Spike Carlsen, Master Carpenter
Name: Spike Carlsen
Occupation: Carpenter, woodworker, author, editor
Place of Residence: Minnesota
Websites: Spike Carlsen – The Wonderful World of Wood, YouTube, Facebook
Background and Personal History:
Spike Carlsen is an editor, author, carpenter and woodworker who’s been immersed in the world of wood and woodworking for 30 years. He’s the author of the award-winning A Splintered History of Wood: Belt Sander Races, Blind Woodworkers and Baseball Bats, as well as Woodworking FAQ and Ridiculously Simple Furniture Projects. His DIY guide, The Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects, is packed with ingenious projects. Cabin Lessons recounts how his family built a sturdy structure on the shoreline of Lake Superior.
Carlsen has written for Old House Journal, Fine Homebuilding, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, American Woodworker and other publications. He is former executive editor of Family Handyman magazine, where he wrote hundreds of articles on home improvement and woodworking, and oversaw the creation the Readers Digest, Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual. He’s made appearances on the CBS Early Show, HGTV and Modern Marvels.
Prior to becoming an editor, Spike worked as a carpenter for 15 years, and ran his own construction and remodeling company. He and his wife Kat have five children and live in historic Stillwater, Minnesota. In his spare time he enjoys biking, woodworking and working with the staff and students at Bomalang’ombe Secondary School in Tanzania on establishing a tree farm and other projects.
Books available through MOTHER EARTH NEWS:
Cabin Lessons
The Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects
Woodworking FAQ
Selected Articles:
