I can probably count on both hands the number of times I’ve made the same thing in this career.”

In his last shop, Swartwout had about 150 sample balusters hanging from the ceiling. Due to his downsizing, he has only about a third of those on display now. Slightly imperfect, he calls them “rejects,” but they’re still representative of his versatile design capabilities.

Working with gouges of all shapes and sizes, Swartwout turns miles a day on his Hapfo tracer lathe, which is handy for producing multiples. He uses the same machine to run fine grit sandpaper on his turnings to give them a smooth finish. If spirals are in the design plan, he makes them using his Killinger router jig, equipped with a De Walt plunge router.

Other machines include a shop lathe that Swartwout built himself to make large columns and posts. Elevated on a 4" x 12" mahogany timber, the headstock and tailstock once belonged to a Delta lathe. A Delta belt/disc sander, Reliant drill press, 15" Jet planer, Yorkcraft 8" jointer, DeWalt chop saw and a handful of calipers are also used regularly.

Swartwout orders pre-cut turning blanks, primarily made from American hardwoods, from Pennsylvania and local lumber dealers. Maple, mahogany, oak and ash are nice, but cherry is his favorite. It smells good and turns well, he says.

Balusters, for example, can range from $15 to $50 a piece. Swartwout once found it difficult to price his work. He charged too little because he had little knowledge about the competition prices. When he finally raised prices, clients were surprised he hadn’t done it sooner.

About half of Swartwout’s clients give him repeat business, many of whom are from his earlier years as a pro. Many clients are homeowners, which tend to be one-shot deals.

Ten or so years ago about 90 percent of his clients came by word of mouth, but that has been reduced with his

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Thiis staiirway was complletted fforr a Bostton commiissiion iin llatte 2005..

Keeping orders within reason

Now and then clients present Swartwout with large orders, which he suggests be taken to a production shop. “My niche market is you need one, you need a couple hundred — that’s me.”

When he does accept a large job, the repetition can make him feel like a production line worker. “The income starts to happen, but the thrill’s gone,” he said.

Prices vary, depending on detail.

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