Photos by Lisa Saleme
Local Pastor Ken Hugghins of Elkins Lake Baptist Church would be happy to know one of the members of the church is such a man with a calling to this remarkable skill. His name is Tom Sprott, owner and operator of Custom Wood Concepts, and he has been going strong in the Huntsville area building cabinets for more than 35 years.
7 AM – With final solutions fixed in his mind, Sprott begins his morning, set to begin either in his shop or at the worksite he designates for that day.
9 AM – After measuring several times to ensure he has a true angle, he sets out to the location of a custom home project along Highway 75 South. The home is beautiful, complete with his finished products. To enter this home, one gets the feeling of viewing one of the home improvement network television shows, and rightfully so. Sprott is proud of the work he has put into this particular home.
10 AM – With better measurements, he quickly begins to sketch out a pattern on the wood he must cut to form the new angle. First, he measures. Then, he measures again. Next, he sketches once more, then he cuts.
He has an impressive number of tools specially designed for every job he encounters. Some, he has bought brand new. Others, he has accumulated along the way in his more than 35 years in the practice of his craft.
Within his shop are two of the impressive lockers he custom-built for the Sam Houston State University Men’s Basketball Team. “They (The University) are currently undergoing some remodeling, so they are getting new ones (lockers).
Noon – His motion is constant and never-ending. One can only marvel at his ability to move effortlessly from one project to another. When asked what moves him, he is often reminded of the work his father did. “I used to just watch my father do this type of work,” he said. “I would watch him, and I just seemed to pick it up.”
In some ways, the large workbench he uses in the back of his shop inspires the work he does. “My father built this workbench himself,” Sprott continued. “Sometimes I get to thinking about him when I’m out here working.” Perhaps this is the reason he can work so methodical, organized, and streamlined.
He seems to be one of the more sought after craftsmen in town. “I very seldom have the time to do local individual cabinet work,” he said. “The Markham Construction Company keeps me in more than enough work with all the custom homes. I’d love to do more, but I simply just don’t have the time. Every now and again, I may do one, but it may take me months to get to it.”
2 PM – After lunch, it’s off to another site, this time in the community of Elkins Lake in Huntsville.
He went on to explain how sometimes he has to compete with the expectations of those who watch the home improvement network shows. “Sometimes, they (customers) want to leave and have everything done in a week, but that’s TV, and they have large crews.”
3 PM – This hour finds him back in his shop. Sanding. Nailing. Measuring. Cutting. He is always engineering on the fly and cleaning as he goes. Not much sawdust gets a chance to build up in this shop. He’s as cool as they come, never a hair out of place. He seems to make his job appear as though everything is easy. For him, as far as anyone knows or can tell, it probably is. As for the rest of us, well that’s why his skill is called a gift.
4 PM – With an eye on tomorrow, he finishes crafting the cabinet that had vexed him the day before, but will trouble him no more. Each new day will bring another challenge, but after another good night’s sleep, those challenges will be no match for this wizard of woodwork.