Virgil Otto’s wife, Trish, often describes him as having “sawdust in his veins.” The hundreds—if not thousands—of woodworking projects he’s crafted over the last 60+ years support Trish’s loving observation. Today, at 83, Virgil continues to spend hours each day in his workshop and recently completed one of the most precision-driven assignments he’s ever tackled (see below for more on this). Key to the success of that project and so many others? You likely won’t be surprised to learn it was the combination of CraftOptics and our DreamBeam light. Learn more about woodworker Virgil Otto!
What do you love best about creating?
I’ve always loved making things from wood and it’s rewarding when they turn out well. During the pandemic, Trish and I just sat in our work areas in the basement and worked away and had fun. She had her area, and I had mine.
Tell us a little about your history in creating
My dad was quite the carpenter, and I grew up with wood and I’ve always liked wood. Early in my career, I became an industrial arts teacher, and I did that for five years—teaching cabinet making, woodworking, drafting, electronics, a little bit of lathe work, and some engine repair. But wood was always what I did best.
I went from that to running a business. I started out as a cabinet maker, but I’ve done a little bit of everything to keep the business going over the years, including reworking 700 tables for dormitories at Miami University! Trish has been at my side through it all. She’s been the estimator and bookkeeper for our business. She’s always encouraged me, and she’s a creator herself, too.
I’ve had a lot of fun with my projects over the years. Trish and I both really like Colonial Williamsburg architecture, and we’ve incorporated elements throughout our home based on purely Williamsburg plans. We’ve trimmed it all out in hardwood—walnut and cherry.
One thing I’ve really enjoyed making over the years is bookcases. I made one for each of my daughters when they were children, later made one for each grandchild, and now I’m working on bookcases for my great-grandchildren. I’ve currently got four in the works!
Please share a favorite project—or something you’re working on now
I’ve got one I’m working on right now that’s been a really, really tricky assignment: a 16-sided segmented table. With a project like this, you have to be exact—there’s no room for error. Every piece has to fit precisely or you’ll end up with a gap in your project.
We started with a prototype, and when that came out well, went on to create a bigger one. For the final design, I had to cut 26-inch pieces that were exactly the right size.
My helper did a great job laying out the pieces, and I made a fixture to hold them in just the right place as I cut them. I was cutting on a pencil line that was less than 7 millimeters wide. Thanks to my CraftOptics, I could split the line (which, for those of us who aren’t expert woodworkers, means cutting precisely in the middle of your pencil line—a big deal!). It was incredibly rewarding when all the pieces came together exactly as planned.
This table was one of the trickiest pieces I’ve ever done, and the client is so happy with it!
When did you start using CraftOptics glasses?
(Trish was key to Virgil’s introduction to CraftOptics and jumped in for this part of the story). I belong to a group called “Laughing Artist Friends” or LAF for short. We meet once a month and have a sort of show and tell of whatever we’ve been working on. Some people paint, some quilt, some make jewelry. We learned about CraftOptics from one of the gals in the group who is an art quilter who incorporates beads—thousands of beads—into her quilts.
Tell us why you love CraftOptics
When I’m doing tight, intricate work, my CraftOptics are just great. In addition to my cabinetry projects, I also make muzzle-loading rifles. You’re inletting a metal barrel into a wooden stock, and those elements have to fit exactly (and for those of us for whom those words are a foreign language, we recommend a trip to an AI resource or Google, where you can find lots of videos and expert insights!).
I have 83-year-old eyes, and it makes a huge difference to have that magnification.
And what about the DreamBeam light?
I love that light! It’s shining down, right on what I’m doing. That light makes my work so much more precise and easier.
Any last words of advice?
I have been so impressed with both the product and the company. Sometimes you find companies that are just good, and CraftOptics is premium. We’ve been working with Lynn (customer service manager and licensed optician at CraftOptics), and it’s been such a positive experience. She helped us update a prescription in my glasses. Plus, she helped my friend, Bruce. Bruce is legally blind, but he doesn’t let that stop him. He just won’t quit. I told Lynn about Bruce, and she found him a pair of CraftOptics used for demonstrations. I got his prescription updated, and he’s doing great. His CraftOptics have dramatically improved his life.
Where can people see more of your work?
Check out my website at www.virgotto.com.
