Replies

1. 
   Timberwerks | Nov 09, 2002 04:09am | #1

   Here in Wisconsin there are many stores and galleries that brag of thier Amish line of furniture. I took a look at a few these stores and was not impressed what so ever. You could plainly see these units are mass produced. However also in Wisconsin there are true Amish furnituremakers that are excellent craftsman that do work out of their barn. From what I hear they get the work from word of mouth and only to private parties and not retail. The cost of thier furniture is about 50% lower than what you or I would sell for. At the woodworkers show last year I did see a few Amish furnituremakers buying Forrest blades and Dewalt cordless tool's. The funny thing is I did not see a horse and carraige outside the building. Wonder how they got there? 

   Dale

   
   

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   Edited 11/8/2002 8:10:33 PM ET by timber

2. 
   JoeCoty | Nov 09, 2002 04:14am | #2

   I've visited the Millersburg OH area where the heart of the Amish community is located. Hand tools are not used exclusively, in fact some shops have huge industrial type machines. However everything is powered with hydraulics from a water wheel or turbine- no electricity from the grid.

   There are other customs such as paying everything with cash, even hospital bills. Also the familiar horse and buggy and puritan type clothing. I was intrigued to watch a horse and buggy pull up and trot down a normal paved driveway with a modern house at the end. 

   At any rate they do make/ manufacture fine furniture. They're not hypocritical- one just has to know the rules.

   Joe Coty

1. 
   Ricky_Yu | Nov 09, 2002 03:59pm | #5

   There was a blurb in the April issue of Fine Woodworking about an Amish woodworker who used industrial machinery outfitted with hydraulic motors that ran off a diesel engine. After looking at the accompanying photo of his huge Powermatic planer, I was wondering how I would go about signing up.

3. 
   JeffKurtz | Nov 09, 2002 06:06am | #3

   As the previous posts suggest, the Amish have different rules according to the particular community to which they belong.  They have no "central authority" so each community decides which approach best serves their needs and maintains their ideals.  Furniture made at one place may indeed be hand made, while another place will use machines.  (Use of electric tools is nothing new to them; think Amana Community and Starcraft Campers.)

   Jeff

4. 
   RW | Nov 09, 2002 06:13am | #4

   I asked that very thing to an uncle not long ago, as he lives in Indiana and has many Amish friends. I was disgruntled, having seen "hand made Amish furniture" at an outlet that was very obviously the end result of shaper tables and wide belt sanders. The rules thing discussed seemed to be his answer. Even if the local - whaddya call it, sect? - says you can't have electricity, there's usually not rules against using it if it belongs to someone else. So Catholic or Lutheran or take your pick Joe Schmoo can buy the factory and the tooling, hire Amish people, and there you go. Marketing gimmick, and it works. I've toyed around a little with the ethnic slant, but due to mixed heritage, don't think yet that the world's quite ready for Mutt Furniture, Inc. Half Dane, half just about everyone else. Maybe there's a market for big ugly lanky dudes with beards furniture.

5. 
   camel | Nov 10, 2002 04:14am | #6

   No your not the only one tired of the Amish gimmick. Nothing against the Amish people. I had a Amish guy work with me for awhile part time. He was a hard working honest guy, who made outdoor furniture and farmed. But it really urks me when I hear people from the small town I live in brag about the beautiful, handcrafted solid oak armoire they got for $500.00. Bullsh**, plywood backs nailed on, machine cut dovetails, plywood drawer bottoms, cheap hardware, cheap drawer slides, the panels are mismatched scraps of oak glued up. Aggravating in one word. The thing that really bugs me is the people who can't tell the difference or appreciate a piece of furniture that is really handcrafted. Don't get me going.

   John E. Nanasy

1. 
   JamesC67 | Nov 10, 2002 04:24am | #8

   JOHN,

    You hit the paverbial nail on the head let me be the first to say thank you and you have the same feelings as most of us you just have more led in your pencil so to speak you mind if you know what I mean.

    THANKS AGAIN,

   JIM C       the "PUTTERIN YANKEE" woodworking shop

6. 
   krumy1 | Nov 10, 2002 04:17am | #7

   As a former union journeyman carpenter I feel your pain. I get so tired of hearing about "amish craftsmanship". What they really should praising is "amish marketing" because that's exactly  what has been done. They have done a superlative job of selling a mediocre product and convincing the ignorant public it's better.

   Steve K

7. 
   mrbird90 | Nov 10, 2002 06:14am | #9

   I have spent many hours visiting and talking to an Amish friend who builds fine furniture in Indiana. Yes, he has all the same equipment that I have except that it is driven by hydraulic motors which are are driven by a hydraulic pump powered by a diesel engine out back. His shop is lighted by gas lights and heated by a wood burning stove. Even his hand held belt sander is hydraulic, cost over $400. He builds exceptionally fine furniture and uses the best hardware. Final sanding is all done by hand. Yes, most of his clients come from Chicago and  go to his shop which is about 2 miles down a rough dirt road. He does no advertising and all sales are generated by word of mouth. Right now he has a 1-1/2 year back log. His High Boys are something to see. Most of his clients bring pictures of what they want. On secondary road leading to his dirt road is a small sign saying "custom furniture 1-1/2mi." that's it. His work is equal to or better than a lot of folks who think they are above the likes of the Amish. He does not claim hand crafted nor do many other Amish in the area around him. There are a lot of "English" out there claiming hand crafted, but a quick peek into their shops shows high powered electric equipment. Well so much for our superiority.

1. 
   camel | Nov 10, 2002 07:44am | #10

   Mel- I hear what you're saying. To me handcrafted isn't necessarile strictly using handtools exclusively. I claim my work is handcrafted. To me it is taking extra steps like careful lumber selection throughout the piece. Paying attention to every detail. I use a tablesaw, jointer and a power planer. I also flatten my tops and panels with handplanes. I don't even own a bandsaw. I resaw with a bowsaw. I enjoy doing many tasks by hand, and as time goes by, I'm really learning the pure adrenalin rush of working with handtools more and more. But I have deadlines to make and have to pay bills too. I'm not nearly good enough yet to make a living yet using handtools strictly yet. But handcrafted to me is very sound construction and not under any circumstance cutting any corners. That's just the way I do stuff. I guess it's probably irrelavent, I don't know. It's just so many people say "custom handcrafted" this and that and they low-ball the guys who really do great work that deserve the price they're asking. The general public is so naive to this anymore, I get really frustrated trying to always prove why my work is more expensive and why they should give me the job. Enough bitching. John E. Nanasy

2. 
   PwvhRt7byj | Jul 29, 2011 02:41pm | #11

   Name of Indiana Amish friend

   Hello,  I realize this is an old post, but was wondering if your Amish (Indiana) friend is still making furniture. I am looking for an excellent furniture maker who can recreate some pieces that would normally be out of my price range.

   Thanks very much.

8. 
   MrPita | Sep 01, 2011 10:34pm | #12

   I thought Lancasater, PA was the heart of "Amish Country".  ;)  (I'm from Philly, and trips to Lancaster were standard class trips...)

   Anyway, I would like to point out that there are Amish, and there are Mennonites; The Mennonites dress and act much the same, but they do have electricity, phones, cars, etc.  I don't know all the distinctions between them, but there are some to be made.

    EDIT: Just realized how old this thread was, sorry....

   "You be careful out among them English"