Chris Giffrow of Cow Dog Craft Works hand planing with a Kanna at a hand plane competition/Kezoroukai.

Cow Dog Craft Works

Fine Woodworking - Clean Lines - Dirty Jokes

“I like sharp tools, smokey meats, hand cut joinery, and good bourbon. Not necessarily in that order.”
— Chris Giffrow
Chris from Cow Dog Craft Works holding a Miyano Tetsuonuke III Ryoba set for hardwoods.
A kanna with hon akagashi dai, adjusting mallet, and yellow pine plane shavings at the Florida School of Woodwork in Tampa, Florida.
Chris from Cow Dog Craft Works explaining design aspects of a mahogany hall table with live edge dead man supports.

The newest shenanigans:

What exactly is Cow Dog Craft Works? It’s a commitment to craftsmanship and inspiration for others. Quality wood craft is not unachievable. It’s done through dedication, study, and application, but most of all curiosity. As I journey through woodworking, experimenting and making mistakes along the way, I hope you are inspired to do the same.

“I am inspired by the spirit of the tree, to respect it’s sacrifice, and craft a work to honor it. ”
— Chris Giffrow

Cow Dog Craftsmanship - What does that mean?

Cow Dog Craftsmanship has evolved over time. In my earlier days of woodworking, it meant just purely making something aesthetically pleasing. It meant making something that other people could smile at and show their friends. Now, Cow Dog Craftsmanship means something more. Through my use of Japanese Tools, I aim to connect to my Asian heritage by experimenting and understanding a dying art. My work is designed to push me to my personal limits with every furniture or carpentry project. My aim is to push others to those high standards and inspire a drive to make something meaningful, something that links us to the past, but will also carry us into the future.

“A word of encouragement: curiosity
A word of caution: sharp
A word to the wise: learn how to learn”
— Jay van Arsdale: The Pull of the Saw