Bob Hoffa · Renaissance Man · Furniture List

Bob Hoffa has been involved with wood since the late 1960's, when he began as a furniture maker in Bucks County PA. His projects span the range from fine furniture to architectural.

The wood he works with now comes from his own custom built bandmill, which he uses to saw unusual and large wood. The mill is a precision mill rather than a production saw. Bob sells wood on-line to other woodworkers at Alta Resource Wood Suppliers.

Bob is a curious and inventive man, with the talent to turn his ready flow of ideas into reality. His interests range from high tech to low tech, from exploring the possibilities of wood to building machines and electronic weather instruments.

bobhoffa@altalabinstrument.com

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As you might guess, Bob is my partner in business and life.- Tenley Shewmake, Alta Web Resource

What are your influences?

I wouldn't put these in any particular order, but these are some of the styles and methods of working that I am drawn to.

• George Nakashima
• Art Nouveau Style
• Colonial Furniture Design
• Northern European Rustic Design (Swedish and Norwegian)

You were out of woodworking for a while.

Coming back to wood, I find that I have new knowledge and skills to apply to this craft. I'm looking at this from a different angle.

What do you mean by this "different angle"?

Some of my experience with building machines and with product design have changed the way I think about a project. Wood joinery for example, on the Bubinga Dining Table I applied machine building techniques to the open joint.

I'm also more concerned with the process that takes place in arriving at a piece than before. That's why I'm excited about starting with the log, or the tree. Since I am sawing, there is a closer awareness of the wood than if I had selected dry wood from a woodlot.

I know the whole tree and where particular boards came from.

What types of custom work will you do?

Bob Hoffa's Furniture List

I am interested in any free standing solid wood furniture, some examples are:

• Jelly Cupboard with handmade strap hinges and latch
• Custom Curved Seating
• Berks County style PA Longrifle
• Apothecary with flush drawers.
• Blanket Chest
• Cabinetry (gun, china, etc.) see Breakfront and Pistol Case
• Morris Chair
• Coat Rack (simple, shaker style)
• Coat Rack (with top shelf and plate groove, shaker style)
• Couches and Settees
• Hutch (or Breakfront) for dining room.
• Jelly Cupboard
• Kitchen Accessories
• Living Room Groups

• Tables
  • Large Salvaged Hemlock Table
  • Dining Table with Bent Laminations
  • Rustic End and Coffee Tables
  • Harvest Tables
  • Small and Hall Tables
  • Rustic Chestnut Conference Table

I'm also interested in the big architectural projects, timber frame elements for example.

• Fireplace Mantles
• Garden Pyramid
• Trilithon

Don't see it here? Check Jeff Hoffa's Furniture List

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