About TEN42

I started my woodworking journey on a very small scale: making pens and pencils. It felt like the perfect hobby for a limited workspace and minimal tools. I bought a small lathe, a few turning chisels, some pen kits, and a handful of wood blanks. After plenty of trial and error (and more than a few YouTube tutorials), I started to get the hang of it.

That curiosity quickly pulled me deeper into the world of pen turning, where I discovered wood and epoxy hybrid blanks. Before long, I had a pressure pot, molds, mica powders, epoxy—and more exotic burl scraps than I knew what to do with. As hobbies tend to do, it grew.

When our family relocated, I took a short break from turning while building a shed to house my tools and materials. During that time, I went back down the YouTube rabbit hole and discovered wood and epoxy charcuterie boards. I took a class at a local Wood Shed and made my first board, followed by several Christmas gifts for family and friends. That was the beginning of a new obsession.

To support this new direction, I invested in larger tools, molds, and supplies. Word of mouth started bringing in requests, and eventually someone asked if I could build a dining room table.

That project turned into a 10’ x 5’ walnut and epoxy table. After several months of weekend work, the table was complete—and with the help of five friends, we loaded it into a U-Haul bound for Virginia.

Finishing that table was the spark I needed to realize this hobby could grow into something more—possibly even a way to supplement my retirement. I take great pride in transforming raw wood and epoxy into pieces that become part of someone’s home for years to come. I enjoy creating functional art and collaborating with clients to bring custom ideas to life.

TEN42 was born from these efforts! The  name "TEN42" comes from  from the radio code used to sign off at the end of a shift—and ultimately, at retirement. It represents both daily commitment and long-term legacy. “Customs” speaks to the belief that no two jobs, people, or solutions are the same. Every project is approached with intention, precision, and pride in the craft.

If there’s something you’re dreaming of having made, I’d love to talk. Reach out, and we can explore the possibilities together.