runs with his wife of 30 years , Tammi , who is also a substitute teacher .
In addition to selling the spinners in a variety of designs , Hackworth also makes ornaments , keychains , wall art , license plates , wind chimes and more , all made of metal .
He also makes jewelry made of either metal or wood .
Hackworth is able to make several of the pieces at his house in Pax , where he built a workshop for the business . Inside the workshop , Hackworth has a large contraption he uses to cut designs into stainless steel sheets and another to cut wood .
For some of the more complex designs , Hackworth said he travels to Huntington to rent special machines . Hackworth said he and his wife have always had that entrepreneurial spirit but just didn ’ t know what type of business they wanted to create , which is why it almost felt like fate when everything clicked into place for Hackworth ’ s Wood and Steel .
Hackworth said they both collaborate in designing the pieces , which are cut out of sheets and stainless steel or wood using a laser .
Hackworth then takes over with cleaning and polishing the steel , which requires an angle grinder , while his wife works on more intricate details , such as assembling and painting the jewelry . As a native of Kanawha County , many of Hackworth ’ s designs feature prominent symbols of West Virginia , from the New River Gorge Bridge in Fayetteville to Point Pleasant ’ s Mothman .
While building the business over the past few years , Hackworth said they ’ ve gone to countless festivals selling their handmade steel and wood products . “ I love interacting with people . I love seeing the expression whenever they see something they ’ ve never seen before ,” he said . “ It ’ s a much more rewarding job because you put in your
Hackworth makes custom made metal signs .
time and effort and everything .”
Hackworth said he is completely self-taught , which seems to further highlight his Appalachian roots .
“ People just don ’ t have the mindset anymore of , ‘ Heck , I can do that ,” Hackworth said remembering back when he saw his grandmother ’ s old , rusted spinner .
Generations ago , and even now to a certain extent , Hackworth said the people of West Virginia didn ’ t have a choice when it came to fixing broken things because it was either do it yourself or go without .
“ Most of us were born poor ; we have to know how to fix things like a car or a roof because if we don ’ t , we walk or the house leaks . It was kind of a , you had to do it ,” he said . “ And people are losing that now and I think it ’ s causing them to think they can ’ t do it . When in reality , if they put their mind to it , they can do anything .”
Hackworth said that ’ s the same philosophy he applies with Hackworth ’ s
Wood and Steel . What he doesn ’ t know , he learns , and when something doesn ’ t work , he figures out why and looks for another solution . “ The sky ’ s the limit ,” he said . While he has a few tried and true designs that everyone seems to love , Hackworth said he enjoys doing custom pieces .
In the last few years , he ’ s worked on custom designs for local businesses and even made the medallions for the Bridge Day 5k in Fayetteville two years ago .
Hackworth ’ s Wood and Steel products can be found at Tamarack , the National Park Service Canyon Rim Visitor Center and the Stonewall Jackson Resort Gift Shop .
They can also be purchased online at hackworthswoodandsteel . com or hwswv . com as well as through Etsy under the name HackworthsWoodSteel .
Hackworth said he has contact information on all his sites for anyone looking to make a custom order . �
Hackworth laser cuts his designs for wood earrings , then paints with various colors , and then posts them for purchase online and at his shop .
SOUTH � SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER ’ 24 � 39