The craft of bookbinding relies heavily on the tools we use and no one made wooden bookbinding equipment better than Frank Wiesner. Before Frank died, we talked about how we could continue to provide the quality handmade tools in this country that he had tirelessly made for so many years. Now it is my pleasure to introduce you to Matthew Dwight.
Matt is a designer, maker who hand crafts furniture and wood turned items from his home- based studio in Sydney, Australia. I reached out to Matt to see if he could produce some wooden presses for us, as it turned out he was already a great fan of Frank’s work.
Matt is a trained Cabinetmaker and Teacher with 27 years teaching experience in NSW high schools and has also spent the least 5 years teaching adult classes in Fine Woodworking and Woodturning. His Industrial Technology – Timber and Furniture students have had considerable success in the HSC over the past 15 years. Classes have consistently achieved results well in excess of the state average with individual students placing in the top ten in the state and consistently having their work showcased in SHAPE and INTEC exhibitions.
Throughout his teaching career, Matt has maintained his own practice exhibiting his work with the NSW Woodworkers Association and Studio Woodworkers Australia. His work has been available through Bungendore Woodworks Gallery since 2012.
Matt says, “I was formally introduced to working with wood at the age of 12 in my first year of high school. I have been making, studying and teaching woodwork ever since. Initially I trained as an Industrial Arts teacher completing a Bachelor of Education in Industrial Arts from the University of Sydney. Throughout that degree I was trained in Woodwork, Metal Machining and Fabrication, Plastics, Technical Drawing, Engineering and Design. After completing Uni I went on to complete my Certificate III in Cabinetmaking at Lidcombe TAFE to further my knowledge and skills in Furniture and Cabinetmaking. I have also sort out instruction from some of Australia’s best known woodturners including Vic Wood, Richard Raffan and Terry Baker.”
After teaching for 27 years, Matt is now focusing on his own Furniture Making and Woodturning practice and his work is available through his website and Bungendore Woodworks Gallery.
We are so thrilled to announce that Matt has made his first batch of metal edged backing boards which are available on our website. They are so beautifully made, I think you will all love them. Next week we should be receiving our first delivery of “Press on legs” and having had a sneak peek I really do think that Frank would be proud!
Matt says, “Making wooden Bookbinding Equipment allows me to call on my Furniture and Cabinetmaking skills as well my Woodturning and in some pieces my Metalworking knowledge. There are a couple of challenges involved. One, the challenge of developing the new skill of cutting screw threads in timber and the other making these pieces to the same quality that Frank made them.” I don’t think Matt needs to worry. I hope you can pop into the store and see for yourself.