Interior Woodworking SpecialistsThe art of woodworking can be traced back to the primitive era, when ancient tribes learned woodworking largely for survival, developing tools for hunting and constructing shelters. In contemporary times, many see woodworking as having to do with construction or as a garage-based hobby — à la Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ ongoing boat project on NCIS. However, one Eastside company has married the tried and true techniques of the past with the latest technology of the 21st century.

Redmond High School graduates Doug and Tracey Hepner had one of those garage woodshops 32 years ago that has grown into a 36,000-square-foot workshop manned by more than 50 skilled artisans. The Redmond-based Interior Woodworking Specialists (IWS) shop creates custom wood fixtures, which can be found in many Washington restaurants, casinos, retirement communities, and offices.

The woodshop at IWS has all the things one would expect to find in a woodshop: carefully organized peg boards lined with hand tools, the occasional sprinkling of sawdust, and the faint smell of varnish. The unexpected, however, is the large machines which expedite the work of the craftsmen. General Manger Ed Basher said beam saws, wide belt sanders, and the company’s computer numerically controlled router are the most technologically advanced tools. The latter

of which can feed up to 30 sheets of wood through the routing process automatically.

Despite the technological advances in the industry, Basher said there’s no substitute for working with one’s hands. “We are at a place that no matter how much tech grows, you are still going to need someone who knows the characteristics of the wood — how to bend the wood, how to machine the wood by hand,” Basher said. “Maybe no one here has a master’s degree in anything, but they are true masters.”

These time-tested techniques are something Basher said he feels obligated to impart to the next generation of craftsmen. “The kid we have over there,” Basher said, gesturing toward a young worker with a glue bottle in hand, “He came from a school, but he’s just now learning stuff even though he was trained formally.” All that is needed, Basher said, is a good attitude, everything else can be taught.

“Maybe no one here has a master’s degree in anything, but they are true masters.” — Ed Basher

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