SkillsUSA National Cabinetmaking Winner

Jeff Richard (JR): The cabinet looked very challenging – what are your thoughts on the design?

Hayden Clark (HC): I liked the design – It’s actually something I would put in my house.  The materials were Maple and Sapele.

JR: Do you get to keep it?

HC: Yeah, they had custom boxes made that fit it perfectly finished.

JR: What will you do with your cabinet once you get it back?

HC: I’m just going to sand it and then shellac it.  The piece of plywood for the top had a defect from the factory where the veneer was sanded through, so I have to fix that.  I have a friend with a CNC machine, so I’m gonna cut a little slot over it and then insert a piece of maple on it to fix the defect.

JR: How many contestants actually completed the project?

HC: We were mixed in with ‘Post Secondary’, but there were about 7-10 in total that finished.

Jim Kollaja: There were about 45 total contestants this year, about 25% less than previous years.  Usually there are 65-70 contestants.

JR: Did you see any new tools or machinery that you were interested in?

HC: All of the table saws were the industrial SawStops, and they had an SCM edgebanding machine.  We also used Blum Inserta hinges and Lamello Clamex connectors.

JR: What are you most proud of with respect to your work in the contest?

HC: Probably my miters.  The case had long miters and they were perfect.

JR: If you could go back, would you have done anything differently?

HC: If you look at the pictures really carefully, you can see a seam – I cut one of the rails for the door an inch short, so I had to glue a piece on to extend it.

JR: Did you win any prizes?

HC: I got a Sawstop Jobsite saw, a Grizzly Bandsaw and $1000 from Harbor Freight.

JR: What was your biggest takeaway from the experience?

HC: Measure Twice!

JR: James, How long have you been teaching?

James Dawson (JD): I’ve done a lot of everything. I’ve been here at this school 7 years, and basically at the end of this week I’m retiring. But I’ve taught 7 years here in construction, 25 in middle school, and then a couple other High Schools, I taught anywhere from Architecture & Engineering, to everything; Mechanics, everything.  I was track & cross country coach. 

JR: How can those of us in the industry best assist local CTE programs?

JD: Industry does a pretty good job, you do have to go out and look for it.  We have a very good CTE director, Kevin Ross, who does find us funding and things from the community that does help our program, but most teachers – you still have to go looking for things.

JR: What would you say to your successor, to continue having great success with Skills going forward?

JD: I was on the interview committee, and I specifically wanted to make sure he would be interested in continuing with Skills.  He comes with a lot of cabinet knowledge.  I had more knowledge in the construction end of it, and not so much in the cabinet end of it, so I’m curious how he’s going to carry over.  But I also told him, just because I’m retiring, doesn’t mean I won’t come up and give you a hand with Skills or whatever else you need.  I can take a while to get the program going and we’ve had good success.  Hayden in the last 2 years went to nationals.  My teamworks team last year got 2^nd in nationals.  He’s got a lot of stuff to work with.

Jim Kollaja:  Hayden, when did you first get interested in cabinet making and who was your greatest influence?

HC: My biggest influence would probably be my grandpa just because he use to be a carpenter.  He was a welder by trade, but he did some carpentry stuff.  Every time I’ve gone to his house, my whole life, we’ve always built something.

JR: You’ve graduated this year, what are your plans?

HC: I’m going to Texas A&M for Construction Science, but I’m actually gonna have a late start.  I’m taking an off-semester to work first.  I’m actually working for myself right now.  I’ve been building furniture and cabinets and stuff.

Congratulations & Good Luck to you Hayden. Please keep in touch!

**edit** My sincere apologies for mistaking Hayden’s last name – it has been corrected – Jeff