About Us
About Norfolk Wood Shop
Norfolk Wood Shop started from a simple but frustrating reality: woodworkers deserve tools and supplies that are reliable, honestly represented, and built to last.
After repeatedly encountering tools that didn’t live up to their claims—such as router bit sets advertised as imperial that turned out to be metric, or products that failed after minimal use—it became clear how difficult it had become to trust what was being sold online. Add to that the sheer volume of options, conflicting advice, and endless comparisons, and even experienced woodworkers can find themselves stuck in analysis paralysis. Even more confusing, many of these tools were backed by thousands of glowing reviews.
Norfolk Wood Shop was created to cut through that noise.
This is a curated woodworking supply shop built for makers who care about quality, longevity, and trust—without hype, disposable tools, or big-box marketing nonsense.
Built by a Woodworker (and a Software Engineer)
I’m James, the founder of Norfolk Wood Shop. I’ve spent over twenty years as a software engineer, building systems where judgment, reliability, and long-term thinking matter. Alongside that career, I’ve been a hands-on woodworker who understands what actually earns a place in the shop—and what doesn’t.
Norfolk Wood Shop is where those two worlds meet.
I bring the same judgment and selectiveness to Norfolk Wood Shop that I’ve relied on throughout my career. The tools here aren’t chosen from a spreadsheet—they’re chosen based on the people and companies behind them, and the people who will be using them. Brands are vetted for how they design, build, and stand behind their products, because in the end, tools matter because of the people who make them—and the people who rely on them.
Curated Woodworking Tools You Can Trust
Every brand carried at Norfolk Wood Shop is selected intentionally. Whenever possible, American-made products are prioritized, along with other small manufacturers who value craftsmanship, consistency, and accountability.
I’ve personally used every brand offered, and many of the tools themselves, in real shop conditions. From finishes and abrasives to lathe tools, resins, pigments, and specialty supplies, the goal is simple:
Tools that earn their place in your shop.
The catalog continues to evolve as new tools and makers prove themselves—not because they’re trending, but because they do good work.
Helping You Choose the Right Tool
A core value of Norfolk Wood Shop is helping woodworkers avoid unnecessary or short-lived purchases—and the frustration and wasted time that often come with them.
It’s easy to buy tools that feel essential in the moment but end up rarely used, replaced sooner than expected, or second-guessed after the fact. Sometimes the budget option is perfectly fine. Other times, spending more upfront saves money in the long run. And sometimes, the right answer is to pause, ask questions, and think it through.
For example, many woodworkers invest heavily in router table setups, only to realize their router stays permanently mounted—raising the question of whether a shaper might have been the better long-term choice.
Honest guidance matters. The goal here isn’t to sell more tools—it’s to help you buy the right ones for how you actually work.
Bad Owl Tool: Technology Built for Woodworkers
To further support the woodworking community, I created Bad Owl Tool—a free, purpose-built digital toolkit designed specifically for woodworkers.
Bad Owl Tool brings together my background in software engineering and hands-on shop experience to provide practical calculators, references, and utilities that help makers work more accurately and confidently. It’s built to be fast, reliable, and genuinely useful—because your phone should be a tool in the shop, not a distraction.
Our Commitment
Norfolk Wood Shop exists to support woodworkers of all skill levels—hobbyists, professionals, and everyone in between.
My goal is to listen, help, and point you toward solutions that genuinely improve your craft. If I don’t have an immediate answer, I’ll work to find one. When you reach out by email, phone, or social media, you’re talking directly with me.
Thank you for supporting small business, independent makers, and the people who still care about doing things the right way.
Everything is wood now.
— James
