Keyboard wrist protector

Shaping the wooden core.

When I built the Federal-style desk that featured in Peter Gedrys article "Antique Finish that Holds Nothing Back" I knew that it would not just sit in a room looking pretty but be used everyday by my wife in her home office. On her previous desk the slide-out tray featured a padded wrist support in front of the keyboard. The purpose was to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome developing in the wrists, a painful malady that can only be healed through surgery. I was determined to add such a support to the new desk but I wanted it to be as unobtrusive as possible. This is how I built it:

1) Take measurements of the existing pad or the keyboard and construct a wooden core. Round over the top corners, and cut 1/8-in. deep rabbets on the the underside.

2) Wrap two layers of closed-cell foam around the core and staple them inside each rabbet. Sources of foam include packing materials or you can buy sill seal used in home building.

3) Cover the foam in either leather, if youre feeling extravagant, or in my case leather-look vinyl. Either can be bought at fabric shops.

4) Fold over the vinyl at each end, cut away surplus fabric, and staple the ends down.

5) Screw on end caps with recessed screw holes and plug the holes.

6) Dye the plugs to match the end caps. I used a non-grain raising dye but even a permanent marker would work.

7) Attach the pad using screws from the underside of the tray. Start typing.

posted in: blogs, carpal tunnel, injury prevention, Keyboard wrist protector

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Interior Designer Kara Angotti on Social Media in our Industry

Interior Designer Kara Angotti weaves video blogging into her daily design practice

Photo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXEReADq5Os&feature=related Recently Kara Angotti of KO Angotti, a woman-owned interior design and energy audit firm located in Philadelphia, ventured out of the city to visit my wood shop, Superior Woodcraft in Bucks County, PA. To share the information with her design community Kara wrote a blog post and created a YouTube video. Now it’s not every day that I have an interior designer/energy auditor/blogger come for a visit; so this had me thinking about how Kara’s social media work is completely integrated into her interior design and energy audit business.  I sought to learn more about the ways in which Kara balances her actual work with her social media marketing endeavors, and heres what I learned:

PK: Kara, why did you start to create social media for your business?

KO:        Social media marketing is a low monetary cost high impact way to reach an interested audience,which is very useful when you’re not exactly a Fortune 500 company.

Do you have specialized training in this area?

  No, I have no specialized training, but we leverage experienced consultants for effective marketing techniques.  Social media marketing is still fairly underdeveloped and is rapidly evolving; therefore it’s difficult as a business owner to maintain focus on your core service while remaining current with the latest social media marketing methods.  I suggest finding a young eager marketing professional to help guide you.  

I like what you said about underdeveloped and rapidly evolving.  To me this means you can experiment and see what works.  You don’t have to spend a lot of time worrying about making mistakes.  Everyone is learning about what works in social media. Is it difficult to create a blog and videos?

 It’s fairly easy to get started with a blog thanks to the many available platforms (Wordpress, Blogger, etc.) and templates that exist.  Videos are a bit more challenging since they require filming equipment and editing software.  I recommend beginning with a blog and establishing it as the focal point of your online social media marketing campaign.  Become comfortable blogging and expand from that point.

 How has it helped your actual interior design and energy audit business?

 Social media marketing has given us a promotional outlet that in years passed could have only been achieved through large scale and costly advertising campaigns.  It’s also provided a branding opportunity, showcase for our designs, and platform to communicate developments in the auditing industry.

What benefits could a small woodworking shop gain from creating a virtual community or social media content?

Few media outlets offer a woodworker the opportunity to broadly display their craft.  A blog  would give your clients the chance to observe your progress and review your portfolio.

What small piece of advice do you have for a woodworker who is thinking about creating a blog or shooting videos?

I recommend beginning with a blog because of the low cost of entry.  Bear in mind that consistency and the quality of your content is imperative to maintain a successful and respected blow.

Thanks to all of our readers for dropping in on the conversation between CustomMade.com member Patrick Kennedy of Superior Woodcraft, Inc. and Kara Angotti of KO Angotti. Are you using social media for your business?  What results have you witnessed?

? Or just want some advice on how to market your business and make it stand out in the marketplace? Well this blog’s for you.

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