ECwerkswerks
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Custom woodworking products and services
A Michigan-based startup based on Clarkston, MI
Welcome!Bienvenido!Bienvenue!herzlich willkommen!Yo!
Welcome back to the ECwerks web site.
As a refresher, I am Ernie Castillo, the webmaster of this web site and -- you guessed it -- the owner of a small business by the same name.
My focus continues to be my barware product line as my business springs
into action (pun intended). It helps that my Jack Daniels glassware collection now numbers in triple digits.
When I go picking, it is the design, colors, and artwork of something as simple as an empty vodka bottle that catch my eye, much like the muted smile of a painter’s model. (Of course, it helps that I don’t consume alcohol so I look beyond the content.) This led to the latest addition to my barware inventory, featuring an empty bottle of Grey Goose, with frosted glass, silhouettes of geese against the backdrop of mountain-lined lakes. The display is made from an upcycled cutting board salvaged – as were the glasses – from a nearby Salvation Army resale store.
If you live in Michigan, you can find some of my wood crafts on display at Picasso's Grapevine
in Clarkston.
If you are interested in a product promoted on this web site, or if you have a custom product in mind, click on the "Contact Me" button link below.
In the spirit of redundancy, and for all of the Facebook folks out there, you can also browse my Facebook business page, ECwerks, LLC.
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Who We Are
Well, we is actually me.
I love working with wood. There is nothing like the smell of fresh-cut oak in the morning, along with a cup of coffee and an egg-white burrito with cheese, to start the day. I worked in a lumber yard as a teenager and my first full-time job, one intended to fund college, was as a carpenter apprentice working on interstate freeway bridges. Alas, I opted for safer and saner careers, first as a journalist and later as an IT project manager, but I continued to dabble with wood, especially when I became a homeowner. So it seemed logical that when I retired I would refine my woodworking skills, in the same way wood finishing progresses from 80-grit to 220-grit sandpaper. Having run out of rooms that needed hardwood flooring and crown molding, and needing a way to fund an addictive habit that progressed from gateway drugs -- firewood and 2 by 4s -- to the hard stuff -- maple, mahogany, and walnut -- I decided it was time to start a wood working business. So here I am.
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Our Promise to You
Well, our is actually my.
Quality is king
Being retired, I can take my time and build things right. Hopefully, it is right the first time but if not, it will be right the second time and, if needed, the third time. "Close enough" works for some rustic work but for household items, tolerance is closer to 0.025 inches (approximately 1/32nd.) If you purchase an item from me and are unhappy with it, return it for a replacement. I don't have any stockholders to appease, only my customers.
Affordable, supportable
Let's face it. Because commercial outlets buy in volume, I can't compete with the likes of Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, Meier, or even Hobby Lobby. So I stay away from commodity items, such as picture frames and kitchen cabinets. Instead, I focus on custom and personalized products. If I build something that can be found at a big box, my differentiator is: Yeah, but my product is made in Clarkston, Michigan.
Flexible as a slinky
Custom work requires understanding a client's requirements and that involves a dialog. As stated previously, I am retired and that means my schedule is relatively flexible. To discuss personally your unique requirements, we can schedule a face-to-face meeting, phone conversation, group chat, etc. at times that fits your schedule. I do block out Tuesday and Thursday evenings for another one of my passions, choir rehearsals.
Get in Touch With Us
A lot of my initial work was created in response to a gentle nudge from my wife that had a common denominator: "Look what I found on Pinterest! Thus begot my initial product lines: Porch Art and Mantel Art. I added a beverage line when I started donating items to church and choir raffles. (see examples above) Browse through the gallery (click on Learn More) for ideas. Or if you browse the internet and find something that tickles your fancy, contact me (see link below) and include a picture, or a hyperlink. I'll be happy to noodle over it and get back with you promptly.
