It all started on a kitchen table... then inside a tiny cluttered storage unit...
While shopping for my own dart cabinet in 2009, I noticed all the options in my price range were mass produced garbage manufactured overseas, and all of the reviews were disappointing, at best. They didn't have the dart player in mind when designed, and had no quality control. They were also inexplicably difficult to hang and weren't even made with real wood. Worst of all, the surface around the dart board was often particle board too, so if you missed the dart board and hit the back of the cabinet, your darts just bounced right back at you and stuck into the floor! What good is that?! They weren't even trying.
I thought to myself, I could do way better than that, even with no prior woodworking experience, because I actually cared. So, I decided to try to make my own.
In my mid 20's at the time living in a loft apartment, my only workspace was a tiny kitchen table. I had a Dremel tool, cordless drill and a couple of hand tools. I didn't even have a saw. I painstakingly made all of the cuts with the Dremel tool (lol) and cobbled a cabinet together. At the time, despite those obstacles, and perhaps with rose colored glasses, I thought it turned out pretty good. Considering the limitations, I was convinced that some day I would have more space and the right tools; and could do a lot better. Maybe be able to sell them too? I figured that was just a fun daydream though, and would likely never end up pursuing it.
Fast-forward a couple years.
I had a 2nd job at that I loved very much, which ended up being suddenly closed down. At the time I was living above my means to keep up with my college friends who all seemingly went back to NYC to fancy big jobs. Without my 2nd job, combined with soon moving to Ithaca for my future wife's new job (where rent was triple the cost), I spiraled into debt. I was too proud/stubborn to change my lifestyle, but I was in really bad shape. I wasn't going to be beaten though, I am not that kind of person.
To make ends meet, I started wandering the apartment complex every night collecting cans and dumpster diving for things to fix/re-sell & picking up scrap metal just so i could keep my fancy car and pay rent. It sucked. A lot. I used to feel like such a hot shot back home, but not here. I was poor and felt like I was failing.
One day during one of my dumpster diving trips, I saw an old computer desk against dumpsters. It was broken and missing pieces, but the top was solid. I figured I could use it if I could get it upright again. I thought maybe I could finally try that dart cabinet thing and see if I could make a few bucks. I turned that pile of broken wood into a solid work desk again. It would actually become my first workbench ...yet I had nowhere to put it.
The only space I had was a storage unit on the other side of the apartment complex, but it was packed full. I stacked up some boxes outside the door, clearing out a whopping 5' x 4' spot so I could set up the bench and have a place to stand. This 20 square foot footprint would be my first workshop. It had one bare bulb light fixture in the back corner of the garage and a one plug outlet. I made it work though, I had to. When I was done for the day, I would stack my stuff back in there on top of everything. The next day, I had to pull the junk and boxes outside just to get back in again.
After a couple months I ran out of patience already. I barely had enough room to bend over, and I had nowhere to let my work dry without getting it all dusty or falling on top of me. The cabinets didn't lay flat anywhere in my car, so I started carrying them one or two at a time the 1/4 mile journey it was back to my 3rd floor apartment and applying finishing coats on the floor of the bedroom. When they were dry, I carried them back to my garage to wrap them up and ship. Believe it or not, I sold a few dart cabinets this way. It went on like this for almost a year, but thanks to great customers like you believing in me, I was determined and able to keep going.
We were finally able to move from that apt to a house with a real garage and a workshop space. I still don't have enough room, but at least I have a dedicated space, the right tools, and even a couple more outlets to power them.
I still make full dart cabinets, however I have really found my niche with the LED lighted backboard units. They are my most popular products by far. I can build them quickly now.
Today, the very first dart cabinet I made in my kitchen still hangs in my house as a tribute to where I started. Looking at it now, I can tell I have come a long way. It was actually really bad, but I am still really proud of it.
A big thank you goes out to all of my great customers for helping make it possible and supporting me when I needed it most. This can be hard at times, but am thankful for the opportunity.
Please also take a minute and check out my antique/vintage shop: www.fromthefingerlakes.etsy.com that all started from that dumpster diving period too
