Dave's Blog

News and updates from Dave Marzalek of DM Hardwood Designs..   
Feb 8th

It's been such along time since ive bloged so here you go...!!!

Well the school back in November was a blast 7 students got here all flying into Durango's airport.. WOW! i spent all day picking up people there with all flying in on different times..

Curt Sandburg ,Trevor Larsen, Reed Maddray, Randy Harris , Tracy Thibadeau, And Brett Miller from Basic Coatings ..

The school was like bootcamp 16hour days were common and intence to say the least .

The school built 3 inlays ..the oval inlay called durango and Old man winter..that also paired it's self with the Telluride snow boarder inlay ...all which were hand cut and built right there in my wood shop .

With me guilding the path for them to follow they built the entire project with me Quarterbacking the effort's..it was more work than i thought just leading the way ..with everyone jumping back and forth to be involved in all aspects of the job...

They learned how to freehand carve roses into the oval inlay and were reponsible for the overall design of my son's room ..

Tracy and Reed were the chef's in the kitchen for the morning's and dinner's as we brought in lunch each day ...great food we enjoyed along the way...

Trevor was the fireboy being a firefighter from Utah..provided some very large flames lol!!!!

Curt Sandburg spear headed the Master bedroom as Brett Miller took controll in the snoman room ..Randy Harris lead the effort's out in the shop and myself kept everyone's scraper blades sharp..

Im very pleased too have had a great bunch of contractor's here to come and learn from me and walk away doing just that Awesome Guy's thanks..

Thanks to my sponsors ...Woodwise 3M...Basic Coatings..RareEarth Hardwoods..Denny Hickman of Allegheny Mountain Hardwoods..Galleher Hardwoods..Kevin Mullany for letting us borrow his Festool slide saw set up ...thanks Kevin ..Jennifer of 3M you rock Gary at woodwise thank you and a very special thanks to Rick Paid along time friend of mine from Rare Earth hardwoods in Traverse CIty Michigan....

Im currently working on the design for Novembers school this year and will post up dates as we get closer the the month ...I can say it will out do the past schools it has too ......do you expect anything less from me ...hummmmmm

As always thanks for takin the time too view my website ..coming soon the start up of the inlay Posidon..

October!5th..

Well im here in New Mexico and the weather has changed..trees are turning orange and red ..and getting rippy it already has snow up in Telluride ..

Im expecting almost a full class for the advanced installation school if not full .

Been working on the rooms getting them ready and gutting the old crap that was still there ..
Galleher has sponsored the wide walnut as well as maple and quarterd white oak..Wood wise as sponsored the wood fillers this year Basic Coatings the poly's RareEarth Hardwoods for exotic's and veners..and buy the way a great supplier of all hardwoods and specialty items ..Goodwin Heartpine supply"s the pine wood used ..3M as always everything ..there great Jennifer your awsome ..Murpy's oil Soap the cleaner's as always Jenny your super !!!!!Alegeneny Hardwoods out of emlington PA the Black walnut Denny Hickman a great friend ..see you at the pirates camp ..in January....

We are going to be also building a snowboarder inlay featuring a drawing from my son Darren and ill turn it into formate for a inlay featuring the theme of Telluride ..the students will design the room and one of them they will choose who will enter the floor in the NWFA's floor of the year contest in Washington D.C in April 2010..

The Master bedroom will be my most dramtic looking floor with designs that travel around the bed with an oval inlay in front of the bed then broken stagarded various shaped planks scribed into each other to fill out the rest of the floor ..
There will be hand carved red roses coming off the center of the oval inlay and running into and around the bed..then hand painted in various reds with green vines and leaf's ....

The goal to have these two floors done in 5 days with the hand disstressing and scraping done with a couple coats of easy dry oil sealer down with time too spare and go fishin g on the San Juan river just up the road ..again the class is Nov 14th thru the 21st of November...still a few spaces open you can reach me on my cell 949-230-8353..
Thank you always for taking your time an viewing my website Thank you ..dm
August18th

Dm Hardwood Designs Advanced school is Nov14Th thru the 21st the cost is 1000.00 it includes staying there at my home and all food..

