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Furniture drawn first,
then cut by hand.
Aldercroft is a one-man joinery shop on the Portland waterfront. Every piece starts as a measured drawing you approve, and ends in hand-cut joinery — dovetails, wedged tenons, drawbored frames — in hardwood from Maine sawyers.
Request a commission current lead time: 10–14 weeks
01 Recent work
02 Services & rates
| Service | From | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commissioned furniture | $1,800 | Tables, case pieces, beds. Most land $2,500–$7,000. |
| Built-ins | $2,400 | Bookcases, window seats, alcoves — installed, no site fees. |
| Kitchen fit-outs | $9,500 | Solid-wood cabinetry, built and installed. |
| Repair & restoration | $85/hr | Written estimate first. Family pieces treated like commissions. |
Fixed quote before work starts · 50% deposit to book the bench · delivery within 25 miles included
03 How a commission runs
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Measure & draw
We talk, I measure, and you get a dimensioned drawing and timber samples — free for any project over $1,800. Nothing is cut until the drawing is signed.
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Joinery
Boards are bought rough, acclimated in the shop, and joined by hand: dovetailed drawers, wedged through-tenons, drawbored frames. No fasteners where a joint should be.
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Finish & deliver
Hand-rubbed oil or hardwax finishes that can be repaired, not replaced. I deliver and install personally, and every piece carries a lifetime guarantee on the joinery.
04 The joiner
Aldercroft is Ewan Aldercroft — apprenticed in Aberdeen, settled in Maine, building furniture full-time since 2009. The shop is one bench, one bandsaw, and a wall of hand planes on the working waterfront. About twenty commissions leave the shop each year; that's the most one pair of hands can do properly, and it is deliberate.
Timber comes as rough boards from two Maine sawyers, dried slowly and chosen one plank at a time. If you bring a tree down on your own land, we can talk about having it milled and built into something that stays in the family.
05 Questions
How much does a custom dining table cost?
Most Aldercroft dining tables land between $2,800 and $5,500 depending on size, timber, and base design. Commissions start at $1,800 for smaller pieces. Every quote is fixed before work begins.
How long does a commission take?
The current lead time is 10–14 weeks from approved drawing to delivery. Built-ins usually run 8–10 weeks. Restorations are often faster — ask when you bring the piece in.
What woods do you work in?
Mostly Maine and New England hardwoods — white oak, black walnut, cherry, hard maple, and brown ash — bought as boards from two local sawyers. If you want something else, we can source it; reclaimed timber is welcome if it's sound.
Do you install built-ins yourself?
Yes. Everything is built in the workshop, then scribed and installed by me personally. Installation is included in every built-in quote — there are no surprise site fees.
Can I visit the workshop?
Please do — by appointment, weekdays 8am to 4pm at 47 Tideworks Ln, Portland. Seeing timber and joinery samples in person beats any photo. Call (207) 555-0134 to set a time.
Do you take repair and restoration work?
Yes, at $85 per hour with a written estimate before any work starts. Loose chairs, broken drawers, failed veneer, and refinishing are all regular jobs. Family pieces are treated like commissions.
06 Start a commission
Write a few lines about the piece — room, rough size, timber if you have a preference — and I'll reply within two working days with honest thoughts on cost and timing.
ewan@aldercroftjoinery.example
(207) 555-0134 · weekdays 8–4
47 Tideworks Ln, Portland, ME 04101 · workshop visits by appointment