Tea & Elle WoodworksListing #1149 Listed on: 11/19/2010 WOODWEB Content Editor, Brett Hagstrom, Interviewed Todd Gleason in 2011. Tea & Elle Woodworks is located in Farmingdale NJ, six miles from where Todd Gleason grew up. Todd started out in Farmingdale with a few woodworking jobs: first construction, next working at a cabinet shop, and eventually starting a CNC shop. A turning point in Todd’s career occurred during his time at the cabinet shop. A bid Todd placed for a job fell short, and after learning about the bid results he met a couple of woodworkers located near the cabinet shop. The woodworkers happened to operate a small shop of their own out of a small trailer. The small trailer didn’t elicit a lot of questions from Todd; however, he decided to stop over and introduce himself and inquire about where the woodworkers purchased CNC parts. Todd learned that they purchased locally, and after hearing their answer he realized that that there might be potential in the CNC market in Farmingdale. In the beginning stages of Todd’s work at the CNC shop he says that he “was basically computer illiterate.” That changed after realizing he “had to adjust to the idea of computers handling the bulk of the work.” Todd became more comfortable with computers and the CNC programming while still shelling out money for CNC programmers. He then realized completing the programming himself would save a significant amount of overhead. He “hunkered down” and spent his time re-building his CNC machines and re-writing programs for improved shop efficiency. In 1998, after working to re-write the CNC programs and re-building his CNC machines, Todd upgraded from a 940 square foot shop to a 12,000 square foot facility and officially introduced Tea & Elle Woodworks. Todd says he’s “come a long way from the days of stressing about bid results and an uncertain CNC market,” and indicates that he is “doing well” making custom doors and cabinets, as well as prototyping - from initial concept to final output. Todd uses Busellato and Thermwood CNC routers with a Centroid control system. Also located in his shop are shapers, vertical and horizontal panel saws, a pin router, sanders, and a Brandt edgebander. Todd’s favorite piece of equipment is his oldest machine – a Phoenix Magnum CNC, which also uses the Centroid control system. Todd adds that the Centroid control system “is a great operating system and easy to use, and the customer service is very reliable.” Todd mentions that he would put a Centroid control system in every machine in his shop if possible. He is considering rebuilding his machines to do this as he says “if all goes well it would be a relatively inexpensive task.” Work at the shop is done by commission and payment is completed when customers pick up projects. Todd’s staff includes a few woodcarvers and he mentions that a recent kitchen job for a local customer was completed entirely by the carvers.Todd ends with this advice regarding starting a new shop: “be prepared for a lot of hours and aggravation before things smooth out.” |
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