This is an example of
This is an example of the company’s 3-curved drawer cutouts. This is an example of Western Dovetail’s Maple curved pull-outs. Western Dovetail Manufactures Drawers By Thinking Beyond The Box BY CLARE ADRIAN Vallejo, Calif.– Based on the shapes of things that are turned out at Western Dovetail, Inc. on Mare Island, it might be hard to believe it’s a drawer manufacturing company. Move over 90° angles and make way for anything from 40 to 180° corner configurations, and whether triangular, pointed in the back, rounded in front, either convex or concave curved, as well as pie or pyramid-shaped, they’re all drawers. No request is too outlandish for the custom drawer manufacturer. “What a drawer can be is much broader,” stated Max Hunter, president and CEO of the company. “We are limited to dovetail drawers but within that category we do a number of things that are original ideas.” Hence, Western was the first to offer non-square, angular and curved dovetail joinery. In addition to the standard drawer, the company produces pullouts, drawers complete in themselves, exposing an integrated front, accompanied by a range of options from hand scoops to drop-down sides, revealing lowered fronts for pantries. The latest product design to emerge is a line of recycling and trash pullout or rollout units, which present a challenge to negotiate around plumbing and garbage disposals. Please turn to page 32 Max Hunter inspects a handmade Western Dovetail product. Brothers Max and Josh Hunter work together dovetailing Maple into drawer components at Western Dovetail Inc., in Vallejo, Calif. 20 Hardwoods Have Resiliency
Josh Hunter rips Maple to be used in a drawer product. He purchases up to 3,000,000 board feet of Hard and Soft Maple annually for the company. Pictured in 1993 with his father George Hunter (right), Max Hunter, president and CEO of Western Dovetail, learned at his dad’s side how to lead the business. Max Hunter inspects a handmade Western Dovetail product. Josh Hunter prepares orders for shipment. The firm ships anywhere, but has found strong relationships with customers in Alaska, California, Florida and New York. FEBRUARY/2011 21
