Former auto mechanic Armando Reyes turned his hobby of woodworking into a full-time business.

"I learned woodworking from my grandfather and my father and uncles," said Reyes.

He said his first projects were shop projects

"I slowly started to upgrade my skills and tools and adding to all those things," said Reyes.

His shop at home morphed into the shop for his business Lake Erie Woodworks. It's located on Walnut St., just off 12th St., in the City of Erie.

He is building his business for both residential and commercial customers.

One of the biggest projects that we first took on into this transition was building out the tasting room for Altered State Distillery," said Reyes.

Most of the jobs come from the company's website.

All of the pieces - from tables to family room additions - are specific to the customer's vision.

Recently, Reyes and his only employee Carlos were working on pairs of cornhole sets for Mercyhurst University that showcase the flooring of the school's basketball court.

"The projects we offer are very special for people," said Reyes. "They search out somebody who really is looking to build something for them not just something they bought at a store."

The business is now offering classes for those who want to learn more about woodworking.

There is a wait list for classes which are held right in the workspace.

Reyes hopes sharing his skills will inspire others and challenge him to produce more unique items.

"What's really the joy for me is to see their happiness and know that we've crafted something that is gonna stay in their house basically forever," said Reyes. "They can pass it down through generations."