We will be building an oval Victorian inlay with scroll work on the outside of the oval as well as hand carved red roses that will travel outside of the oval inlay into the field of mix wood of broken boards ..a diamond crossed banded boarder will tie into the oval inlay..

you will learn how to make the template for the oval for the installation of the inlay..

On Thursday hopefully we will learn how to hand scrape and distress the flooring and add worm holes and tracks as well as egg corns into the floor..burning wood as well..

On Friday we will leave the home and go fishing on the San Juan River where the brown trout will be spawning ..Party to follow for the rest of the day with pic's and fun times...

There still is space available..the sponsors are 3M,  Basic Coatings, Rare Earth Hardwoods ,GoldenState flooring...Woodwise...Sika Glue...with more too be added ..

Just finished the last two weeks up in Durango with my kids we went on the Silverton Durango train to the old mining town of Silverton a neat historic mining town from the 1800's..mountain biking on the Colorado trail ..paint balling and getting my ass handed to me by the kids ..and i still hurt from that ..and took a day drive up to Telluride with my dogs.. in between all of that we all hand scraped 1300 sq ft of Goodwin Heart Pine to be install in San Clemente on the beach front..later this Sept..

Again as always thanks for taking the time to view my website...and if interested in the school post on the site here and let us know...dm

May 1st
Hey everyone ,
Well it was a experience too say the least ..the Nwfa convention was nice very slow low traffic but a very nice time to say it all..
I want to thank Bob Peterson and his crew for helping me with the set up of the exhibit...it was a handful and stress to get it up also want to thank Juan and his son from Chicago for there help as well...

The booth was very nice and displayed very well had so many people give very nice compliments . It was a very different looking booth from the others and for getting something out of it sold a Goodwin heart pine job out of it ..and a couple scrapers...

Dm hardwood designs also won the Members Choice award bringing the company's total too 18 ..That was the reward for the endless hours that were spent and the extra help that was provided by Wayne Highlander and Rob Johnson..and company..Guys thank you for making a bad year some what better ..I'm very tired from this show and probably will not do this again ..just watch and walk around ..Till then as always thanks for taking the time to view my website ...say in tune for something new this summer ....



April 7th
Its been awhile ...here's what i have been up too ..I finished my floor of the year floor here in Farmington just under the dead line with the kind help from Wayne Highlander and his two brothers and others from the Oakland area..

Finished the 4d inlay. now called Northern Illusions ..and installed in too the entry way here in Farmington ..

The second workshop here was small only a couple made it but really help out here learning Hand scraping black walnut and building the exhibit for the show..what they learned was cutting radius tapered boards and spline cutting for the floor plate end grain log installation ..

The booth Harbours both the 4d inlay and the Spiritual Wilderness inlay to be showcased in Long Beach this April 28Th ..Inside the booth will be Goodwin Heart pine and Murphy's oil soaps stuff as well as others that have helped me get too where I'm today ..This piece took 4 guys to get it off the table and too the booth and the first time i have had the opportunity to view the piece standing up ...a long time waiting and well worth it ..

I'm exhausted now and will take time out too just work regular job's perhaps ...yea right that will work LOL..

The next workshop will be in the fall months as we attempt to build out a bedroom floor with a oval inlay  diamond boarders and broken boards that will fill out the field this will be a hard floor to complete ..

The next big inlay will be Poseidon ..eyes with in ..and will showcase in San Diego in 2011..along with a bran new 4d inlay..

Dm Hardwood Designs was awarded it's 16Th and 17Th Floor of the Year awards to be given out in the Long Beach convention expo..winning best ..entry foyer and best engineered for 2009...my booth number at the show is 1237 come and see us there ....again thanks for taking the time too view my website and for signing the guest book..dm

Jan..29Th
Just got back from Florida where I was playing baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates in there fantasy camp..WOW one of the best times of my life !
I joined Denny Hickman a veteran of the baseball camp and owner of Allegheny Mountain Hardwood..!800-867-9441..Denny and myself have known each other for awhile now and finally decided to join him at the camp ..
Well to say the least it was the best time . They pick me up in a limo due too the fact i was the last one arriving in camp ..once there the party started by meeting all the Pros's at the reception at Pirate City in Bradenton in Tampa .

The folling day it all started getting to the club house and getting to my locker stall where my gear was already there name tags everything just like the pro's ..Got out did there drills prior to batting practice then broke off into groups for batting practice .....Once i was done with that I went too the outfield too shag balls ..where i then blew out my hamstring running for a flyball..well diving for a flyball and collasped there and could not move ..out came the trainers..to cart me off too the trainers room where i said for the rest of the day ..

The trainers said i was done but agreed too work on the leg and see how I would respond too the treatments ..which went very well... well enough too crawl out for photos with the staff ..I did respond well enough to only bat the next day in the second game that afternoon and went 2 for 3 after that spent the rest of the day in the trainers room unders lot's of ice ...

I ended up playing in the rest of the games with Denny and the team to end up batting 8 for 18 and a average of  0.444not bad for a bad wheel our team made the playoffs and thats were I had my best day  going 3 for 3 and 3 rbi's..Yea for Dave ..We made  the Championship game later that day going 2 for 2 and a rbi ...but losing the game too end my time there ..Played the pro's the next day and got our assss handed to us ....Now home again back to getting my leg better and working again ...The school is coming up on March 16th ...so im getting that ready to go ...

December 16Th...
I'm going to have another advanced installation school in the beginning of March the exact dates will be posted here shortly...we will be installing a floor to be showcased at the Long Beach NWFA's convention in April the floor plate will be about end grain log install scribing with a school on circular radiant bending around the logs as well as dropping in a medallion into the center of the floor plate...

At the same time as this will be in the works a group will be building a 5 foot medalion in the wood shop learning how too hand cut glue veneers together and layout this piece of art on to it's backing I will give this piece to the winner of the poker tourament on that Friday night .interested call and leave your info or e-mail me the cost is 1200.00..includes your stay at my home as well as food ... drinks and fun  with learning to the sky.....game on ...thanks ...dm


December12th...
It's been awhile since I have Blog on my website so here it is...
Four weeks ago I was in a horrific truck accident. I was working with Brett on the former Vice President's floors up in Telluride up in the mountain of Colorado..I came home early Monday the 11th to bring down the work trailer before the snow came and to work on wood heater vents and bring them back the next morning..well on my way up to Telluride a mountain ski resort I was driving my Ford F250 super cab for the last time ...I got caught in so slushy snow and hydroplane about 40 miles and hour straight into the mountain wall lost control of the truck and hit the wall head on then the truck flipped once the rolled again to land on it's roof crushing me below the seats.

I was conscious through all of this when the truck finally came too a stop it was was pinned between the roof and the seats upside down..I crawled out on adrenaline not knowing if i was hurt and got out before the cars that were behind got to the truck ..to say the least I was blessed by God and so very proud too be alive with just broken ribs and cuts through out my body from the flying glass..everything and all my tools in the back of the truck were destroyed along with my great driving record this was my first wreak...

Two weeks later after ...I was in conversation with Wayne Highlander the west coast rep for Basic Coatings talking with him about the crash ..it was only a week prior to this I was in Oakland teaching an Advance coarse in building a floor of the year entry replica and what it takes to build an inlay form raw stock...well Wayne knew from the talks at the school i was involved in a floor of the year in progress up in New Mexico....Wayne talked with Rob Johnson the leader in the school program ...what came out of that is Rob Johnson gave the go ahead to have a private VIP advanced school here at my home in Farmington New Mexico.....

