You can do a lot of things for a living, but very few give you life.
This company was started by a guy that just wanted a simpler life.
Mike Williams grew up moving around this beautiful country of ours. Born in Kansas, he had lived in 7 states before he graduated high school. This gave him an interest in new places, cultures, and communities. He had also always enjoyed the craftsmanship and artistry indigenous to the different areas.
As a young child he started to collect tools and watch the people around him. He watched his father work on motorcycles and cars. His grandfather did woodworking in his basement. The other grandfather owned a farm and could make or fix anything he needed. One grandmother painted flowers on china, the other made beautiful dried flower arrangements sealed in glass vases. Art, sculpture, design, and engineering are in his heritage. He thrived in art and shop classes, and picked up a few awards along the way.
He continued the moving tradition after he graduated high school and added 3 more states to the list. After some time in a variety of retail and restaurant positions, Mike stumbled into a job working as a Special Effects Technician. You can see his work in several movies, TV shows, commercials, and even a gag for a play. During the next 7 years he learned and sharpened his skills in a variety of mediums needed in the trade. He worked with wood, clay, electronics, metal, robotics, glass, and even a couple fun things that went Boom. Mike grew up with wandering feet, and inspired by a incredible series of events it was time for something new. He found himself going to college studying business and art. Part-time jobs as a radio DJ, pizza guy, and in charge of the oversized books at the campus library paid the bill for the next 5 years. One summer was spent building a bike shed, the next remodeling a house in Las Vegas. The summer before his senior year was spent traveling Europe before he started a 6 month study abroad program in Denmark. The summer after graduation was spent splitting wood for the first half and camping in Northern California, Oregon, and Southern Washington the second half.
As a young child he started to collect tools and watch the people around him. He watched his father work on motorcycles and cars. His grandfather did woodworking in his basement. The other grandfather owned a farm and could make or fix anything he needed. One grandmother painted flowers on china, the other made beautiful dried flower arrangements sealed in glass vases. Art, sculpture, design, and engineering are in his heritage. He thrived in art and shop classes, and picked up a few awards along the way.
He continued the moving tradition after he graduated high school and added 3 more states to the list. After some time in a variety of retail and restaurant positions, Mike stumbled into a job working as a Special Effects Technician. You can see his work in several movies, TV shows, commercials, and even a gag for a play. During the next 7 years he learned and sharpened his skills in a variety of mediums needed in the trade. He worked with wood, clay, electronics, metal, robotics, glass, and even a couple fun things that went Boom. Mike grew up with wandering feet, and inspired by a incredible series of events it was time for something new. He found himself going to college studying business and art. Part-time jobs as a radio DJ, pizza guy, and in charge of the oversized books at the campus library paid the bill for the next 5 years. One summer was spent building a bike shed, the next remodeling a house in Las Vegas. The summer before his senior year was spent traveling Europe before he started a 6 month study abroad program in Denmark. The summer after graduation was spent splitting wood for the first half and camping in Northern California, Oregon, and Southern Washington the second half.
When the fun was over and the smoke cleared... He was working in a corporate office for a clothing company. During the next 10 years his job allowed him to travel to 27 countries in Asia and Europe. Including a position in Geneva, Switzerland for 3 of those years. He had shipped his motorcycle over and enjoyed riding through the Alps and countrysides shadowed by castles. He met good friends and might have had a pint or two. One thing was missing. He did not have a shop. He could not create. One thing he did learn is how to live simply and enjoy life. As the time passed a new plan emerged. Start saving your Francs and head back to the USA. Once home he took time to decide the next life. First step... get on the bike and see what there is to see. 15,300 miles, 111 days, 42 states, and 2 countries later he decided the cube world was behind him. All his life he had worked with his hands to create and that is how he would to spend the rest. Hammer and Saw was born from one of his favorite sayings from his grandpa. "I see said the blind man as he picked up the hammer and saw..." Once Mike decided to leave the corporate world... he picked up his hammer and saw his future.
This company is dedicated to building functional art for you to enjoy with family and friends in the old traditions when life was a simpler, slower, and a little less complicated.
This company is dedicated to building functional art for you to enjoy with family and friends in the old traditions when life was a simpler, slower, and a little less complicated.