Today we’d like to introduce you to Frank Manteau.
Frank, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Well, it started when I was about 6 or 7 back in Ohio. Scouting when it was still Boy Scouts had a big hand in woodworking as well as the mentor I had teaching me many skills whether it was helping them build a box, a bench, or even a big garage on the farm or for a neighbor. Also while in high school, I took a wood shop for 4 years. Learned a lot there. Woodworking has been a passion and a place to relax and clear my head. So, after about 22 years just doing very little I got the opportunity to get some woodworking tools and I jumped on it and decided I was getting back into it, and I was going to make the time. Up till a few months ago, it got back into the skill set and making sure I still knew what I was doing. Now, I’m starting to build stuff I hope to sell and turn this into to my daily life, not just a few hours a week. Plus, as a kid building stuff and seeing other reactions was a great feeling inside. I’m getting to relive that when I see the face of the people that I’ve made a couple things for. Knowing your help build a memory for someone is priceless.
Has it been a smooth road?
Live is never a smooth road. If ya don’t fail you don’t know how to be successful or better your craft. Being a single dad makes it tough to have shop time when ya got 3 places to be at once. But I find the time. As for while I’m doing the woodworking it’s not easy when you shop area is in a 10×10 space with no room to expand but you work with what you have and within the space ya got. Plus I don’t have high-end tools to make it easier or fast when a robot is doing the work and not you. Besides I like the old school traditional joinery when building. It makes it more personable and shows your skill set to the customers. Because you may be making a piece that just going be an heirloom or memorial piece. So it goes to show ya don’t always need a big space not a high priced tool to get the job done.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Kamikaze Wood Werks – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I started the company in April 2017. I’ve always loved woodworking and when I had the opportunity to get a few tools I jumped on it. Then, after a phone conversation with my friend Jimmy over at @thepropergentleman. So, when you look at how my life has been. I’m a Marine Corps Infantrymen, Marines are known as crayon eaters (it’s a joke) and I wanted to turn things out of Wooden Pencils and that is still a goal to do. The date I was honorably discharged from the Marines was on December 7th, 2002. If you know anything about history, you know that was the bombing of Pearl Harbor. My life has been a little crazy with everything I’ve been through. So, with Jimmy’s help, we came up with the first name of Kamikaze Colors USA. But after time people didn’t know I did woodworking and I want people to know just by looking at the name that I make stuff with wood. So, I changed the name to Kamikaze Wood Werks. The Werks is spelled this way because I’m a Redneck from the backwoods of eastern Ohio.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
The weather, the culture from one area the next. The artist nature of the San Diego area. It’s one of the best places to have a woodworking business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kamikazewoodwerks.com
- Phone: 619-738-0530
- Email: Frank@kamikazewoodwerks.com
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