The following week came as well as Wayne and eight others some who were at the Oakland school to help me with the inlay to go into my exhibit for the convention in April ...We cover hand scraping the tool and the know how to use the scraper and to tool the scraper when it blew out and to resharpen it ..to sat the least there help was so admired it was awesome that they cared that much to come to me and help me ...I owe them and Basic big time ..My house here is very large and sleeps a lot so there will be many more schools here in my home in the very near future...

The guys stayed up late into the wee hours of night building the Golden Eagle that will fly out of the four level inlay the first that I know of in the world they were taught and cut on my Hegner scroll saws and learn a few of the tricks with that saw ...I'm now working around the clock to have this ready for floor of the year coming up in April the deadline is Jan16th ....

I'm going to have a advanced install school and inlay here in early march we will build my exhibit the floor for it that includes the four level inlay ..log rounds circular tapering log poles lighting and the Spiritual Wilderness inlay..mounting TVs to the exhibit and in the shop build a five foot medallion.which the winner of the poker tournament will take home ...the school is limited to 10 students and reps from my favorite company's..anyone interested in a once in a lifetime school call or e-mail me asap to book your spot i believe 2 spots are taken already the cost is 1200.00 that includes food and drink and a place too stay..your not paying for a hotel as you would at the other schools ..

Having schools here is great the wood shop is loaded with a lot of toys to play with and whats taught here is not taught anywhere else..just ask the ones thaat have been here it ROCKS..and you leave knowing you learned a lot total hands on training well worth the investment to get here ...all the info on how to reach me is on the contact page of the website you are reading now.

I'm heading down to the O.C to pick up my kids and to touch up a few extra on some jobs down there only be away for a week then plan to get the kids on the slopes for some skiing and snow boarding..and have a white Xmas up here ..It's going to be my first long drive since the accident and I'm driving a bran new F350 King ranch so that's nice ...but I'm scare truthfully .....thanks for taking the time reading and viewing my website...dm


Sept 12Th...Wow I'm finishing up my work down in So.Cal be back home at the end of next week..wood is coming from Goodwin Heart pine for my home and will start installing my floors in early October.. at the same time I'll be start construction on my exhibit for next years convention..Goodwin heart pine will be used through out the exhibit as well very complicated design and lighting go figure.... training for baseball asim going to join Denny Hickman and team up in the Pirates fantasy camp on Jan ..18Th for 8 days in Florida this is going too be a blast..but when i do get back ill be there for awhile finally rest for a few days and then I'm heading to Telluride to go backpacking for 4 days before the snow starts flying with my dog hunter he has a dog backpack as well cant wait ...

Been reading Floormasters ..treads and I'm glad I'm not there there is so much miss leading information being pasted around I'm sad for this because in experienced floor men are passing around idea's  that are so far out there and handing them out like viruses this is leading to failure in the industry ..you do not tint water base and why ? and get used to distressed floors there coming fast and there money to redo as well and yes you can sand them out flat with ease ..this is why I'm no longer helping or engaging in there sight guy's with 4 years of experience thinking they have all the answers there not even too journeyman status let alone knowing what is going on with there floors and there new inventions.. the tread on dura seal is so wrong ....If i try to say something there on the site you have the same clowns chiming in to dispute your cause of reason...so I'm just doing my own thing for now and loving it ....Spiritual Wilderness is almost done getting ready too install the fiber optics and final finish ..and then will start on the 4d inlay shortly ..Thanks for taking the time too view my sight and if there is anything i can help you with please fell free too call me and we will do our best to make it happen for you ..Take care for now ,,dm


August 24Th  OK I have been read and keeping up with the floormasters site and in doing so this is why I'm no longer interested in investing my time to the site..There is a lot of misconception of me there.Yes it's very hard to remove EGO and pride from a person's makeup and I'm working each and every day of my life trying too do so ,I'm very proud of my accomplishments and awards I have received. What's said about me is not very true at all.That being said I have spent a lot of my free time educating up and coming flooring craftsmen in my field of advanced flooring.

