David Draper

David Draper has enjoyed woodworking for almost 60 years, having started as a small child working with his father on personal woodworking projects in military base hobby shops. He worked in a small residential cabinet shop in New Mexico as well as a custom carved gun cabinet shop in Montanna during his college days. Throughout a thirty-year accounting and corporate career, David continued his woodworking hobby out of his garage. In 2011, a major lifestyle change saw David leave the big business world and return to school to be a Middle Grades teacher focusing on science, engineering, and design, often using 3D printing and laser cutting tools with his school students. In 2023, while continuing as a middle school teacher, David returned to professional woodworking focusing on benches, cabinets, cutting boards, clocks, and other custom work for clients. Also at this time, he started teaching woodworking classes at Sawtooth on weekends and weeknights. On May 29, 2026, David retired from the WS/FCS system and on June 1, 2026, David took on the dream role of Director of Wood Programs at Sawtooth.