The man, the myth, the legend.
If you’ve been around MADE a lot in the past couple of years, you’ve probably run across member Ben Kosberg. Ben has been a member at MADE since April 2019, and is a huge contributor to our community and culture. He’s frequently seen using our CNC routers for the one-of-a-kind resin inlay tabletops and furniture he specializes in.
To help highlight some of his awesomeness, we reached out to Ben with some questions about his experiences!
MADE: What’s your background?
I grew up in Collinsville, Illinois. Growing up, my main interests were woodworking and music. Both of those interests have led me to places I never would have expected, while also providing avenues for learning, discipline, creativity, and general nonsense.
MADE: When did you start making stuff?
I started learning how to use tools from my father. Before he retired a few years back he was a woodshop teacher at a high school. He also had side carpentry jobs. Most of which was installing hardwood flooring. I grew up learning how to use tools from him, and a few grandfather figures. When I was around 10 years old my father let me come out and start working on hardwood floors with him and some other family members. When I got to be in high school, I had a good understanding of tools and discipline for carpentry. So, with access to my high school woodshop I had 4 years to learn about woodworking and even got some CNC practice!
MADE: What are you working on right now?
My main projects are wooden pieces with epoxy inlay. Mostly, I use my specialty for table pieces. In the next year I hope to include hardwood floor medallions, light up wooden pieces, and more furniture pieces.
One of Ben’s tables, for sale at MADE.
MADE: What project are you most proud of that you’ve made at MADE?
In the winter of 2019, I was hired to make displays for a restaurant in the Central West End of Stl called ReVoaked. The project included a few counters, divider wall pieces, butcher blocks. Which included large custom carving pieces. Because of my access to MADE I was able to make these larger pieces, and get the project done all in three weeks. Not only was it a quick project, but one of my larger projects.
A work in progress, wooden shelf CNC routed and ready for resin inlay!
MADE: What do you love about MADE?
The best resource at MADE has been the people. The staff are knowledgeable and hardworking. Also, the members are a bunch of creative types that are all making unique things. It is rather ideal. As far as tools go, my favorites are the CNC machines in the woodshop. They are what I specialize in, so it is what brought me here in the first place. I am also looking forward to working with the embroidery machine, and the water jet cutter.
MADE: What sort of advice would you share with a beginner maker?
The basic sort of advice would be to always keep learning about what you are interested in making. After that I would advise that you try and find what the greatest evolution of what you can make is, and while you’re trying to get there think about how that peak project can be improved. Set your standards high and try and impress yourself! Most importantly, treat creativity like it is a skill. It is something that you need to make time for and learn about. When you can fuse creativity and trade skills you will notice your quality of work will go up, and you will have a lot more fun along the way.
A black resin-inlay tabletop that Ben made in 2020.
Thank you, Ben! If you’re interested in learning more about Ben’s work, be sure to check out his business facebook page at facebook.com/KozzyBearCreations/ and check out the stuff he has for sale in MADE’s Member Giftshop. A jack of all trades, Ben is also a member of the Red and Black Brass Band, so be sure to check them out as well!
Interested in learning more about MADE’s CNC router? Start your maker journey with a training session, and start building your own inlay furniture!