I'm a flooring architect first and artist second I really do love what I do and now have been doing general flooring for 30 years and plan to continue.teaching it and performing challenging pieces in the future,Where's Dave been lately is why I'm not there why do all of you wish to talk about me at the dinner table or on your computers instead of just calling me up and saying hello.

Spiritual Wilderness shows a side of me and my growth as a person and a teacher in this field of Hardwood flooring....very few people have seen this side of me I'm work in progress as we all are..I'm just taking to a level where noticing in my every day life style I'm very sensitive as a lot of artist are perhaps so I do care what others are saying about me and my works ..that's only one side of the coin the other is my giving back to people that ask and care to receive..

I do have plans to teach more next year for the NWFA out in St Louis.at the advanced courses by time is limited for the rest of the year into early next year.im tired of hearing about the schools teach very little when you do not imply yourself while at them standing around and watching will not get the job done challenge your self to the money you have spent and get what you put into the school and then take it home with you ,then pursue the knowledge you brought back with you  out on your next floors ...please if you do not know me as a person try too...dm







August 23rd     I'm back in So.Calif working on the finishing touches of the Toscana Sports club..and would like to thank Kieth's flooring Kieth Wells and BMC wood flooring and Brian Cullen for there awesome hard work out there in the heat.. It was enduring too say the least..And..Tim Aikman for allowing his crew too come down and install spiritual Wilderness is finally installed and glued to it's backing and for the first time in six years i was able too see it for the first time and what a site for sore eyes yes by far my best piece of work .

Ill be back in the wood shop on the 29Th to resume the art work on the piece as well as scraping of the inlay ....
The inlay can be view only at the Convention next April29Th at 5:30 at the Long Beach Convention Centre along with my first 4d four level inlay Orca's Dream an inlay with an above and below scene with a bald eagle flying out of the inlay into the floor.

Now im going to clear up a few things here Yes i wish to no longer  to involve myself on the floormaster site at this time im just not willing to get into anymore heated battles with the few that just seem to have too much time time on there hands to hijack every post there and the context is renewing it's self time and time again perhaps one day in the future ill post up again ...just tired of the selcted few there on that site that cannot shut up and feel they have to chime in on every topic ..I wish Bill Price the very best along with his family..

Thank you all for viewing my site ...dave

August 8Th

Heading for home for 12 days too work on the Spiritual Wilderness inlay and get it to the point where perhaps ill get it glued too it's backing. went out too the desert too get sample material too build  for the sit on the pros and cons of why tung oil is a very crappy finish for wood floors and has no life in this business of wood flooring taking bets here that i win the battle and we will put down Xterra poly in a commercial setting..any takers that finish is crap for floors and does not wear well period..that being said I'm looking forward to impressing the developer of the entire site  so well see what happens game on I'm ready with attitude now ....Spiritual Wilderness is very close to mounting it and the start of the art work and scraping of the inlay..by far my best work to date to view it you will need to be at the convention in April at the Long Beach Convention Center on April 29Th @ 5:30pm for the unveiling of both the inlay and the 4 level inlay in fiber optics...I'm just getting my wheels turning much  more too follow coming in April of 2011 POSIDON eyes from with in an ocean inlay above and below water with fiber optics and a 70 Viking fishing vessel ..

While at home in New Mexico ill be with my kids cant ride the seadoos they were stolen from my drive way yesterday from I'm told ..was bummed all day but I'm trusting my faith and my heart that my character is tested when I'm facing character so its only material ..that will be replaced with new..my kids and myself will fish the SanJuan river for brown trout and go backpacking up in Telluride..  thanks for viewing my website  and cheers too you all..dm