Westfield woodworker

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Joe Dewing’s hobby has led him to Times Square as a contest winner

He’s not a fashion model or starring in a blockbuster movie or Broadway play, but after entering a national Black & Decker contest the face and work of Westfield’s Joe Dewing is appearing on a billboard in New York City’s Times Square.

“I’ve never been there,” he said. “It’s really cool. Everybody knows what Times Square is. It’s pretty neat to think my face and project are up there. It’s not something I expected.”

Dewing heard of the contest while watching HGTV and DIY network. At first he thought it was a good idea and he should enter, but didn’t. The next night, he saw the same advertisement and again told himself he should enter some of his projects.

“On the third night I said, ‘Alright, I’m doing this,’” he said.

Dewing’s coat rack, wine rack and animal cutout of an elk were each picked by Black & Decker to appear in the circulating video ad.

“Three of them were selected and rotating (in Times Square),” he said. “That’s kind of neat.”

In addition to being on the billboards, Dewing was selected as one of seven weekly winners of the Black & Decker “Your Big Finish” contest. As part of his prize, Dewing received a Black & Decker lithium drill driver, mouse sander, cordless screwdriver and chainsaw, and a lithium matrix drill with reciprocating saw and impact driver attachments.

“I had a package delivered and I opened it up thinking it was Christmas presents,” he said. “It was an early Christmas for me. There were some things I was thinking about buying like the chainsaw and reciprocating saw.”

Dewing said he got his start in woodworking through 4-H.

“My dad and older brothers weren’t woodworkers,” he said. “I did the project two years in 4-H, when I was probably too young to do anything.”

He became more involved with his hobby 10 years ago after college.

“I built a bed frame and head board,” he said. “I’ve been dabbling in it since. Last year is when I started building more often.”

Dewing credits his home in Westfield, which has a three-car garage and a separated space for his workshop, as the reason behind his additional time.

“I’ve been going out there and making quite a bit of stuff,” he said. “Most of it is out of necessity.”

Dewing’s projects include an entertainment center, bed for his daughter, animal cutouts and other items.

“If we can’t find something we like or can’t find one we can afford, he can build it,” said Dewing’s wife, Lindsey.

“Sometimes we look everywhere but had trouble finding what we like,” Dewing said. “She tells me what she’s thinking, I draw something up and ask, ‘Is this what you’re thinking?’ and go from there.”

Lindsey said her husband has “been getting better” since the bed he built for them years ago.

“I’m very proud of him,” she said. “I don’t mind the time he takes in the garage because he’s doing stuff for us.”

The couple’s oldest daughter, Reese, 5, also assists her father with his projects.

“She likes to sweep,” Dewing said. “She likes to clean up, which is a blessing and a curse.”

For those interested in woodworking, Dewing’s advise is “it’s just wood, try it.”

“You don’t have to know how something works to do it,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to fail, especially if you are doing something for yourself.”

One tip that Dewing has learned is that the quality of lumber really does matter.

“Better, straighter wood might be a little bit more money but it’s a lot less work,” he said.

Dewing uses palette wood for his projects, which he said takes a lot of time to break down the boards and clean the word.

“It’s dirty work and takes a long time to do,” he said, adding that a wine rack takes five hours to build.

Dewing said he is making little projects for his family and friends, including his award-winning wine rack. He said he would like to open an Etsy.com or Facebook store but has a six-week-old at home and limited free time.

“I would love to do that but I want to make sure it’s part-time and on my time,” he said. “I would like to sell them at some point but I’m not ready to do it right now.”

Saw 3 undedited

Meet Joe Dewing

Age: 36

Hometown: Kentland, Ind.

Residence: Westfield

Education: Graduated from South Newton High School and Indiana Unviersity-Bloomington

Family: Wife, Lindsey; and daughters Reese and Sloan

Hobbies: Woodworking, spending time with his kids and competing in triathlons (swimming, running and bicycling).

Occupation: I.T. application developer at CNO Financial Group

Last book read: “Compound Fractures” by Stephen White


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