UNO Woodworks features the hand-crafted wood creations of Duane Ryder. Made in North Carolina’s beautiful Chatham County, UNO products are available to residents of Pittsboro, Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh, Cary and the surrounding Triangle region. Gift pens may be mailed to anyone in the continental United States.
Duane began woodworking at age seven under the watchful eye of his father, an engineer with Carrier in Syracuse, New York. The two created many wood projects through the years including office furniture, bookshelves, side tables, TV stands, display shelves and countless picture frames for friends and family members.
In college, Duane’s architecture class toured the Stickley factory in Manlius, New York. He was particularly impressed with the styling and craftsmanship of this premium line of hand-crafted wooden furniture in the traditional Craftsman style.
After graduating from college, Duane moved to Tampa, Florida with his future wife Shelly. He started up his own woodworking shop in the garage of the couple’s first home. Duane continued to be inspired by the Arts & Crafts style – its “honest” construction, simple, purposeful forms, and lack of artificial adornments. His wood creations began to incorporate elements of this timeless style of furniture making.
Now living outside of Raleigh, North Carolina, Duane continues to incorporate many of the high quality construction methods employed in Stickley furniture such as mortise and tenon joinery, dovetail drawers and hand finishing techniques. Duane is honored to have Roy Underhill from the famed Woodwright Shop living only 20 minutes away in Pittsboro. He has taken several of Roy’s courses, which teach disciplined woodworking techniques with the use of hand tools.
Duane currently works full time as a software developer. In his spare time, he creates wooden display shelves, picture frames, furniture and other items for friends and family members. He also sells custom made all-wood pens, ideal for one-of-a-kind gifts and executives with discerning taste. Please visit the Hand-Crafted Wood Pens page to view the unique styles and superior craftsmanship of UNO pens. If you like what you see, contact Duane to order a custom pen for that special person in your life.