Quality craftsmanship from a lifetime woodworker
What I do
Estatoe Woodworks is a family-owned business operated by Ansel Ringler, a 27 year old woodworker from the Appalachian mountains of Western North Carolina. Woodworking is my passion, one that has been a part of my life since I was a child. I specialize in finding unique pieces of wood from my region of Appalachia and bringing that endlessly varied character to life in a functional and beautiful form.
I specialize in one of a kind furniture - primarily building larger tables, bedframes, desks and other home furnishings.
Designing a project with integrity in mind requires careful consideration and time. Depending on the piece, the use of custom cut joinery can ensure this integrity.
A custom designed table base, sanded and ready for assembly
The assembled base, which comes together through joinery alone without the use of glue or fasteners
My custom commissions are built from the room up in collaboration with each client - bringing their idea into synchronism with the aesthetics of their space and my artistic vision.
Every project starts at the same place - sourcing lumber. At Estatoe Woodworks, my domestic lumber is all locally felled and milled from the surrounding counties in the Appalachian Mountains of Western North Carolina. Often my wood comes from the same county and sometimes only miles away. I emphasize the use of material that has been figured through natural processes such as spalting, knotting, burling, curling, weathering or worming - bringing to life the character that nature has created over time in harmony with elegant style. My pieces tell the story of the trees life in every detail.
I work with a number of small local family owned sawmills who process local logs that have been felled primarily due to natural causes. In some cases, I arrange pickup of the logs themselves. In others I pick the log out of the yard. But I can almost always tell you the town or area that the wood for your furniture came from.
Some incredible burled maple. In this case I picked the log up with my own trailer and transported it to the mill to have it cut to my specifications.
All stages of construction - from planing rough hewn planks and slabs to application of the final coat of finish - are done from my workshop on the Estatoe River in Yancey County.
Every pieces finish is chosen based on the projects application - ranging from water-based, non-toxic urethanes with zero off-gassing on furniture to a food-safe mixture of beeswax and mineral oil on kitchen accessories.
Apply Rubio monocoat to a unique cherry charcuterie board, my finish of choice for most project
What I've Built
Live edge tables, desks and countertops
Shelving and bedframes
Resin river tables and accents
Light fixtures
Restoration of antique furniture
Dining tables and conference tables
Kitchen accessories such as cutting boards, pizza peels, trivets and paper towel holders
Home furnishings such as clocks, chess boards, clipboards and bottle openers
Highly customized projects such as a massive laser light show grandfather clock for DJ performance