Welcoming Black Belt Woodcraft
Located in the St. Croix River valley of Wisconsin, Zach Jeffrey is a master woodworker with a passion for creating beautiful timber pieces. He spent his entire life honing his craft, and after receiving his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2019, he founded Black Belt Woodcraft, a furniture studio that encompasses his skill set for beautiful design, traditional woodworking techniques, and sharing the art.
One of his specialties is chair making, a craft that he discovered during his post-military days when he started building his own furniture out of necessity and enjoyment. His introduction to the "Greenwood" process, where handwork is emphasized over modern machinery, occurred when he sat in a hand-made Windsor chair while touring an experienced woodworker's home. Intrigued by the different tool marks left by the maker, Zach decided to specialize in chairs.
Using razor-sharp shaping tools to peel the layers of timber and reveal the beauty of the grain is one of Zach's favorite aspects of chair making. He loves the process of producing a very precise part while also challenging his skills and thirst for knowledge. Zach's instructors have described his style as meticulous, and he has been studying traditional Windsor/Ladderback styles over the past several years. His intention in the near future is to blend aspects of his favorite chair designs into his own vision, creating a style with a unique grain pattern that is both beautiful and comfortable.
Zach's motivation in woodworking is driven by curiosity. He enjoys enhancing the beauty of a timber by influencing his design onto it, and it's a dance of discovery and problem-solving that must elegantly elevate a human.
As a veteran himself, Zach was honored to be part of Chairs of Honor, a program that creates handmade chairs to honor the sacrifices and service of our nation's veterans. A family's handmade chair holds a certain sense of reverence, and Chairs of Honor allows a veteran's story to be tangibly passed down through the generations as a national heirloom. Zach's work symbolizes this metaphor, and he is honored to be a part of it.
Zach served as an infantryman in the army's 25th ID, which gave him a very contrasting perspective on the world. He experienced beautiful beaches in Hawaii and the gritty streets of war-torn Iraq. Zach is thankful for the time he shared with his new brothers and for the hard lessons he learned through the ugly truths of combat.
In the military, there are times for laughs and times when there are not. Zach remembers one funny incident during a brutal session of assorted tiring exercises in Georgia's hot August heat. They were ordered to drink their entire canteen of water and then turn it over their heads to display the empty container. Zach's new "battle buddy" was struggling to follow orders, one gulp at a time, while standing at attention beside him. With no other options, he reluctantly began to shower himself with the remaining contents! Zach burst out laughing at the absurdity of the situation, drawing the attention of his drill instructors, and earning the nickname "private funny" on the first day of basic training.
Zach's passion for woodworking and his dedication to honoring veterans through his craft is a beautiful and unique way to express his gratitude for his service and the service of others. Through his furniture, he creates a tangible connection between the past, present, and future, ensuring that the stories of our veterans are never forgotten.
