets our high quality standard, our top priority, and allows us to produce beautiful projects every time.
Still a human touch
Some wood shops are hesitant to embrace or even consider implementing some technology into their build process because it may sacrifice quality or reduce the human touch. In our experience, that has not been the case, and our projects validate it. Each custom cabinet that goes out of our shop has been carefully inspected by one of our team members to confirm it is up to our standards. We are a family-owned business; to Travis, every project we take on is personal. While we have increased the presence of machines in our shop, our experienced team members carefully monitor them. Weaving handmade with machines is only meant to enhance both and provide us with the ability to improve our production of beautiful and durable cabinets. At Walker Woodworking, we brand each cabinet that leaves our shop because we stand behind our product.
Working with wood and technology
From start to finish our goal will always be to craft the very best cabinet possible which is why our president and founder, Travis Walker has made it a point to stay up to date on all the best and brightest machines and methods available on the market. We remain dedicated to our process which is why each project we take on is overseen by our skilled team every step of the way.
