TM

Theo Maddox

Tools, Materials & Finishing

Theo spent years on both ends of the supply chain — first behind the counter at a lumberyard, helping people pick the right board, then in a finishing shop, fixing the results when they picked the wrong one. Between the two he developed a deep feel for how wood actually behaves: how it moves, how it takes a finish, and which species is worth the extra money for a given job.

He's the "why" guy. Rather than just listing steps, his guides explain the reasoning — why a particular joint suits a particular load, why a finish blotches, why a tool that costs twice as much sometimes earns it and sometimes doesn't. If something on a build keeps going wrong, his troubleshooting notes are usually where the answer is.

Areas I cover