Blackburn Fine Woodworks

09/06/2026

Another busy week in the shop!

I’m making good progress on this custom tabletop and should have it finished up by next week. It’s really starting to come together, and I’m looking forward to seeing the finished piece.

The custom shutters I’ve been working on are officially complete and ready for delivery tomorrow. It’s always rewarding to see a project go from raw material to the finished product and finally into the customer’s hands.

Stay tuned—I’ll be sharing more as the tabletop comes together!

08/28/2026

These are a few custom tables I’ve had the pleasure of building over the years. Each one is different, but they all have something in common—the character of the wood is what makes the piece.

I’ve worked with several types of antique and specialty lumber, including antique cypress, antique oak, and thermally modified pine. Knots, nail holes, color variations, saw marks, and decades of natural character aren’t imperfections—they’re part of the history that makes every table one of a kind.

From massive round tabletops to clean Parsons-style designs and traditional tables with hand-turned legs, I enjoy taking old wood and giving it a new purpose—building furniture that is meant to be used, enjoyed, and passed down.

Built by hand. Built to last. And no two are ever exactly alike.

08/28/2026

Another one-of-a-kind table is coming together here at Blackburn Fine Woodworks!

We’re building this one from that beautiful antique oak reclaimed from an old Pennsylvania barn. This massive tabletop probably weighs close to 500 pounds, so moving it around the shop has definitely been a job in itself!

Next week, I’ll be putting the base together, and then we’ll move on to stain and lacquer to bring out all the character and history in this incredible old wood.

Here are a couple of pictures of the progress so far. Wait until y’all see the finished piece!

08/16/2026

Another custom project headed to its new home!

These 8’ tall × 40” wide barn doors were handcrafted from Tidewater Cypress, a rare, old-growth cypress known for its tight grain and beautiful reddish hue. The character in this wood made these doors especially enjoyable to build.

They were made for a great client in Crosby, Texas, for whom I previously built a 10-foot antique white oak Parsons-style dining table.

They made the trip over Saturday to pick up the doors, and now I’m looking forward to seeing them installed in their new home. I can’t wait to get those finished pictures once they’re hung!

Projects like this are always rewarding—beautiful wood, custom craftsmanship, and the opportunity to build something special for some genuinely nice people.

08/15/2026

Absolutely. Here’s a more professional version that still keeps the personal, down-to-earth feel:

We’ve got the AltMill set up and ready to go! The next step is putting it to work and doing some actual carving, which we’ll be getting into next week.

This weekend, I’m headed to the camp after a busy couple of weeks in the shop. We have a client coming in from Houston to pick up a set of custom barn doors we’ve been building over the past two weeks, and once those are delivered, my wife Brandy and I are looking forward to a little well-earned downtime—relaxing, fishing, and enjoying the weekend.

Be sure to come back next week and see the AltMill in action as we finally start carving.

08/13/2026

Getting the Altmill CNC machine set up has been a project, but it’s finally up and running! I had to install a new 220V line and an additional 110V line just to get everything powered up. The setup itself took about 5–6 hours, not counting the electrical work.

Now it’s time to learn the software, get comfortable with the machine, and start making some seriously cool stuff. 🤘

The best part? While the CNC is busy making things, I can be working on other projects. It’s basically like having another employee in the shop—one that never gets tired and just keeps making cool stuff! 🔥🛠️

08/07/2026

08/07/2026

I finally bought an AltMill CNC machine, and I couldn’t be more excited! This machine can carve wood, metal, plastic, and so much more. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been teaching myself the software, and it’s been an incredible learning experience.

I can’t wait to get everything put together, start creating, and show everyone what this machine can do. This is just the beginning, and I’m excited to see where it will take me.

08/04/2026

After a lot of hard work, the shutters are finally finished, and we installed them on the house yesterday. I’m really pleased with how they turned out.

Originally, the plan was to paint them, but after speaking with the experts at Sherwin-Williams, we decided that a paint-and-stain combination would provide the best long-term protection. They explained that paint alone can trap moisture, causing wood to deteriorate from the inside out over time.

We also chose to build them from mahogany instead of Spanish cedar. With the right finish and the durability of the wood, these shutters are built to withstand the elements and should last a lifetime.

Quality craftsmanship starts with using the right materials and the right finish—not just making it look good, but making it last.