Bigelow, a master in antique rehabilitation, opens new downtown Woodland shop

Second-generation craftsman Bob Bigelow recently opened his furniture restoration business in a permanent, downtown Woodland location after seven years of operating out of his home.

Bigelow & Associates Antique Restoration and Fine Woodworking, located at 418 First St., is an outfit that restores all types of furniture, yet has masterful expertise specifically in antique rehabilitation.

"I try to take the least evasive role to preserve the value of the antique, which means I use alternative methods like colored wax and cleaning techniques," Bigelow said about his strategy. "I like things to be restored to their original condition."

Bigelow is additionally adept at the rare art of caning, or the weaving of bamboo on a chair with bamboo reed. Caning is either hand loomed or made from a press. According to the craftsman, it takes around 20 years to become proficient in the trade.

"Caning is an artwork and there's very few of us left who do it," he said. "I'm carrying on a tradition my father started."

Bigelow's father, the late Kenneth Bigelow, taught furniture restoration and chair caning at Woodland Adult Education for 20 years. The younger Bigelow learned caning and woodworking as his father's an apprentice, and has "worked with wood his whole life."

"My dad was a real expert in caning," Bigelow said. "He could tell the difference between hand-woven and machine-woven (bamboo)."

Bigelow completed college and graduate work in Computer Assisted

When building the woodworking studio, which opened in February, Bigelow said he set out to design an "old-time workshop." The rustic-yet-modern ambiance is ideal for the intricacies of restoration such as tightening joints, filling holes, sanding, painting, spindle replacement and finish rejuvenation.

The wood artist is open to all projects, whether it's stripping down a piece and applying a new stain, or minor repairs. Bigelow is further equipped to custom design and build furniture upon a customers request and specification, such as a table and chairs set in a unique shape.

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Bigelow, a master in antique rehabilitation, opens new downtown Woodland shop