How to Make a Living as a Maker | Jonny Builds

Jonny Builds is a maker working out of his 1,500 square foot shop in Oklahoma City. He makes furniture and other projects with wood, metal, and anything else he finds useful. Starting in a garage with some basic tools and a desire to build for himself, he stumbled into his craft while the online maker community as a whole including Ben Uyeda (HomeMadeModern), Mike Montgomery (Modern Builds), and Johnny Brooke (Crafted Workshop) became his "shop teachers" simply by following along with their accounts. After successfully building his first piece of furniture, the fuel for his newest passion set in. From there, Jonny created his own KZbin channel which is known for being both entertaining and educational. Connecting with his audience by being his true self has led to several viral videos which in turn has resulted in his extremely popular KZbin content. Due to his continually growing success, Jonny Lambert is soon taking the plunge into being a full time maker and content creator, retiring from his longtime career as a police officer. Whether you're a loyal follower of Jonny or meeting him for the first time, his infectious drive will leave you wanting more and is sure to inspire the progress and success of the builds in your shop.
Video by Justin Mabie
Instagram: / _callmemabie_
Website: callmemabie.com/
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Jonny Builds
KZbin: / jonnybuilds
Instagram: / jonnybuilds
Website: www.jonny-builds.com/
@Jonny Builds
Call Me Mabie poster prints of your favorite makers, shirts, sweatshirt, and more to help support projects like this one: www.callmemabie.com/shop/
#jonnybuilds #woodworking #maker
00:00 Defining a Maker
00:54 Meet Jonny Builds
02:23 The Beginnings and Going Full-Time
04:39 Becoming a Content Creator
06:44 CNC Woodworking
07:28 Finding Your Voice
10:17 Favorite Project
11:36 Passion
13:14 Support
14:54 The Future of Jonny Builds
17:03 The Love for Jonny Builds

[@CallMeMabie]

What other makers would you like to see me feature in one of these documentaries?? Let me know!

[@kollarhardwoods7597]

Dogwood would be cool! Love your videos!

[@FredMcIntyre]

Would love to see you do This Old Tony and/or The Crafsman SteadyCraftin, I think they would both pose some interesting challenges to your creative process, and I'd be truly interested in seeing what you would produce.... 😉👍🏻👊🏻

[@Siskiyous6]

MRPETE222 - Please

[@donazzopardi8747]

Jonathan Katz-Moses

[@grizzlymarn2875]

William Douglas Co.

[@katzmosestools]

Guaranteed Jonny has a lot of hugs locked and loaded for Workbench Con.

[@jeremyspecce]

I saw this comment before the end of the video and was like “I guess he’s known to be a big hugger?” 🤣😍

[@chm1701]

KZbin inspiration can’t be denied. If it wasn’t for KZbin (esp. Matt Estlea and Jonathan Katz-Moses), I wouldn’t have realised my passion for woodworking. I probably wouldn’t have had the realisation that I could go to night school and be able to leave the job I’ve had for 20 years in the bicycle industry, to become a trainee cabinet and furniture maker at the ripe old age of 41. I absolutely love it and it was the best decision I made. Good luck to you Jonny. Don’t look back and go follow that dream!

[@JTWoodworks]

Hey I made it in one of your videos 3:35 😁 Nothing but love and respect for Jonny!!

[@CallMeMabie]

You stole the show

[@MakerGray]

"Being a maker is whatever your version of being a maker is" I love that quote! Such a great video, Justin. I really enjoyed watching and learning more about Jonny

[@CallMeMabie]

Yeah I think it's my favorite quote of the video. He did a great interview. Thanks so much, Erin!

[@mikecolo2158]

Another fine documentary. Thanks for the video.

[@matthewlawson884]

Love this series. Thank you

[@jamesdesmond9098]

Excellent video Jonny, Thanks ! for sharing.

[@brandyaube217]

I love that guy! Everything that the makers said at the end is 100% true! Justin you are an artist and a maker too!

[@CallMeMabie]

Including the fact that he's a nice guy

[@KomarProject]

Congrats Johnny on just being you!!! You rock !

[@AdamRich1785]

Jonny is the best! Great video Justin!

[@CallMeMabie]

Thanks so much, Adam!

[@paco_vazquez]

So inspiring! Thank you!!!

[@untidymaker]

Yasssss tysm for the inspiration guys 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 I hope Jonny leaves now!!! ❤❤❤

[@CallMeMabie]

Thanks so much for watching, Carla!

