Where does our wood come from?

I was recently asked where I find the reclaimed woods that we utilize. The answer is everywhere.In the blighted neighborhoods of Philly, it is estimated that there are 40,000 vacant properties. So, 100-150 year old homes are constantly being demolished. There are literally mountains of wood being sent to landfills everyday.

Philadelphia was built with Long Leaf Pine. Vast forests of this species grew in the eastern U.S. from Virginia to Florida. The trees were harvested for use in industry and to build our cities. Now, this wonderful, undervalued resource is here for to us to save. If we didn't live in the city, we wouldn't have access to it.

Old growth pine is much denser and visually appealing than new pine. It has a very distinct grain and deep, rich colors. Reclaiming it reveals all the character that would otherwise be lost.

Unfortunately, Adam Rung Woodworks can only divert a small amount out of the waste stream. What we do save will be around for few hundred more years.

Where others see trash, we see beautiful wood. We are trash pickers and dumpster divers, but above all, we are makers.

The Kensington Benches

We've added 2 more sizes to our wonderful reclaimed pine bench series. Now available are 2' and 4' long versions in both the square and trapezoid bases. Each bench has a unique character of the reclaimed wood, but we also utilized a variety of water-based dyes to give the base of each bench a modern aesthetic. Color options include red, orange, blue, black, yellow, green, and natural. Utilizing discarded pine joists and beams reveals stunning old-growth wood and preserves valuable material, but can be a time-consuming process.

Often large sections of the joists have rot, water damage, or charred areas. These beams often have staples, nails, or screws embedded in them. Using a nail puller (a tool that's been out of fashion for 100 years) and hand-held metal detector, we extract any metal from the wood to avoid damaging our machinery. Only then do we begin to expose the striking grain concealed within the joists.

Since many of the joists were cut from the center of a tree and have been unfinished--often in basements for several decades --they tend to contain minor checks and cracks. We take care to eliminate large defects, but the rest are filled with translucent resin which creates a smooth, splinter-free surface without compromising the simple beauty of the wood.

All benches have scoops carved into their seats for added comfort. The open framework of the bases contributes a more delicate aesthetic to these sturdy, rustic pieces.

Devlin Bed

Recently, we had the opportunity to design and build a queen sized bed with a natural-edge Cherry headboard, reclaimed Pine posts and stretchers, and Aluminum accents. The wood for the posts came from two massive 10" square Heart Pine beams that were each nearly 8 feet long.

These two beams rested inconspicuously in one corner of the shop, awaiting a new life. The stunning grain was revealed when we began milling them, beautifully complimented the richly figured Cherry slab headboard. All four were mounted on the lathe and hand-turned. Each features Aluminum discs on the floor and between the Pine and the Cherry finials on top.

Instead of wooden bow-ties, the headboard is prevented from splitting further by four Aluminum straps.

Finished with a hand-rubbed Urethane and Linseed oil mix, then put together with bolts (for easy disassembly) the bed frame looks spectacular.

Repurposed Storage

These cabinets came from the warehouse of a metal scrap yard. They were used for years as sorting bins for various gears, pulleys, and vicker valves (whatever they are). My friend Tony owns the scrap yard and brought them to me to turn into cabinets for his man cave.

The face frames are stained reclaimed pine. I dug through my "collection" to find the various doors, handles, and decorations.

The "yellow" cabinet has a spalted maple bar that folds open. Beside it is a lens that magnifies whatever precious tchotchke is placed behind it. A sand casting pattern is used as a door on the bottom right.

The "red" cabinet has a large door with the rough hewn exterior of a reclaimed pine joist. I veneered the pine to a plywood substrate that I painted red, so the color would show through the gaps in the book matched panel. One of my favorite parts of this cabinet is how the circle in the top door is off set against the "x" of the shelves behind.

The "white" cabinet has a bamboo door with salvage iron handle. The two bottom doors are reclaimed pine and we thought it would be cool to cut the corners around the gear profile.

