Woodworkers ply their trade in Sisters

For Craig Mannhalter and Ben Sparrow, nothing could be better than living in Sisters and using their trade to help others.

Mannhalter and Sparrow opened Metolius Woodworks two years ago and slowly built up their business by adding tools, large equipment and software. Today, their shop is a full-service woodworking facility that can take on any or all parts of a woodworking project.

"We both live in town and like the community. Our main focus is in Sisters," Mannhalter said of the many projects they've created for residents in and around the Sisters area.

The two men met while working at Moon Woodworking in Bend. When the business laid off workers after owner Keith Moon's death in 2008, Mannhalter and Sparrow decided to start their own business closer to home.

"We needed to try to make it work on our own. We couldn't have done it without our wives' support," Mannhalter said. He noted that his wife, Helen, and Sparrow's wife, Sharon, encouraged them to keep going as they built a client base and purchased equipment.

The woodworkers have created a variety of projects such as garage and kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and free-standing, one-of-a-kind furniture pieces. They even did all the woodwork in Mannhalter's house, which was finished in March.

Mannhalter and Sparrow work with a number of local vendors in the area when projects need wood finishes or glass. They use area licensed and insured installers, and Sparrow relies on his past experience to oversee each install. In addition, Mannhalter and Sparrow bid on jobs brought to them by local interior designers and use a local machinist when needing work done on their machines.

"We enjoy working together to get what the customer wants," Mannhalter said.

He also has been encouraged by returning customers. The pair strive for quality.

"We've been doing it long enough, we can see problems before they happen."

Sparrow said he's been working with wood since he was in grade school.

"My parents still have some of my projects," he said with a laugh. Sparrow grew up in Portland and took time away from wood work to be a "ski bum" in Colorado. He's worked in construction framing houses and building cabinetry.

In 1998 he moved to Sisters and now couldn't be happier "doing more finer, detailed work."

Mannhalter, who lived in California, was laid off as a firefighter in 1984 and took a job in a cabinet shop during the winter. He stayed on and learned the trade. Six years ago, he and his wife both quit their jobs in the Bay Area to move to Sisters.

"We haven't looked back since," he said. "It's a great place to raise kids."

The business is located at 723 Curtis Ct., Unit B. Their phone number is 549-8005.