Travis Duke - November 2024 Customer of the Month
November 2024 Customer of the Month: Woodworker travis duke
Travis Duke is an accomplished woodworker, who also welds metal frames for some of his projects. With his wife and business partner Mary Duke, he does custom work locally and by shipping. They are both expert at upcycling old or discarded objects, and their creations can inspire the rest of us.
With a workshop based on the south shore of Long Island, Travis has been a Phelps Refinishing customer for over two years.
Scroll down for photos of his work, a video tour of his workshop, and links to more of the Duke Family creations.
Travis Duke shows what a Fuji Spray Mini-Mite 5 can do!
Travis Duke ordered a new Fuji Spray Mini-Mite 5 T70 system (#2905-T70) in August, 2022 and at the request of his wife, tried it out on this upcycling project — completely redoing this kitchen island for their own home.
They chose to lay down a Benjamin Moore waterbourne primer with the T70, followed by BM Advance in a satin sheen. Travis reports that “Everything worked great and the finish is coming out wonderful.” (Click on the image below to go to the Instagram account.)
Note that all images in this post are copyrighted by Dukes Decor LLC.)
Kitchen cabinet makeover, with the primer and paint applied with a Fuji Mini-Mite 5 using a T70 bottom-feed spray gun. © Travis Duke, All Rights Reserved.
Travis was very pleased at the smooth finish he achieved with the Mini-Mite 5!
After this great practice piece, Travis went on to paint their kitchen cabinets. Click on the small image below to go to a series of before and after photos.
Note that every photo in this article is copyrighted by Travis Duke, with all rights reserved.
Travis sprayed the bathroom cabinets too, as part of a complete bathroom remodel.
2024 review of the mini-mite 5 — plus tips
Two years after his initial positive review, Travis Duke reports that he’s still very pleased with the Mini-Mite 5 with the bottom-feed T70 spray gun.
“ I’ve enjoyed the spray system, works great and have had a good experience with the customer service from Phelps and Fuji as well. It has plenty of power to atomize most finishes, the spray pattern is smooth and even and it is fairly easy to clean.
I wish I’d have purchased it sooner, it really makes the process so much easier and more professional.”
biggest tip from travis duke:
“My biggest tip would be purchasing the 3M disposable cup system from Phelps when you purchase the sprayer. It makes cleanup an absolute breeze.”
Note: Learn more about the 3M PPS 2.0, and shop for it at Phelps Refinishing PPS 2.0.
tour the woodworking shop
Woodworkers will enjoy a 2021 video tour of Travis Duke’s one-car garage workshop — so neatly designed and organized. This was before he bought the Fuji Spray Mini-Mite 5.
More about the duke family business
Travis and Mary Duke are owners of their family business, Dukes Decor LLC , based on the south shore of Long Island. They’re a great example of creative DIY upcycling — and of how a Fuji Spray system can be used to make this efficient.
To see Travis and Mary Duke and their three children (and Santa Claus too) check out their 2023 Instagram Christmas photo.
Links to the Duke family sites:
Facebook (Mary Duke is in charge of this.)
Instagram Custom Signs and Furniture (Travis Duke is in charge of this.)
YouTube - Team of DIY Creators (including the kids)
Etsy - Custom Personalized Signs (by Mary Duke)
Becoming a fuji spray customer of the month here
Would you like to become a Fuji Spray Customer of the Month at Phelps Refinishing?
Send your comments, photos and/or videos to my website consultant, Cathy Morgan.
Meanwhile, Happy Spraying!
Roger Phelps, Owner