Standing in his home garage, Cal St. Peter places a round of Flathead Lake cherry wood onto a power wood lathe. With the press of a button, the wood spins.  

St. Peter picks up a knife from his collection of knives and chisels and begins to work. 

What starts as a piece of wood is turned into a unique tankard, a tall one-handled drinking vessel that dates back to the 13th century. St. Peter and his wife, Michelle, also make other items on the lathe: wine glasses, shot glasses and vases.  

Mug Man Woodworking, the business born out of St. Peter’s passion, is all about classic concepts being utilized today. After nearly a decade, St. Peter’s work is owned by people in Germany, Puerto Rico, Australia, and most recently, the White House.  

“I don’t burn it,” St. Peter said, holding a piece of wood that was left as a scrap in his driveway by a neighbor.  

“I turn it,” he smiled.  

After President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January, the St. Peteres handcrafted a classic tankard — a big wooden mug with a hand-carved handle — to send to the 47th president. The mug was adorned with the Great Seal of the United States and “Trump 2024” engraved into it.  

The mug was sent with a letter outlining the couple’s military history, woodworking highlights and a description of the mug’s significance. It was crafted out of three separate pieces of white oak wood, each representing a different facet — God, family and country.  

On March 11, the St. Peteres received a letter from the White House thanking them for the gift, signed by the President himself.  

“Thank you for your kind words and for sending the wonderful custom mug with such touching significance!” the letter states. “It is an impressive example of American craftsmanship. You represent the very best of our great Nation.” 

The president applauded their military service as well, ending the letter with plans to “usher in the Golden Age of America.”  

The idea started, St. Peter said, with their support of Donald Trump and knowledge that the White House is decorated with items throughout American history.  

“Why not give them something from here?” St. Peter said. 

St. Peter, originally from Washington state, moved to the Flathead Valley in 1992 after finishing active duty with the U.S. Army. He and his wife, who also served in the Army, met while they were stationed in Germany. They got married shortly before moving to Kalispell.  

The pair began to grow their passion for the artform nine years ago, specifically wood turning, a traditional woodworking technique using a wood lathe, or spinning machine, and handheld tools to cut away unwanted pieces of wood.  

From there, Mug Man Woodworking came to be.  

St. Peter, while in high school, got his first taste of turnery when he took second in novice wood turning competition for a cedar waterbed frame. From that point forward, he always liked woodworking, he said.  

“It didn’t start out with the idea of business, it’s just something that I enjoy doing,” he said. “We still have the first little cup I ever made. And then we made some for friends, for family, and they encouraged us to keep going and we did.”  

The process to create each mug is tedious. After carving the shape and creating the handle, the mugs go through rounds of sanding and glossing, each finished with a food-safe alcohol epoxy that can withstand both cold and hot beverages.  

Many of the cups feature engravings of military and American seals and St. Peter can take unique requests and commissions.  

“The military pieces are important to us,” he said. “It’s a way to honor our brothers and sisters who served.” 

They also use the byproduct that gets thrown to the side in their home smoker.  

Today, Mug Man Woodworking and the St. Peteres travel to various chainsaw carver rendezvouses and woodworking shows. The art is often set up on an old, orange 1957 Dodge.  

To inquire about events, purchases and more, reach out to the St. Peter’s at 406-871-8336 or visit facebook.com/mugmanwoodworking.  

Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or [email protected]. 

  

 Custom-made wood-carved goblets made by Calvin St. Peter at Mug Man Woodworking on Tuesday, April 8. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider

    The mug made for President Donald Trump by Mud Man Woodworking in Kalispell by Cal and Michelle St. Peter. (Courtesy photo)