About Us
Hi, I'm Bob
I have built custom furniture for over 40 years. I have used the same figured lumber that we now sell and ship.
20 years ago, my wife said I should sell lumber as it was so hard to source. I have been fortunate to work with a couple of lumber mills to get what I was looking for. I started very small as I was just able to keep myself supplied with lumber. I dried a lot of it in my solar kiln and used some small commercial kilns to dry the rest. The figured lumber business built up over the years to the point of overtaking my furniture building. I learned so much from great friends about the lumber industry , grading, log buying, sawing logs, and lumber drying.
I learned how amazing a true vacuum kiln worked about 5 years ago. It was a dream of mine to somehow get one. Some folks I had worked with heard me talk about the kilns and said they might be interested in working with me to make it happen. Talk about a journey that was never expected. Those 2 gentlemen have allowed me to grow beyond my biggest dreams. Their business has grown to what is now 3 kilns and a new building that is being built to house the kilns and allow that business to expand. I still work with those 2 sawmills that I started with and also 2 other mills. One more in Wisconsin and one in Pennsylvania. I do not sell imported wood. Only woods native to the USA. I am blessed to be able to get whatever I ask for from the mills. Thick stock that is very hard to source and the ability to have special sawing done. The ability to dry this lumber in the absolute best vacuum kilns is the best. I do believe I am beyond anything I ever dreamed of. All the praise goes to God above. I am blessed to have my wife’s support and that of my family. Thank you for helping me grow my small business into what it is now.
Hi, I'm Matt
Matt started woodworking many years ago by making canoe paddles and discovered Kloes Specialty Hardwoods when he decided to expand his craft to furniture. Matt enjoys using traditional hand tools on all his projects and strives to create an heirloom quality piece over production. After all, his full time job supported his family and he used woodworking and shop time as food for his soul.
Bob Kloes is a great mentor and friend to many. His knowledge of traditional woodworking and wood finishing is impressive. Even more impressive was Bob’s knowledge and inventory of domestic figured hardwoods. Matt was familiar with birdseye maple, curly maple, and other figured hardwoods, but had never really worked with those materials or laid his eyes on such beautiful stock. Matt soon realized that Kloes Specialty Hardwoods didn’t just sell figured domestic hardwoods, it sold the highest quality figured domestic hardwoods. And from there on, he fell in love with working with figured hardwoods and helping Bob in all aspects of his business.
Soon, the time will come when Matt will be lucky enough to retire from his 25 year career and transition to his dream of working with Kloes Specialty Hardwoods. Until then, he takes whatever free time he can to work on projects in his hand tool shop and help Bob sort lumber and prepare orders.
Working together with Matt will make sure that Kloes Specialty Hardwoods continues into the future. Matt has the same passion and love for fine lumber as I do. If you have not met Matt yet, you will. It’s exciting to know that it will continue.