One Piece at a Time

After several years of steady growth, 2023 brought a major life change. I retired from the Army and relocated to Huntsville, Alabama. That transition forced a pause in the shop while everything from the house to the workspace was packed, moved, and rebuilt.

When the tools finally came back out and the dust started flying again, I had a choice to make about the future of the business.

Up to that point, it would have been easy to start batching similar products, simplify designs, and push toward faster turnaround and higher volume. But the projects that meant the most to me—and to my customers—were never the quick, repeatable ones. They were the deeply personal commissions, the pieces built for a specific place, a specific person, or a specific story.

This commissioned Air Force sign, created for a space called “The Hangar” in Peyton, Colorado, marked that turning point.

Instead of trying to build ten things at once, I focused on one piece from start to finish. Design consultation first. Measurements and layout tailored to the exact wall it would live on. Toolpaths dialed in for clean, confident cuts. Careful staining to bring out the grain. Subtle lighting added to give the finished piece presence without overpowering the wood itself.

Every step was intentional.

This project reinforced a simple truth: quality work takes time, and that’s okay. Durability, detail, and craftsmanship matter more than speed. Rather than chasing mass production, I committed fully to made-to-order builds, each one treated as its own project with its own workflow.

From this point on, the process became more refined and repeatable even though the products themselves were not. Initial consultation. Concept and mockup. Material selection. Carving, finishing, and protective topcoat. Final fit and presentation.

One piece at a time.

That decision shaped the direction of McSquared Customs going forward: no shortcuts, no assembly line, just solid, custom work built to last and designed to mean something to the person who receives it.