Old Time Wood Works

About Us

Welcome to Old Time Wood Works(OTWW). I’d like to start by saying that the Weird Wood Studio is a one-man show; that one man is me, Bayard Murphy. I live with my wife and two children just outside of Onalaska, Washington along the Newaukum River. I’m blessed with the fact that I live in an area where big leaf maple is available and is home to some of the best wood in the country.
OTWW was started in 1994, literally by accident. Having been injured on the job, I was left wondering where or how I was going to provide for my family. In desperation, I turned to the lathe as a possible means of making a living, having done some spindle turning, but never any bowls or jars. Truly a desperate thought for a desperate situation, but luck struck that day -- my eyes were opened to a craft that I had read and dreamt about for many years. It was the push I needed.
Woodworking for me is all about the handwork and the possibilities of good design through joinery. Certainly not a great get rich quick scheme, but it carries its own intrinsic rewards. Currently, I spend half of my days as a shop aid at the local high school and the other half creating the works-of-wood displayed in this website.
Though I have a background in CAD (computer aided drafting), wood selection is a labor intensive task. My design approach is much like children with building blocks, build it up and knock it down. Strange I know, but I usually work around a piece of wood that has some real character, dictating the overall piece. The thought of size or dimension at this point is irrelevant; that all comes later with drafting. This weird and exhausting approach transforms me into an artist rather than a woodworker -- a time for the wood to talk to me and me to it. Of course, the wood does not literally speak to me, but something happens in the process, no doubt about that -- the outcome usually much better than imaged.
Woodworking is an enormous subject: woodturning, carving, chair making, cabinetry, marquetry, etc. For now I am more than content to explore the subject, making pieces that appeal both to me as an artist and to my customers/clients. I’m not a huge fan of repetition, but it’s about the only way of a steady income. As long as I’ve the energy to push a hand plane or pull a drawshave, I’ll be a happy camper.
Well enough of me. I sincerely hope you like the work and apologize for the poor pictures presently posted -- the internet is new to me; with time the site will improve. Please feel free to write, to inquire on any piece, or just to talk wood.