Born in Brewton, Alabama, Anthony Glass picked up a hammer at a very young age and began working alongside his father building houses. In a high school shop class, Anthony's interest expanded to include furniture making and woodworking, and soon after, he attended a local junior college and earned an electronics degree. Following graduation, he worked in the electronics field for the next 35 years, but continued with his woodworking. Upon retirement, he began his second career in woodworking and started his own business, South Alabama Woodworks.
Anthony’s use of various woods and finishes, as well as the flawless assembly of his creations, makes his products extremely unique and beautiful. His love for woodworking can be seen in the time and care he puts into the production of his work, and his careful attention to detail turns each piece into a one-of-a-kind treasure.
Oak is the most widely used hardwood. There are more than 60 species of oak grown in the United States, and they are separated into two categories – red and white. Oak hardwood is heavy, strong and light colored, and its rings and large pores give it a course texture and prominent grain. Oak is one of the most popular mediums for handcrafted woodwork.
Walnut is a very versatile and popular wood that is used for cabinet making and other woodworking. The hardwood is strong, hard and durable, but is not extremely heavy, making it fairly simple to work with. Walnut has light to dark chocolate brown coloring, and it handles finishes well. It provides a rich, warm feel to any handcrafted piece.
Pine differs from other woods because it is softwood and because there are more than 100 species growing worldwide. The wood is usually white or pale yellow and is very lightweight, which makes it easy to work with. Pine resists shrinking and swelling, and is frequently used for decorative effect. This softwood is often used for building furniture and other handcrafted pieces.
Poplar trees can be found throughout much of the Eastern and Southern United States. The hardwood is usually a creamy white color and its heartwood varies from a pale yellow-brown to olive green, which usually darkens upon exposure to light. The wood has a medium to fine texture, and is very strong and stable. It is a great wood to work with because it holds paint, enamel and stain very well.
