Douglass (Mont.) >> Sometimes, you just have to take a chance – a leap of faith.
That’s what Bobby Snyder, owner of Pennsylvania Farm Table Co., says about his decision to give up a full-time job with benefits to go into the furniture-making business full time. He specializes in one particular type of furniture – farm tables.
“The kitchen is where families congregate – it is the center of the house. I wanted my work to be there – in the center,” he said.
So what is a farm table? Snyder said a farm table is made from reclaimed wood – “rustic, gnarly wood.” They have very heavy legs and strong construction.
“Most important – a farm table has patina – holes, knots, wear,” he added.
Snyder’s tables come from reclaimed barn wood, with legs made out of salvaged architectural wood and industrial parts and fastened with salvaged hardware.
Snyder added that each table tells a story – and he tries to pass along to his clients where the wood and the legs came from, if he can.
“A table like this leaves a lot to the imagination,” he said. “My parents have sat at the table and talked about who the people were who used this wood in the past – what their lives were like.”
Snyder, who is 41, said he has always been interested in farm tables and primitives. A self-taught woodworker, he’s been making tables since he was about 20.
“My grandfather – my Mom’s Dad – Jack, was a woodworker. They say it’s in my blood – from Pop Pop Jack,” he added.
Snyder’s Dad Bob is also known for his woodworking, and Snyder said he always keeps his dad in mind when he’s crafting a new piece.
Snyder grew up in Glenmoore, near the historic farmhouse that was once owned by singer Jim Croce. After Snyder bought a farmhouse in Amity in Berks County, he said he needed a farm table and put one together.
Friends liked the finished product, and they started asking him to make tables for them. Snyder’s reputation grew, and he found himself making – and selling – more and more tables.
Six months ago, Snyder found himself with a decision to make. Should he keep his full-time job (with the benefits it provided) and make his tables in his spare time, or take the leap and make tables full-time.
Snyder chose to leap.”I definitely had concerns about opening my own business,” he said. “But I had to take the chance and make a change. If you are afraid, you will never do anything. I had to capitalize on my opportunity – that’s something my dad used to say to me all the time. So, I jumped in with both feet.”
Recently, Snyder decided it was time to take another leap – to open the Pennsylvania Farm Table Co. showroom. The store opened Oct. 10 at 747 Swinehart Road.
“I opened my store front as a showroom – where people can come to see how the tables will look in a room,” he said.
And it’s a perfect space – a section in an old barn with whitewashed walls and exposed beams. Snyder’s showroom shares the space with Rusty Rooster Primitives, which is owned by his fiance Silvana Stamm.
Hours for the showroom are Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Snyder said a grand opening is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with live music and a display of the tables.
It typically takes Snyder about a week to complete a table. He said he goes “hunting” for the materials for his tables – following tips from friends and attending auctions.
“People will call me with measurements and we come up with a plan. About 99 percent of the time, the clients will say, ‘I need a table this size – just do it.’ That is kind of cool, but scary in a way, too,” he said.
Throughout the process, Snyder sends photos to the client.
The reclaimed wood for the tables may have been used in barn walls or flooring, so Snyder said sometimes he needs to plane and sand the table tops a bit before adding a light stain.
“Because this is natural wood, I do add a wax to the top of the table. I use a torch to melt the wax, and it liquefies and impregnates the wood. Moisture just sits there.”
Snyder added that when he can, he prefers to leave the table top as it is and just add the wax.
Right now, Snyder said word of mouth is keeping him busy, and he said the time is coming when he may need to take on another employee to help in the showroom, so Snyder can work on his craft.
Snyder’s orders primarily come from people in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester and Berks counties. He added that he is talking with a potential client in Florida, has been contacted by a former professional football player from Arizona and is talking with a restaurant in Reading.
Pennsylvania Farm Table Co. tables range in price from $1,000 to $3,500, depending on the type of wood, its thickness and the type of leg, as well as the thickness of the top. Among the tables on display in the showroom is one that weighs 480 pounds and is 10 feet long.
For more information visit Pennsylvania Farm Table Co. on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Pafarmtableco.
To reach Business Editor Donna Rovins call 610-850-0272. Email business story ideas to drovins@pottsmerc.com
