Mollie Walsh -
Some people discover craftsmanship as a hobby. For Silas, it became not just a fascination but a way of life before most teenagers had their first job.
He began working at just fourteen years old, making and selling knives. Experienced craftspeople willing to invest in a young maker mentored Silas. Those early mentors shaped not only his technical skills but also his philosophy of work. Among them was bladesmith Mace Vitale, known to many through Forged in Fire. More importantly than any clout that follows appearances made in the media, however, was what young Silas would walk away with, "He taught me that the mission of a craftsperson is to create work that is useful, exceeds industry standards, and still bears the unmistakable imprint of the artist who made it." That mindset has guided many chapters of Silas's career.
Over the years he has moved between running his own business, Sherwood Custom, and working in other custom shop settings—the kind whose work fills carefully curated Instagram feeds and leaves woodworkers, followers, and craft enthusiasts in awe by the tens of thousands. After moving to Lynchburg about eight years ago, one such position opened up at a shop Silas had digitally ogled for years. It seems the luck of getting paired in such a rich mentorship early on was still with him as he embarked on this new journey. This dreamy job slowly became a masterclass in process. Recalling the early days at Modern Oak Construction, Silas lauged remembering staring at the shop, convinced he might be the only one on the floor who knew how to “cope crown” (a fairly complicated process for joining crown moulding). He couldn't have been more wrong. In my favorite moment of chatting with Silas he described this mistake as “awesome”. Excitement spread across his face. Being schooled wasn't embarrassing—it was exciting. It meant he had just discovered there was an entirely new level of craftsmanship waiting for him. Despite this awakening at the beginning of his time at Modern Oak he was eventually promoted to the role of Specialty Lead, redefining what it meant to have a specialty not only in his woodworking skills but also his understanding of efficient systems.
Today, that appreciation for process follows him everywhere— and much to our joy, to Vector Space. After years of hearing about this rumored collaborative workshop on the wind, joining became an easy decision. When a collaborative partner recommended they join together, Silas was eager to jump in. They felt that being able to pop in and use the table saw whenever the need struck, would prove useful. It quickly proved invaluable. As his hours at VS accumulated, he found himself developing new favorite tools, namely, the wide belt sander. Reflecting on a painful build pre-Vector Space, Silas described how the machine became less of a luxury and more of a revelation as he went from “hand-sanding a batch of thirty-inch white oak round tabletops all the way to 220 grit” to relishing in the super efficiency for his workflow.
It’s always fun to see what Silas will be working on next at the shop. One afternoon, while cutting through the VS loading dock, I found Silas and his brother in the middle of transforming a cargo van into a mobile production studio! His brother's career as videographer and international marketing professional take him all over the US and around the world for shoots, requiring a truck decked out to epic proportions. The true joy for Vector Space came in watching the puzzle pieces come together—not only because of the imaginative tease of what this shop on wheels will one day see and do, but in the simple pleasure of watching two brothers work together to build something special. Their shared eye for detail made it clear that craftsmanship, whether it be with wood or cameras, runs in the family.
The blend of artistry and function seen in the van project is one that’s also at the heart of Sherwood Custom, a business he has operated for nearly eight years.The name dates back to his younger days, inspired by hiking, trail names, and of course the legendary refuge in the fabled forest. More than a clever brand, it reflects the feeling he hopes his work creates. Just as Sherwood Forest represented refuge, Silas wants the spaces he builds to become places of comfort, warmth, and retreat within a home.
I’m excited by Silas’s design aesthetic, when creating professionally, he spans a field of modern, personal and classic. It reflects a collaboration with existing spaces which implies his depth of understanding when it comes to ‘reading the room’. When Silas is creating for personal joy his artistry leans medieval, deftly falling like solid oak back into that grounded refuge Sherwood Forest. He’s known to incorporate playful historic details like quatrefoils. Whether he’s playing or working his greatest satisfaction comes from solving problems creatively. Every project presents a new puzzle, and every solution is an opportunity to blend beauty with function.
Looking ahead, the future feels intentionally open. International Airbnb projects, expanded custom builds, and perhaps an evolutionary branch of Sherwood Custom specializing in vehicle conversions all remain possibilities. Whatever direction he chooses, one thing seems certain, Silas isn't chasing a particular product or title. He's chasing the next opportunity to learn, create something meaningful and original, and work from the heart. If you've fallen in love with his craft as we have, don't worry. Silas assures us, "I will always be doing something with my hands somewhere."
You can follow along on Silas’s oak-strong start and the ensuing journey by visiting Sherwood Custom's website and Instagram
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Outside the shop, Silas continues to look for opportunities to learn and share what he loves with others, training in jiu-jitsu and enjoying time completing projects at home with his wife Hannah.