June Ellis
Apprentice & small-goods maker
At the bench since 2023. Careful joints, and an eye for a good piece of cherry.
Our workshop in the Ozarks
A good day starts
at the bench.
Hello. I’m Sam.
My grandfather’s table had a wobble, a burn mark and the best stories in the house. It taught me that furniture does not have to stay perfect to be worth keeping. It does have to be made well.
I opened Hollow Oak in Hardy in 2010. We buy from Arkansas mills, let the boards settle, and work with the grain instead of against it. You will see knots where they belong, honest joints, and an oil finish you can refresh at home.
June Ellis joined the shop in 2023. She has a patient eye for the small details, and she makes our boxes and boards as well as helping with furniture.
June Ellis
Apprentice & small-goods maker
At the bench since 2023. Careful joints, and an eye for a good piece of cherry.
The tools we keep
Machines get us close. Sharp hand tools finish the job where your hands will feel it.
A little patience. A sharper edge.
The boards rest until they are ready. The tools stay sharp. Good work starts before the first cut.
From board to table.
Ten weeks of work. Forty years of dinners. Most tables leave our shop in 8–12 weeks; here is what happens along the way.
Choose the boards
We match grain and color, then let the boards settle.
Choose the boards
We match grain and color, then let the boards settle.
Mill & glue up
Straight edges, careful glue lines, and a full day in clamps.
Flatten & join
We flatten the top and fit the base with mortise and tenon joints.
Finish & cure
Hand-rubbed oil, then time to harden. There is no rushing this part.
Bring it home
We arrange delivery and leave you with a simple care guide.
Let’s make room for your life.
Need a different length, or wondering what wood would suit your room? Tell us what you have in mind.
Talk to Sam