Woodworker creates beautiful pieces despite blindness

John has refused to let blindness determine his ability or capability. Despite the odds, he's followed his passion for woodworking and continues to achieve perfection.

"Being a perfectionist that I am, it has to be perfect," says John Cook. Each and every cut he makes is steady, deliberate, flawless. It is the secret to his craftsmanship.

For more than 30 years, Cook has created masterpieces from scratch. But, he never sees the finished product.

"My hands are my eyes," says Cook, "I can see imperfections, unevenness that your eyes cannot see."

Cook lost his site to glaucoma when he was just a kid.

"I felt the need to accomplish something that was to the average person unbelievable, impossible or whatever word you want to use," says Cook.

So, he turned to something very familiar, a craft he watched his father perfect when he could see.

"I watched him build a house by himself," says Cook. Soon, he was following in his father's footsteps. Naysayers only powered his passion.

"As soon as he told me I couldn't do it, I went out and got the tools and I did it," he says.

Cook credits relentless determination and modifications a neighbor helped create years ago for his success.

"When I was first starting, he saw me struggling with measuring and being a perfectionist," says Cook, "He made this measuring stick with his saw and pencil marks. It's very accurate."

Cook then designed gauge blocks with brail marking. Using those items and a blueprint in his head, he measures his lumber and gets to work

"My accuracy is actually better than the human eye," says Cook.

But that does not mean he has never slipped!

"As I've said in the past, you're not a journeyman until you show me a nub. I got mine so I'm a journeyman," says Cook.

But Cook says his appendage loss has nothing to do being blind, rather stupidity. Now, he always errs on the side of caution.

Woodworking has given Cook identity, independence and purpose. Each masterpiece is much more than cabinetry or furniture. It is a sense of accomplishment Cook hopes will inspire others.

"Be it blindness or any other disability, don't think in terms of how limited you are but what can I do and give it a try and see how far you can go," says Cook.