Explore...
About Furniture Lumber Live Edge In The Workshop Contact
Vince Gillen Sustainable Woodworking

I harvest naturally-dead trees and transform them into furniture, dimensional lumber, and live edge slabs.

Furniture

The hardwood selected to create this collection of furniture has been harvested from trees that have only fallen naturally…windblown…washouts and age. The logs are milled produce book- matched and specialty cuts that emphasize the natural beauty of the wood. After years of natural drying and kiln drying, the wood surface is finished with a hand rubbed finish.

View Finished Furniture

Live Edge

Live Edge or Natural Edge is produced by milling the full log into slabs, without squaring the sides, preserving the natural, organic shape of the outer edge.

It is a style of furniture where the furniture designer/craftsperson integrates the natural edge of the wood into the design of the piece. The natural beauty of wood and a tradition of craftsmanship are paramount.

Lumber

Dimensional Lumber is made by squaring off the natural round edge of the log and milling the wood into specific thicknesses, lengths, and widths.

Buying Dimensional Lumber - Schedule an appointment at vincegillenwood@gmail.com to view and select wood. Approximately 3000 board feet of dimensional lumber is available for sale. The wood is priced according to species and quality. All dimensional lumber is rough-sawn, but planning and sanding services are available.

In The Workshop

What's new in the workshop...

Decorative Fish Finished

A variety of handcrafted fish made for Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh

Decorative Fish Step 3

Staining and finishing.

Decorative Fish Step 2

Sanding and shaping the bodies.

Decorative Fish Step 1

Creating the rough fish shape.

Charcuterie & Cutting Boards

A variety of handcrafted boards made for Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh

Custom Bookshelf

Installed

Custom Bookshelf

Live edge ripped and rearranged with inlays.

Custom Bookshelf

Top and Sides

Custom Bookshelf

Sanding

Spiral Staircase

Laying out the step pattern.

Spiral Staircase

Welding step structure in collaboration with Ben Grub, Pgh. artist.

Spiral Staircase

Cherry treads.

Spiral Staircase

Finished staircase.

More Cutting Boards

More cutting boards! Heading to local craft shows.

Cutting Boards

A variety of cutting boards headed for Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh

Sliding Cupboard Doors

Rough sizing cherry book match panels for sliding cupboard doors

Sliding Cupboard Doors

Gluing up & laminating oak rails for cupboard doors.

Sliding Cupboard Doors

Clamping raid for 4 cupboard doors

Sliding Cupboard Doors

After glueing up parts to 'Katie's' doors. Sizes are cut with jig

Live Edge Table Build

Digging out recycled steel for Boston table cross brace

Live Edge Table Build

Parts for table legs. Tressel style

Live Edge Table Build

Cross section of recycled steel attached to legs ends

Live Edge Table Build

Attaching the steel brace

Live Edge Table Build

Upside down, table will have one leaf at window end. Cut off is hinged in place

Live Edge Table Build

Finished top. Quartered sycamore book match 7'w 20" drop leaf

Logging Day

Sawing up some new logs

Logging Day

Video of logging day.

Milling Day

Red oak crotch slab about to be stickered

Sycamore Table

Work in progress. Book matched sycamore table.

Sycamore Table

Cut out center to keep quartered section. Installing domino biscuits.

Sycamore Table

Top glued and clamped.

Sycamore Table

Sized to 36". Two slabs ready.

Mirror Frame

Creating a framed mirror with quartered sycamore.

Six Tabletops

Six small tables due for a new 'ax' bar in Weirton, WV. Tables will go at the end of each lane for throwing axes! 2 Ash, 2 Cherry, 1 Apple & 1 Walnut.

Routing Joints

Fabricating a new batch of butterfly joints.

Clamping Slabs

Clamping slabs for a new tabletop.

Planing Slabs

Planing live edge cherry slabs. Preparing to start the custom countertops.

Gluing Bookmatches

Aligning and clamping two bookmatched slabs.

Planning the Cuts and Mitres

Determing where to cut the slabs before assembly.

Joining

Joining the slabs to form a corner.

Bifold Doors - Piece Layout

Laying out the slabs for a set of bifold doors.

Bifold Doors - Trimming

Preparing the trim for the door panels.

Bifold Doors - Edge Gluing

Gluing the outside edges.

Bifold Doors - Routing

Routing the edges smooth.

Cherry Mirror - Partially Glued

Starting a new mirror project.

Cherry Mirror - Inlays Started

Preparing the inlays.

Cherry Mirror - Complete

Looks good!

My Other Hobbies

Beekeeping

Between projects I tend to my bees. Here I am cleaning the comb and filtering the honey before bottling. Beekeeping is one of my hobbies.

My Philosophy
on Sustainability

Furniture:

Each piece of furniture begins with the careful selection of hardwood trees that have fallen in the deciduous woodlands surrounding Vince Gillen’s home in Western Pennsylvania. As a dedicated steward of the land, he only harvests the trees that have fallen naturally…by wind, washouts, or age.

Recycling:

Recycled steel salvaged from scrapyards throughout Pennsylvania is combined with the wood to create a one-of-a-kind, truly sustainable piece of furniture.

Get In Touch

Questions and comments are welcome!

I respond to all queries as soon as possible. Please allow a few days for a response.

If you are interested in purchasing lumber or live edge slabs, please provide as much detail as possible. If you are interested in commissioning a custom project or scheduling an appointment please submit the contact form or call me.

Thank You!
-Vince

Submit
Sending...
Contact (724) 344-8236 vincegillenwood@gmail.com
© 2025 Vince Gillen Sustainable Woodworking
Website by Red Brace, LLC