According to the American Hardwood Information Center, red oak is by far the most commonly used North American hardwood. Four out of every ten North American hardwood boards sold are red oak. It’s the state tree of my former home state, New Jersey, where it grows just about everywhere you look. It’s one of the most common woods used in kitchen cabinet construction. It’s an extremely common flooring material. Entire bedroom suites are made out of the stuff…
And, sometimes, all that familiarity breeds contempt. I’ve spoken with woodworkers who have flat out said, “Boy, that would have been a great project, except for the fact that they built it out of oak…”
So, in this week’s poll, I wanna know exactly what you think about red oak and its place in your shop.
[poll id=”55″]
But, when I needed to do more involved work, those basics at the local big box just didn’t cut it anymore. That’s when you need to turn to a true woodworking supply company. One place I have had quite a but of success buying from is 
Dan, and his business partner and wife Linda, took a big risk starting this little company two decades ago. With a mortgage, two young children and a dream, Dan and Linda had to follow the woodworking expo show circuit to make their sales in those early days before a catalog and the Internet. “I think the fondest memories for me of the startup were just being a part of something new. My brother and I used to help stuff envelopes and put labels on mailings at the kitchen table at night. I used to walk to the office after school to help in any way I could. There was an energy there, an excitement, that made things fun to be a part of as a child. It didn’t hurt that we also got to travel and occasionally miss school.” Tim paused. “Ah, the good old days! The shows really were a blast.”
Eagle America spends a great deal of time evaluating all of the tools they sell to ensure that woodworkers approve. “We have a lot of woodworkers on staff and they are all involved in the product evaluation process. We even survey local woodworkers from time to time to get their opinions on products before we add them to our line. Everyone out there should take comfort in this, knowing that someone at Eagle America who is an actual woodworker has seen, touched and used all of the products we sell.”
While Eagle America is one of those quintessential family businesses, the ‘family’ concept goes far beyond just those blood relatives. “Our staff is fantastic. We are blessed with the talent that we have on our team. From our warehouse to our call center to our Outlet Store and woodworkers on staff, the majority of them have been with us for a while which means they can handle almost every question that is asked or problem that may arise. We take pride in making the customer experience as easy and enjoyable as possible. If we are not meeting people’s needs, we want to know about it so we can do it better the next time. That mindset is a part of everyone here at Eagle America since we would be nothing without our customers!”
When we think of workplace safety, things like hearing and eye protection typically come to mind. Or, is it hold downs, feather boards and push sticks? Dust collection? Not drinking before you operate power tools?
When it comes to specialized woodworking, I’d be hard pressed to find a more exacting field that instrument making. Not only do the woods have to look beautiful and the instruments strong enough for vigorous handling, the dimensions have to be extremely precise, otherwise the instrument simply won’t sound right.
Take a look at this guy. Who is he?