Meet Dave Munkittrick

Dave. I wanna get a little bit of information about your background in woodworking. I know you've been doing this for quite a long time. So where did this start for you? Was it you were knee-high to a dad or a grandpa, or how did you get your love of woodworking?

Well, I guess it started when I got out of college in 1977 and there was a big recession and no jobs. So I ended up working for a carpenter, and just fell in love with wood, basically. And went on from there and got some training in cabinet making, and then worked with contractors building cabinets and doing interior work, basically, and I dunno, it just went on from there. It just kept building, and- So it started as- Reading, learning, and- Carpenter. Sounds like a trim carpenter- Yeah.

And moved into more of a traditional woodworking side. And at what point did you open up your own shop? How long ago was that? That was in 1983. And in that timeframe then, too, you did some writing, right, for some magazines?

Yep. I spent some time as an associate editor at American Woodworker Magazine, about nine years, actually. And I've done a fair amount of freelance for a lot of different people, including you. We're happy to have you. And then, so today, really your day or week or month is made up of what?

Some writing, right? You're still taking custom work, as well. Yep. Yeah. I've got a mix of...

Yeah, I do some custom work. I'm in some galleries, so I've got pieces in there that when they sell, I gotta get them another one. And then we're doing freelance work. So in your... In your history, do you think...

Tough question coming. Do you have a favorite piece that you've produced over the years? That veneered game table that I saw a few years back, that was a really cool piece. Yeah. That was a good one.

Anything like that that really stands out in your mind that was a really cool thing? Well, it's kind of a... It's usually the last one I did that stands out. So for me, it was this jewelry chest on cabriole legs that I really enjoyed. It just was an over-the-top piece.

It was an ideal client. She wasn't afraid to go for everything. So nice little dovetail drawers on the inside, and feathered grain on the raised panel on the door, and the cabriole legs. The whole thing was just kinda fun. Took a long time, but it was a great and challenging project.

And in addition to the building, you're doing your own design work and drawings as well, right? Correct. Complete package. Mm-hm. Well, that's cool.

We're sure lucky to have Dave working with us, and providing his great input into the things we're doing here at Woodworkers Guild.