Elliott & Jean's Bed

We were recently given the opportunity to create this beautiful custom cherry bed for our wonderful clients, Elliott & Jean. The natural edge cherry headboard had spectacular grain patterns and large cracks on each end, which lent itself to inlayed bowties. We chose (with their help) walnut as the accent wood. Nice choice, guys. The Japanese pagoda served as the inspiration for the shape of the walnut finials and bolt caps.

I once made a similar bed for two other clients - Bill & Liz. They later told me how inspiring it was to wake up in such a thing of beauty. Thanks again to Elliott & Jean, I hope that your experience is the same!

KO Angotti

We recently had the pleasure of sitting down to chat with Kara Angotti of KOA. She posted a nice little write up of us on her blog which you can view here. Thanks Kara!

Examiner article!

Adam Rung Woodworks was recently interviewed for an article on Examiner.com. You can view what we had to say here or simply continue reading. Many thanks to Bettie St. Ours!

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"A third generation woodworker who transforms wood into amazing beauty."

Meet Adam Rung of Adam Rung Woodworks, LLC; an amazing artisan who creates the most beautiful furniture ever.

What do you like the most about your craft?

My craft is about connecting with nature. Wood is a wonderful, organic material. It is always different and always changing - just like nature. I appreciate the diversity in every piece that passes through my hands. In our modern society we have lost our connection to the natural world. Working with wood reminds me on a daily basis that we forget our roots, and it’s at our peril.

What’s your process for designing and creating a new piece?

I, of course, begin with the practical needs of my clients. My designs have always been functional first with aesthetics following suit. I take cues from the natural world as well as established styles throughout history. Traditional woodworking techniques enable me to shape and caress a piece of wood to realize its final potential.

I believe that we as a society have lost our appreciation for hand work and the amount of time involved in the creation of things. Most of us look for the lowest prices and the best deals which usually don’t reflect the true cost of everything that goes into making a product. Most things on our store shelves were made by exploiting natural resources and the workers who made them. At the end of their usefulness they are discarded.

I take strides to ensure that my work is reflective of the efforts and resources that go into it, and to ensure that is it produced in an environmentally and socially conscious manner.

What’s unique about your business? What sets it apart from similar businesses?

I view my business model differently than those of other businesses. I look at the impact of every decision, both negative and positive and how it affects our natural world, local community, and my employees’ quality of life.

In regards to our materials and products, we make every effort to ensure that the products we create are fabricated with the utmost concern for the environment; the goal being that throughout the life of the product it has little or no negative effects on its environs and at the end of its life it can be biodegraded or up-cycled into new materials.

Our relationship with our community is of utmost importance to me. I have frequently donated our work to fundraising events that have benefited local arts organizations, food banks, and community groups. We are currently in the process of developing a training program to teach woodworking to people in need of a skilled trade.

Finally, I believe that a happy employee is the single best tool that a business can have. A good work environment enables a worker to be more productive and care about the progress of the company. If you look at a company as a team everyone becomes vested in a successful outcome. By paying a living wage you give people the ability to provide for themselves and their families and the respect that we all deserve.

What do you do for fun when you aren't woodworking?

I also enjoy designing and creating small scale gardens and landscapes for myself and others. Much of my skills in woodworking can translate to garden design. The aesthetic eye that I use in designing furniture also applies to the planning and layouts of outdoor spaces. Working in the garden also helps me to become more in sync with the earth and its ecosystems. Those connections alternatively influence my woodworking.

What do you find is the biggest benefit to running your own woodworking shop?

Woodworking is both my craft and my passion. Owning my own shop not only allows me to use my skills as a means of sustaining myself, but it also enables me to put my ideals into practice. The way I interact with customers, how I treat my employees, and the manner in which I run my shop are reflective of my personal philosophies and principle concerns – those mainly being concerns for others and the environment. I am able to use my business as a platform to encourage others to gain a greater understanding of the world and the people around us and to use that understanding to promote positive actions and decisions. In short, I am able to do what I love, support positive thinking and development, and create things of beauty and usefulness."