A woodworking wonder

As Tom Whalley sits in his living room, he points out 26 unique wood pieces he has created, all displayed on his own crafted wood tables.

These gallery-type works of exquisitely handcrafted wood join hundreds, perhaps thousands, of pieces he has created in his lifetime.

Whalley is a woodworker yet considers himself a wood turner. 

“I make sawdust,” he explains. “That’s what’s left over. People say I’m an artist, but it’s hard to accept that.” 

Whalley’s accomplishments in his woodworking and woodturning career are numerous. He has won best of show awards for both categories at the Iowa State Fair.

His work has been featured in various woodworking magazines. His wood pieces are showcased in galleries, and he sells custom items both locally and internationally. He has served as president of the Des Moines Woodworkers Association and the Des Moines Woodturners Club.

As a youth, his interest in wood design piqued when helping his dad build a tree house. When their neighbor used a detached table saw, he was intrigued.

In Oklahoma, while in military service, he had extra time on his hands and found a local woodshop where he helped sweep floors at night.

After his stint in the military, he purchase a radial arm saw. He then moved to Pella to start a family, purchasing more power tools from Sears. He owned a furniture store, making end tables, bar sets and other wood furniture.

When he built his Urbandale home, he designed the millwork and trim. He fashioned a 1,000-square-foot, sound-proofed studio in his basement that is dedicated to his craft. He built cubby holes and shelves to precisely fit his essential equipment and tools.

The lathe machine in a separate room spins the wood, while he uses various tools to form the wood pieces, a process known as wood turning. 

“Instead of turning with the grain, you have a cross grain. The segmented pieces are cut into strips, then the trapezoids are glued back together,” he explains. 

When coming up with ideas, he once spent a month and half figuring out the cuts to get the angles right for a vase. It’s essential the whole piece is finished both inside and out. Woodworking professionals always check the bottom and insides for a completed finish. 

“I take pride that the project is smooth with no sanding lines,” he explains. “I encourage people to feel the wood.” 

He uses all types of Iowa woods. Opening the wood is the best part, as he has no idea what’s inside. 

“Black locust is a favorite,” he says. “We’re fortunate to have an array of great wood species in Iowa.” 

Some pieces may take up to two months to design. 

“One guy said, ‘You could make 200 bowls in that time,’ ” he recalls. “What would I do with 200 bowls?”
 

The best part of his craft is the challenge of a fresh design. 

“I see something and try to figure it out or come up with a different solution. It keeps my mind sharp,” he reflects. “Figuring it all out is part of the joy of working with wood.” 

For more information about Whalley’s artwork, contact him at themodelshop@mchsi.com. ♦