COMMERCIAL LOGGER BY DAY, Woodmaster Woodworker by Night

Beautiful use of a butterfly joint as this solid hardwood slab exits Matt Collins' 50" Woodmaster Drum Sander

Beautiful use of a butterfly joint as this solid hardwood slab exits Matt Collins’ 50″ Woodmaster Drum Sander

“I’m third generation in a family-owned logging operation. We do commercial clearing for federally-funded projects. Weekdays, I work clearing property with a big feller buncher. We sell some of the wood we cut as saw logs. We turn some into firewood with our firewood processor. We even supply wood to a biomass facility in St. Paul, Minnesota.

“But I keep the best wood for myself”
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Since I’m out in the field cutting trees, I’m able to pick and choose and keep the best wood for my woodworking projects. Weekends and evenings, I make furniture with my 50” Woodmaster Drum Sander and my Woodmaster Molder/Planer.

People like what I make and I sell it on Craigslist, Facebook, by word-of-mouth, and on my website. Actually, I do the building and my wife does the selling.

SAVE BIG NOW on Woodmaster Drum Sanders! – sale prices, online specials

SAVE BIG NOW on Woodmaster Molder/Planers! – sale prices, online specials

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“I do a lot of live edge work”

My brothers and I bought a sawmill 10 years ago and we saw the logs into lumber. I do a lot of woodworking with live-edge slabs. I put the trees we cut to good use — oak, ash, walnut, maple, hickory, cherry, cypress and more.

Matt emphasizes woods' natural beauty in his clean, sophisticated woodworking pieces like this live edge accent table

Matt emphasizes woods’ natural beauty in his clean, sophisticated woodworking pieces like this live edge accent table

I do woodworking just because I like to do it. I’ve done it for years and I’m 100% self- taught.  I tinkered around and finally felt what I made was good enough to sell. Of course you’re your own worst critic…

I got my Woodmaster Molder/Planer first, then I decided to get a sander because I’m always working with burls and big slabs. This drum sanding machine does a really nice job. I’d give it a nine out of ten.

He tried hand-held and wide-belt sanders but…

Really, if you want to make big projects, the only way to go is a big drum sander.

Matt has 50" of sanding width to accommodate extra-wide slabs like this one... and he uses every inch

Matt has 50″ of sanding width to accommodate extra-wide slabs like this one… and he uses every inch

Live edge desk by Matt Collins. Sleek hairpin legs accentuate and contrast the powerful natural wood profile

Live edge desk by Matt Collins. Sleek hairpin legs accentuate and contrast the powerful natural wood profile

I tried small hand-held belt sanders but you just can’t get a perfect finish no matter how hard you try.

Matt (left) and his brother take a break from their family-owned logging business

Matt (left) and his brother take a break from their family-owned logging business

I looked at Timesaver® wide belt sanders but I couldn’t afford a $100,000 machine. I got my Woodmaster Drum Sander because it’s a lot more affordable, and it’s single phase. I got the biggest model, 50” wide because a lot of what I make won’t fit through narrower equipment.”

— Matt Collins, Woodmaster Drum Sander Owner, Matthew Collins Designs, Apple Valley MN

SAVE BIG NOW on Woodmaster Drum Sanders! – sale prices, online specials

SAVE BIG NOW on Woodmaster Molder/Planers! – sale prices, online specials

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