Welcome to my shop, thanks for stopping by. I'm Ben Pruette and I'm the owner and operator of Dallas County Woodworks. In a world where much of what we use is increasingly disposable, digitized, and mass produced, I believe there is an intangible beauty in things that are made one at a time, by hand, with natural materials. Hopefully you feel the same way.
Thats why I started Dallas County Woodworks.
About Dallas County Woodworks
My Story
The early Years
Ever since I was very young my absolute favorite pastime has been building things. As a child I spent countless hours on my bedroom floor with lego bricks endlessly creating new contraptions.
My woodworking story starts in the late 90's in southeastern Pennsylvania when my dad decided he was going to start woodworking. He has never been one to do anything halfway, and he quickly filled our basement with the best woodworking tools he could get.
Naturally I was enraptured watching my him take a few boards and turn them into something usable, something meaningful. I quickly asked, if he could teach me, and of course he obliged. That was it right there, I was hooked. I don't remember what year that was but I couldn't have been much more than 7 or 8 years old.
THe Spark Reignited
At such a young age, it wasn't meant to be quite yet though. Life proved to get in the way, and daily things like dad's business and my school took me out of the woodshop, preoccupied with more urgent activities. The machines fell silent, but I never forgot how much I enjoyed those first few projects. Too young to work by myself, I remember even then, one of my favorite TV shows was Norm Abram's "The New Yankee Workshop".
My senior year of high school, my biology teacher proved to be a very talented woodworker. Remembering how much I'd enjoyed the craft years ago, I got him to agree to let me help him build a conference table commissioned for the school I attended and he taught at. That project rekindled the smoldering desire to be a furniture make. Again, though, life took over, and college became the priority.
The third time's the Charm
I quickly learned college was not for me and moved to trade school. I knew I was a talented mechanic, (I'd spent almost 10 years working in my dad's power equipment dealership), and soon found an Aviation Maintenance Technician program where I became a certificated aircraft mechanic. Fast forward to a career in the airlines as a jet mechanic, I soon found myself in Dallas, Texas, but by that time I'd traded my wrenches for computer developing aircraft maintenance software. It was a great job but I needed that something tactile. Something concrete. Something I could touch.
You can probably guess, but that's where, for the third, time I connected with making furniture. My dad was looking for a career change from the physical demands of his business and needed some space in his basement. Before I knew it those old machines were packed up, shipped to DFW, and in my garage.
Sharing MY Craft
With those old machines, I was quickly reinvigorated and plunged headlong into the hobby I had so badly wanted to purse for much of my young life. I designed a number of pieces and built them for my wife and me, including a custom bed, a custom nightstand, coffee table among other things. Since then I just haven't been able to stop. Finally free to dedicate myself to honing the craft of furniture making, I spent every free hour I could in the shop. Fortunately, I have a patient wife who's willing to put up with my obsession.
Now, I'm bringing my craft to the residents of the DFW area and beyond! Building custom dining tables, coffee tables, bookcases, credenzas, dressers, and other free-standing furniture. My goal is to deliver something truly unique, something lasting, something imbued with meaning beyond just function. If that sounds like something you'd appreciate, reach out and let's design and create something truly one of a kind together.
Contact
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.