Orion Blog
The Machine, the Arborist, and the Future
Welcome to Our First Blog Article!
We're excited to share with you the first of many blog articles that will provide an array of insights from our business. From past projects, tips from the woodworking industry, techniques we're using, and other random bits of info about our team and what we're up to, we hope you enjoy what we have to offer. Feel free to share the articles with the links provided above. Now, to the inaugural blog article!
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We have big things on the horizon here at the shop as we move into 2024, but 2023 was a huge year for us and we want to celebrate it! Here is a look back on some of the biggest milestones for Orion Woodshop in 2023.
THE MACHINE
Our new CNC machine is capable of cutting and engraving in ways we could’ve never dreamed of doing by hand.
Wood is our craft, but in 2023, we started to dabble in computers as well. Last summer, we bought a CNC Machine that will allow us to create a whole new world of products.
CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control, and this machine will boost our production capabilities to a whole new level. With the CNC, we can do custom engraving and cutting as well as more precise cabinet making. Custom engraved goods and new cabinet details are just a couple of things we’re ready to roll out in 2024. We can’t wait to see what else we can do with this thing!
JEFF THE ARBORIST
This past fall we also added a new craftsman to
. Meet Jeff Hughes! Jeff is originally from New Hampshire and spent a decade working as an arborist in both Maine and Colorado.Before joining us at the shop, Jeff trained in woodworking at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, ME. His experience in handcrafted furniture adds a whole new perspective to our crew. We’re looking forward to utilizing Jeff’s unique skill set on a ton of projects coming up in 2024.
SHOP EXPANSION
Over 50 children’s bookshelves for I'm Your Neighborhood Books being housed in our new shop bay.
Not only did our business grow considerably in 2023, but so did the actual size of our shop. Last spring, we were able to rent out an extra bay in our building, nearly doubling our workspace.
The new bay will serve as our “paint & finish” bay moving forward. Keeping sawdust out of our painting space was one of the biggest difficulties we dealt with prior to acquiring this new bay. Having a separate space for all of our painting and finishing will allow for a much smoother and professional quality of painted goods.
SOME OF OUR FAVORITE PROJECTS FROM 2023
Each of these projects provided different challenges for us, but the finished product is one we couldn’t be happier with!
Elegant Finish Carpentry
This beautiful new home in Falmouth is chock-full of unique
details. We were given the opportunity to tackle some elaborate projects in this house back in early 2023, including:- Vaulted Ceilings in the master bedroom and living room
- Tongue and groove ceiling in the kitchen
- Custom wall details in the entryway
- Built-in walk-in closets
- Arched fir ceiling above the stairs
Cherry Media Center
This custom cherry built-in is one we were very proud to walk away from this past year. It boasts a 10 foot-long cherry desktop, as well as a space for a TV mount and plenty of shelving and storage. The natural color of the cherry really sets this piece apart, and it will only get richer as the wood ages. Our customer wanted a functional yet stylish media center to blend in with their classic New England home and we couldn’t be happier with the finished product.
See more custom furniture and built-ins .
I’m Your Neighbor Books - Bookshelves
I’m Your Neighbor Books is a Portland-based nonprofit which aims to provide inclusive literature to local schools. They commissioned us to build over 50 bookshelves to house their donated children’s books in classrooms across Maine. With the help of our new CNC machine, we created a system of easy-to-assemble plywood cutouts designed to hold plenty of books for the kids.
THE FUTURE - 2024 AND BEYOND
We’ve got a lot of “new” happening right now at the woodshop. New space. New tools. New friends. It’s an exciting time and we can’t wait to show you all what is in store for us in the upcoming year.
As always, we appreciate the support our community has shown in our young business and we’re looking forward to continuing to give that support right back in 2024.
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