Cowboy builds rustic western-style furniture

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Jun 17, 2002

MEEKER, Okla. (AP) -- On a hot, muggy day, you won't find rural Meeker resident Wes Weaver in shorts or a tank top. You'll see him with a black felt cowboy hat, long-sleeved shirt, jeans and cowboy boots.

Weaver is the owner, operator and creator of "The Runnin' Iron Rustic Creations." He builds furniture such as tables, lamps, nightstands and mirrors from aged barnwood.

"If the wood comes from a store or looks like it came from the store, I don't want it," Weaver said. "The more imperfections, the more rustic it looks and the better it covers. If there's an old rusted, bent nail in the wood, I leave it. It looks more rustic that way."

Weaver said he started building the furniture for himself, his family and his friends. He credits his western background and interests to the inspiration of his designs.

"It's irritating to see the furniture in the store so expensive and it falls apart when you get it home," he said. "It's really kind of insulting."

Now employed full time in law enforcement, Weaver said he worked on cattle ranches until he was about 35. He's been in law enforcement 23 years.

The former cowboy said he goes out of his way to ensure the wood looks rustic.

"Some of it comes from barns, some from fences and I made a table from the wood floor of a leather store in Shepherd Mall," Weaver said. "I'll tear down an entire barn and haul it all off just to get a little bit of lumber."

He said he collected wood from an old Amish barn in Pennsylvania.

"Snow caused the roof of the barn to cave in," Weaver said. "The Amish were a little apprehensive to give me the wood but when they found out I was going to make things out of it, they said I could have as much as I wanted. I hauled as much as that Isuzu Trooper would hold."

Although Weaver can draw and carve his creations by looking at photos, he said he likes to keep his designs with the western and farm theme.

"I normally don't do a lot of flowers," he said." I like to build stuff I like. I've been able to satisfy my customers that way."

He added that he hasn't done a lot of Native American work.

"I haven't done it because I don't know a lot about it," Weaver said. "I wouldn't want to offend anyone. I could do it if someone brought me a picture. I've been trying to do some research about it."

The rustic creations are what he calls his relaxation.

"This is my bowling and my water-skiing," he said. "This is my time away from my work and with my family."

He said his wife, Debbie, works nights as a paramedic in Midwest City and the hobby allows him to be home with his two kids, Logan, 10, and Kelcy, 14. They also have two grown children.

Weaver said the majority of his orders are custom made. He can make table tops from photos of prize bulls to bird dogs to ranch names and brands.

"There are no blueprints," he said. "It's something a little different every time."

Weaver keeps with the rustic theme all the way down to his tools. Some of them are handmade.

"I've even used a pocket knife for some of the carving," he said. "I've been accused of dumpster diving. If there's an old wood cabinet in the dump, you'll see me going in with a screw driver to get hinges and door pulls. I've even used electric fence insulators as knobs."

He said he uses new supplies such as wood glue and stain only when necessary. He also uses old saddles, leather products and used lariat ropes to accessorize items such as mirrors and pictures.

"I never cut down growing trees just for lumber," he said.

Weaver and his family moved to the Meeker area about two and a half years ago after living in Jones for 20 years.