Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Duffey.
Hi Alex, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Growing up, I moved all across the United States from Florida to Minnesota. I bounced around a lot which never really left time for hobbies. In highscool I focused on woodworking and TV production, and going to college for Film. In 2008 after graduating from college I followed my now wife to her home in the Pacific North West. Together we bought our first house in 2011, the first non-apartment home for myself.
As a first time home owner, I quickly learned to be a DIYer and weekend warrior – building raised garden beds, a water fall feature and a pergola. However, I also seemed to be searching for my own passion. I tried to learn the piano, fly R/C airplanes, photography and many other hobbies, but nothing stuck for longer than a few months. In 2019 after moving to my current home, I built a live edge coffee table and matching end tables out of NW Red Cedar. As someone who works on a computer all day (as a technical analyst), I quickly fell in love with building something with my hands, bringing me back to my younger days.
I continued to learn and build in my garage, taking on a few projects here and there, and watching countless hours of YouTube tutorials. In 2020 I bought his first wood lathe and started experimenting with turning. Many hours and a broken finger later that summer I was hooked and wasn’t stopping. Soon after, purchasing my first Next Wave CNC which is where I found my true passion.
In 2022 I opened Duffey Woodcraft LLC, turning my hobby into a small business. Selling primarily on Etsy, I quickly saw a demand for my game products and continued to produce them as fast as I could. By the end of 2022 I participated in many local holiday markets, and my products could be found in two local gift stores, Sea Gypsy Gifts (Astoria, OR) and Pop Local (Vancouver, WA).
Over the last 4 years I have continued to grow and lean learn. I became known as the “craft fair king” selling at countless markets and sharing my knowledge with those wanting to learn. I have attended multiple conventions across the US, partnered with brands, started a YouTube channel of my own, a maker podcast, and bring my passion to others through useful products that last generations. Today I am focused on teaching what I have learned to others, working with amazing people and giving back to my community through my work.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road hasn’t just been bumpy; it’s been a full-contact sport. I’ve got the broken finger, the stitches, and more splinters than I can count to prove it. But the physical toll is only half the story. The real struggle has been the steep learning curve of mastering three distinct careers at once: the precision of a woodworker, the stage presence of a ‘TV’ personality, and the strategy of a business professional. There’s a unique kind of frustration in pouring your soul into a high-production video only for it to flop, while a quick, raw clip takes off. It keeps you humble, but it definitely keeps you scratching your head.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a custom CNC woodworker and content creator, but I usually describe myself as a ‘maker’ in the broadest sense. My work as Duffey Woodcraft lives at the intersection of precision technology and playful imagination. I specialize in CNC-machined goods, often leaning into my love for the unexplained as I’m known for my Sasquatch and UFO-themed products. There is nothing quite like the reaction people have to my wooden UFO desk lamps; seeing that spark of curiosity in others is one of the best parts of the job.
While I love the high-tech side of things, I am most proud of a project that was much more personal: a round end table I built for myself. It features a hand-carved pedestal base made from the wood of the largest Walnut tree on earth after it was felled. It’s a piece of history in my living room. What sets me apart is this duality—I have the technical skill to film a documentary on CNC manufacturing, but I also have the passion of a traditional craftsman who isn’t afraid to pick up a carving tool and use a legendary piece of timber.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What truly makes me happy is the “lightbulb moment” that second when a another maker realizes how to do something, how to use their CNC, that it isn’t just an intimidating mystery, but a tool they can actually master. There is a huge sense of fulfillment in taking the complex parts of this craft and breaking them down on YouTube so others can succeed. Beyond the shop floor, my partnership with the team at Next Wave CNC is a major source of joy. They are an incredible group of people, and getting to showcase the true potential of their machines feels less like ‘work’ and more like sharing a secret weapon with my friends. Seeing a community grow and create because of a video I made is the ultimate reward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://duffeywoodcraft.com/
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/duffeywoodcraft
- Yelp: https://www.youtube.com/@DuffeyWoodcraft
