ABOUT THE "FINISH MAN"
THOMAS HUGH MILLER'S HISTORY |
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| I was born and raised in the semi arid high plains state of Wyoming, which is dominated by agriculture and minerals. Wyoming is very diverse in minerals and landscapes. There is a vast natural and man-made history.
The practical experience I gained in residential construction, starting in the late 1970's, led to the development of other skills in free form woodworking. In the late 1990's, I became involved with log home construction, leading to an expertise in scribing and fitting irregular wood pieces. Those who have taken the time to master this craft truly appreciate these tasks due to the level of detail entailed.
As I created Christmas and birthday gifts, I gained insights to working with juniper and pine that is growing locally in the foothills and mountains of southeastern Montana (Montana History). While on hunting and fishing trips, I discovered many unique pieces of juniper.
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HISTORY ON THE MATERIAL I WORK WITH |
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Let's be real. Considering the wood I'm ultimately transforming into a beautiful piece of furniture can sometimes be over 400 years old, I'm just one blip on the screen. Some eyes would see the piece of wood as gray and ugly with bark on it, only good for firewood. I see a potential table, lamp, bed, or other beautiful pieces of furniture.
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Early settlers had to fence their properties and much of the juniper that was cut for fence posts would last up to 60 years or more in the ground. Juniper is very durable in moisture and harsh weather conditions. Occasionally I have found a piece that was almost cut down, but was obvious they quit because it was so unique.
There is evidence throughout the hills of Montana of commercial fence post harvesting. Juniper was used for specific reasons
in the early days. It was then left alone for decades because it was considered inferior or low quality wood.
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That's where I come in… I make random selections in my search for unique wood, having some criteria in selecting the twists and the uniqueness of the piece. It's hard to visualize a piece of furniture sometimes, however some unique pieces "jump out" as the perfect lamp, for instance. No two pieces are the same, every one of them has their own characteristics and features.
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HOW I CREATE BEAUTIFUL FURNITURE
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I start by cutting selected pieces of wood and hauling them back to my shop. Often-times the only reason the wood is still available is due to the remoteness and inaccessibility of the terrain. Sometimes getting the pieces to the truck can be challenging. Much of this wood is not useful except for ornamental furniture.
Once back to the shop, I strip the bark and clean it by removing dirt and debris off the wood so it can begin the curing process. I have a dedicated portion of my shop for the curing and storage, out of the sunlight and humidity. This is a very important step overlooked by many. It can take up to 6 months, and is variable according to the condition of the piece. Once fully cured, the pieces are ready to assemble into finished furniture. |
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The piece is assembled, sandblasted, hand sanded and coated with two layers of finish before being put into inventory for sale. Many times pieces need to be matched according to size, shape and overall characteristics. Many people have shared with me how they think some of my creations have a personality unto themselves.
Each piece of Twists Of Nature artwork is signed and numbered by the artist for authenticity
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