Frequently Asked Questions
What do your swings and rockers weigh?
No more than an average hardwood swing or log rocker.
Why do you not use oak or other hardwoods?
As a general rule, the harder something is the more breakable it is, example shown in these photos.
Second photo shown, first photo discarded because of an embarassing moment which caused a twisted ankle and busted bee-hind.
Oak, harder but more brittle under pressure. Oak is a nice looking product, planes easily, turns well, and is adapted to almost any type of finishing. It is used on high grade furniture like Queen Ann style, roll top desk, or generally furniture you would use furniture polish on, interior woodwork, and flooring over a base wood like 3/4" or thicker plywood. Hardwoods are mainly harvested to make a thin veneer or flooring to cover a more durable wood like pine or plywood. Now don't go nicking your furniture to see if you bought the real thing. If it was advertised as solid, most likely it is
or click on Wood Facts and learn more.
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Eastern White Pine, soft, flexible, and strong under pressure. Eastern White Pine is a softwood with some very good qualities. It is easily machined, has an excellent dimensional stability and a high resistance to splitting. It has many varied uses such as ship and boat building, domestic wood ware, cabinetry, furniture, carving, drawing boards, musical instruments, millwork, doors, trim and general cabinetry work. On my rockers since the wood is shorter the wood doesn't bow at all, but with my swings since whoever would be sitting on it would be sitting on 6 to 7 boards at a time and whether they weigh 40 lbs. or 400 lbs. it's not going to bow more than a half inch because of the way my swings are designed. Personally I don't like sitting on hard concrete-like surfaces.
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| After bowing approximately 1/2" with around 200 lbs. of pressure on it, it snapped suddenly like the first one.
If in doubt of wood differences search the internet or call lumber mills, saw mills, wood craft workers, but not furniture stores or furniture makers. You will see all hardwood made porch swings with a center brace, or you should.
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240 lbs. is on this piece of Eastern White Pine which is a little smaller. It's bowing about 2 1/2", they have bowed 8" without breaking.
Something harder does not always mean it's stronger! Cast metal benches and brackets are harder than some steels which make them break more easily under pressure or with weight on them.
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The #1 question is: Do you have a catalog?
No, and don't plan to spend thousands having them made.
Advertising cost is one of the major causes of inflation.
My website is my catalog and it reaches the world at $5 a month.
Do you have a wholesale price list?
If interested in selling my artwork, you will need to send me a photocopy of your tax ID certificate either by e-mail, or fax it to 1-865-945-3664. Also, do not contact me using a free service e-mail address or it will not be answered. Brick and mortar shops in the continental U.S. & Canada are required to send a photo of their store and make sure your business name/sign is in the photo, too. Online shops: follow the same instructions excluding the store photo, send your website url. Once I receive your information, you'll be sent the information you need.
If I order right now, how soon can I receive my furniture?
That depends on my backlog orders how many are in front of you, and how large/small your order is. First come, first served. I do not rush build my functional art. Real quality takes time, period. Generally 3 to 4 weeks if you're buying a single piece. I like to stay busy so while paint is drying I'm drilling, cutting or sanding.
How much does it cost to ship?
A popular question. Free shipping in the continental U.S. & Canada to my online clients or clients who call and place their order.
Do you make anything else not shown on your website?
No, and no lightning attracting weather vanes either! New artwork will come out over time.
Do you make outdoor furniture?
I make interior or exterior furniture. What you do with it after you get it is your business. If kept inside, you'll be able to pass it along to your great grandchildren, also it may be of much greater value in the future. Keep and protect your certificates which will add value, too.
How does the shipping work?
Canada, Alaska, Hawaii and Europe shipping information Click Here
Brackets and springs ship by U.S. Postal Service, FedEx, or U.P.S in the continental U.S. & Canada. I use FedEx or U.P.S. shipping overseas. Everything else must go motor freight. The freight carrier I use is REDMAN VAN & STORAGE an agent of North American Van Lines, not Roadway. They pick it up here at my shop and blanket wrap it, it air rides to your home. I pay the extra charge to have it taken into your house unless you want it on your front porch! I pay the shipping and insurance, if damaged it's covered.
I'm looking for something really WILD, can you make it for me?
How much money have you got, and how hard are you to please? :) If you don't see anything on my site really WILD you've got to be hard to please, ching, ching :)
Do you give a discount for sets?
Yup, discounts are given depending on the size of your order. If you're a verified Ebay's PayPal member you can spend up to $10,000 and fix up your whole lodge, resort or bed and breakfast cottage. :)
When I called the other day, someone answered the phone by saying, "good afternoon." Did I have the right number?
Yes, that was me. I get alot of calls other than business, most of the time it is "Fantasy Steel," but I do answer generically sometimes, too.
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