August 2001 Woodworker of the Month

AUGUST 2001 WOODWORKER OF THE MONTH
Ray Smith of Wilson, Kansas

Ray is a truly unique woodworker who builds Natural Tree Furniture. It is an unusual Blending of Nature with Creative Imagination.
I've been told that one should never begin a presentation with an apology, but I have to make an exception for this article. I must
apologize for the size of the pictures on Ray's page, they are smaller than I would like, but in order to tell his story, I needed many
more than usual and I didn't want to eliminate any of them, so it was necessary to reduce the size. You can see the larger versions
on Ray's website located at http://www.smithindustries.com .

I know, it looks way too picturesque to be real, but this is Ray's shop in Wilson, Kansas. Even in his choice of working environment he chooses to preserve those natural things that are fast disappearing from our lives. The mission statement of his company says it all. "Our steadfast commitment to conservation through recovery, recycling and reuse involves the practice of unique environmental standards and principles. Sustainable harvested timbers, kiln dried to safely eradicate wood boring insects all the way through to the non toxic hand waxed finishes insures our customers are purchasing the most earth friendly furniture avaliable. 100% organic materials!"

Ray's reclamation skills developed in childhood as he pulled his 'Radio Flyer' wagon around the neighborhood loading it with odds and ends of wood that he carted home to feed his creative woodworking urge. In addition to wood, and to the dismay of his Dad, he also found fixable items like old lawnmowers, old radios or anything else that caught his eye. For Dad it simply meant that he would have to relocate the tools that Ray scattered around. The porch swing to the left not only incorporates recycled wood twigs and sticks but includes a rusted chain that honors a customer's memories. His work is dedicated to the 3 R's - Reduce - Reuse - Recycle.

Not long after completing a stint in the Navy, Ray built his first guitar and traditional woodworking satisfied him for the next 20 years or so. But then his feline companions (pictured to the left) gave him cause to wonder about a more natural form of construction. The 'Cat Tree or Gym' to the right is the result. Imagining oneself as a cat with concerns about jumping from shelf to shelf and ease of position prompted these unique structures. When he builds an actual cat tree even the correct position for the sisal is considered for ultimate scratch-ability.

It was easy for this "tree-hugging" naturalist to take his vision to the next plane and begin designing furniture for people. The sitting room to the left illustrates how Natural Tree Furnitue moved Ray from the area of 'nice work' to the beauty and warmth of a natural environment. He has extended his people creations to both indoors and outdoors as evidenced by the bench to the right.

Ray's careful craftsmanship is evident in his mortise and tenon construction throughout his work. To the left is an example of the wedge tenon construction he uses. On the right a lilac twig leg is incorporated into an overall chair design. Kiln drying insures a non-toxic solution to wood boring insects. Rubbed hand wax finish adds luster and natural sheen to each piece. Originally Ray gathered and used antique tools in his work, but recently he has incorporated more modern equipment to aid him in building a very fine product. Reclaimed timber, untreated sisal and slab bark are the standard materials in Natural Tree Furniture.

I wouldn't want you to think that Ray has accomplished all this with only the help of his cats. There are a couple of other influences. One of them you see pictured to the left helping Ray hold up a twig. Her name is Annie and obviously she stays in the background, because when I asked her for a picture she produced this rare one that was featured in the Wilson World newspaper. The two guys to the right are HU and Normie.

Not too long ago Ray took his vision in another direction and created 'Whittle Furniture'. These creations are as carefully crafted as his other furniture but they are done in miniature. That's a rocker for the little people to the left and to the right you see him signing one of these creations. All of his work has his signature inscribed. After a recent move to Kansas from Rockford, IL, Ray began 1 and 2 day seminars in his studio. You can read a full description of these on his website, but it is important to know that completion of either one of these sends you home with an item of your own creation. Just below you will see a few more examples of Ray's work, but to view many, many more just visit Ray and Annie's website at http://www.smithindustries.com or email them at trees@smithindustries.com

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