[@soursofke]

Thanks for sharing. I'm glad that you have found your passion. Keep making great content. Oh... I don't know what you do with your scrap wood, but I'll take some off your hands. :)

[@wood_brain]

I absolutely love it!!! Great job yet again… also love the end with the added other makers talking about how rad and Nice Johnny is…. Great video buddy!

[@CallMeMabie]

Thanks so much, Lindsay!!

[@rossanctuary5238]

Gezz.. i wish i had this Dude's good luck

[@wobblyarrowsignworks]

I think this is your best one yet Justin ..👏

[@CallMeMabie]

That's so great to hear! Thanks for watching!

[@thesidburgess]

You summed up OKC so well. While I don't live there anymore, it's by far one of the easiest cities I've ever lived in. Arguably because the community there is effortless to plug into. You can't help yourself from making great friends and always hanging out at the many new hot spots.

[@stephencoster9532]

Hiya Jonny, you were born a maker! All makers are born to be. I make silver, soon to be gold, jewellery at home. I'm nowhere near the best at it, but I'm learning. All you can do is learn and grow, as you have, love your work, and I'll be following from now on. Thank you, Stay safe, Steve...

[@KOutOfMyYard]

I can not tell you how much I enjoy your videos! I just want more!!!! I really like that you show that these people are human just like the rest of us

[@CallMeMabie]

Nice! That makes me really happy to hear. There are plenty more coming and there’s no shortage of makers so stay tuned! And thanks so much for the support!

[@almsthndsm1]

It’s so awesome to see a fellow Okie in the spotlight, thank you for the outstanding documentary!

[@jeremyspecce]

Great work Justin, I had only peripherally known about Johnny before this video but now I’m certainly intrigued enough to give a follow and check out some of his stuff.

[@CallMeMabie]

Hey man, that’s what it’s all about. I’m glad to hear it! Thanks so much, Jeremy.

[@furthernorthfab]

I’m not crying, you’re crying. Love you, JB. Great work, Justin!

[@CallMeMabie]

Thanks buddy! I definitely appreciate ya!

[@katzmosestools]

Absolutely fantastic Justin. Jonny, you are a legend my brother.

[@CallMeMabie]

Thanks so much for watching, man. And also for your contribution to it!

[@rawframeshandcrafted]

Great video!

[@billdiehl156]

Love the content that Jonny puts out!

[@JonnyDIY]

Semper Fi, enjoy your well earned retirement Jonny! 👍

[@NickoleDavisRepnmyhood]

I love this, watching Jonny's journey about going from diving, to running to now making just feels like beautiful new chapters each time of his life. Excellent video, Justin

[@CallMeMabie]

Thanks for watching Nickole! Jonny definitely knows how to choose his own adventure

[@FredMcIntyre]

Awesome work Justin! 😃👍🏻📷👊🏻 .... Jonny is awesome! ... Glad I got to meet him at Maker Fair.

[@CallMeMabie]

Thank you so much, Fred!

[@bluenorthwoodworking]

This was excellent, Jonny is very inspiring! Great job on the vid :)

[@EthanCarterDesigns]

Another amazing video created by one of my favorite creators about another one of my favorite creators! Loved it bud!

[@CallMeMabie]

Thanks, Ethan! And thank you for your contribution to it!

[@woodworksbygrampies1284]

👍

[@DudeSawdust]

Another great video. I really enjoyed the ending compliments. I’m curious what inspired it? Are you planning on doing something like that again?

[@CallMeMabie]

Thanks for watching! As far as the ending sequence, you can thank Cow Dog Craft Works for that. When he heard I was making this video, he clued me in that Jonny has been integral to the success of many makers/content creators and at the very least has been incredibly encouraging. Cow Dog asked if he could hit up some makers for a montage of sorts and that's how it went down! He hit up most of those names, they all sent it over, and I of course agreed it was very deserving and only scraped the surface of those who admire him. I'll most likely leave it as a one time thing and let it be special and exclusive to this video.

[@DudeSawdust]

@@CallMeMabie that’s very cool. Such a great idea. I’m sure that really meant a lot to Jonny. Thanks for sharing that info. I’m really looking forward to your next video👍

[@philrader2016]

So I just watch the project where he bought the walnut to "fix" a mistake. I thought the "fix" turned out better than the original so I don't think it was a mistake but it was the wood exercising it's voice and telling you what it wants to be. I think all living things are a part of the conversation and sometimes you need to listen to them.

[@CallMeMabie]

I like the way you think, Phil

[@davebauerart]

Jessie is right, Jonny is better than me!