Beginning the Process

Last night I spent some quality shop time chopping my lumber purchases into smaller chunks. I studied each board that I purchased for knots, defects and grain pattern. I took the chop saw to them to get roughly 30" lengths and took some basic measurements to determine how many boards I'll ultimately be able to make. Every rough board I buy tells a story. How big was the tree? Did it grow at an angle? How many smaller branches did it lose in its life? Were some years better for growth than others? It's really cool to study... if you're a wood geek.

I also did some Amazon shopping and ordered two more power tools which should help me out in fulfilling the backlog of orders I have at this point. The tools should arrive in a week or so and I am completely excited to unwrap them and put them to use. Honestly I'm nervous about paying these expensive pieces off, but I'm going to swing for the fence and make/sell as many cutting boards as I can in the coming months. Fortunately, these new tools should cut down on the ever-dreaded frustrations that I encounter using my hand tools and ultimately allow me to make bigger, prettier and more precise cutting boards.

A few photos of last night's work. Not impressive at all, just documenting the process.

The bottom rack of my lumber shelf. 30" rough lengths of bloodwood, bubinga, cherry, maple and walnut.

A new board I am in the process of making. Maple, bloodwood and walnut. This is before the second glue up.

On the Fence

So, I'm crunching some numbers to see whether expanding my tool arsenal is a good idea or a bad financial move. With the recent onslaught of cutting board requests, I'll certainly keep very busy over the next few months. Can I make/sell enough boards to cover my costs is the big dilemma. It's a hobby... not a small business right? Yikes.

So, if I pull the trigger I may be able to fulfill my to do list. I just need to keep people interested in the fine art of my works. Like every artist, one must keep demand in the back of their mind. And I must stay focused on creating beautiful pieces that folks will stand in line for.

Saturday Morning Lumber Shopping

I took a drive over to the lumber yard this morning to replenish my stock of hardwoods. Spent just under two hours crawling around the stacks and picking through boards. Bought a few species that I have never worked with before. Lots of great colors. I'm excited to start milling them all down to useful stock size.

Walking amongst the lumber inspires me. If only I had more time and an unlimited budget.

So many species. A guy could spend a fortune on this stack.

A nice 8/4 piece of hard maple, just over 10ft long.

Cheese Boards

Just finished up some more cutting boards. Two full sized boards, and 3 cheese boards. I am pretty much out of bloodwood at this point, so I'm off to the lumber yard on Saturday to pick through the stacks to find some great boards for the next batch. No telling what will be in stock, but I'll do my best to pick up the most dynamic wood I can get my hands on.

Thankfully my loving and supportive wife is taking the kids to the zoo to give me some shop time.

I am getting swamped with requests for these cutting boards, so please be patient. I promise that I will post photos and send emails as soon as I get more made. Thanks for looking.

Cheese boards made from bloodwood, walnut and cherry. 12" x 6" 1.75".

A photo of the cheese board twins, sold as a set.

Another cheese board made from walnut, cherry and maple. Recessed handles on all 4 sides.

Cheese board made from walnut, cherry and maple.

I call this cutting board "back bone." Bloodwood, cherry, maple and walnut,

A close up view of the grain patterns.