About NAPCraft

My name is Nick Pahls, and I am a hobbyist green woodworker and craftsperson trying to turn my hobby into something bigger. The name NAPCraft comes from my initials (Nicholas Andrew Pahls) and desire to learn many different craft disciplines. My primary focus is on hand carved eating and cooking utensils - spoons, bowls, cups, and shrink pots - but I also do other forms of woodworking and enjoy reading about and learning to use other mediums - leatherwork, sewing, basketry, metalwork.

I am a full-time instructional coach at an elementary school in Salina, KS. I am also a father and a partner. My work is completed in the time I can find around those and many other responsibilities, so the time I have to hone my crafts is very important to me.

I have participated in some form of woodworking for more than 10 years, and over that time I have gradually moved away from power tools to almost exclusively hand tools. Most of my work is made using a combination of slöjd knife, hook knife, and axe. I also use many specialized and traditional tools, but they all have a focus on learning to use my body and techniques to power the shaping of wood rather than corded power. For me, this creates a more personal relationship with what I make and how I make it, and I feel a connection to previous generations of makers. My work primarily follows the techniques and traditions of the slöjd concept in Scandinavian countries, but with no true hereditary connection to these cultures, it is also influenced by modern makers and styles.

If you are interested in commissioning work, taking a class, or just learning more about what I do, I encourage you to reach out through the “Contact” section on this site.