Today we’d like to introduce you to Gonzalo Delacruz
Hi Gonzalo, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
From the beginning while in my early stages of recovery, sobriety, I had dabbled a little with wood carving, and other mediums of wood working while trying to keep level headed in tattooing.
Woodturning was my last stop from frustration of seeking a way to occupy my extra time i had from wasting it away while drinking and partying prior to all of this.
Started as a hobby and I seeked further attention to it, while doing more researching and it catching a lot of my attention.
I had a drive, ideas and a plan.
While stubbornness would get the best of me not knowing how much was required to do to move forward with it.
Decided to turn the hobby into a business due to the support I was getting from clients I had from the tattoo industry..
My visions slowly became reality with direction and plan.
Tailor brands was my first stop for business aspect.
There’s a cool story behind that and pretty long.
Maybe I can share it in the near future.
As time passed I grew more into this and seeked what it had and has to offer.
I am beyond blessed to where I am with it now, business wise, the support and the creativity it’s brought out of me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road,
The financial part of it has been dragging on me and I work on keeping positive, which isn’t easy when you see your nickels and dimes at times,
I invested and continue to do so in to the business while slowly working on getting back on track financially.
I have a lot so show for in that shop.
Finding the right audience was not easy and still isn’t.
I try to attend to most customers on what they like, most of the time it stresses me out because at the end of the day you cannot please everyone.
Aside of that I try to accommodate every situation
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Woodturning and Art is more of a one of a kind shop,
I will only do production per request,
Currently in the works of making food safe finishes and also wax to bring back ones wooden furniture table tops and what not. Some is made already and so far it’s had good feed back from the clients that have tried it.
The food safe product has been a hit, from hard wax to buttery wax
I do not compare my work to anyone else’s, we are all our own individuals and create differently. There is something for everyone.
As a Woodturner most start with bowls and spindle work.
I have a good clientele for my bowls from personal to salad bowls, also decorative center pieces.
Hollow forms have been my favorite and in the current works of turning very large vase and large open mouth vessels
Finding color and figure in my lumber is like finding gold in a large piece that most will consider firewood. It’s what makes this fun.
As of lately I offer woodturning tools from a company I am a dealer for Woodcut tools from New Zealand and also a dealer for Starbond Adhesives which is a local business from Torrance, California
I offer here at Wooodturning and Art a memorable prize possession that can be handed down generations, they all have a purpose.
I am now holding classes for beginners, hobbiest and safety, from carbide to traditional tools, And you can sign up on my website which will be posted below through the story
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I have had a few mentors weather it was instructional or verbal, too many to list but I can name a few, Jim Sciola , Bob Verseput and also Mike Jackofsky a well known man for his beautiful hollow forms
They all helped me along the way with where my work is growing.
I’ve learned to not skip steps.
They all played a big roll in my work and continue to do so
Pricing:
- $25
- $100
- $200
- $300
- $500 on up
Contact Info:
- Website: [email protected]
- Instagram: @mrlatheznknivez
- Facebook: Woodturning and Art LLC
- Youtube: Mrlatheznknivez
