FURNITURE THAT LASTS

Trees are milled into rough cut lumber and then air or kiln dried. Several buildings on the property are lined with wood going through the drying stage. Aspen, pine, cottonwood, cedar, black walnut, and white oak are just a few woods we frequently use. After properly dried, wood is inspected for bugs and often sprayed if there is evidence of living insects.

Lumber is hand peeled with an antique draw knife purchased from a local antique store. The wood normally goes through a minimum of 3 different stages of sanding. Beginning with 80 grit, then moving up the line to 180 grit, sanding normally ends at 220-320 grit in order to obtain a perfectly smooth texture. Some projects even require 600-800 grit sandpaper.

After numerous hours of sanding, I begin piecing lumber together in a way nature would have it. If it is a struggle to get certain pieces together, it doesn’t want to go there. I let the wood do the talking and put it where it wants to live. Every piece is pre-drilled and fastened with heavy wood screws or even at times lag screws for larger items. To cover pre-drilling holes, I actually harvest circular twigs or branches. These branches are cut to size, but never sanded to fit the hole. I use only the portions of the branch that fit naturally. It takes time, care, and true craftsmanship to find the correct piece that covers the drill hole, but upon completion you have a beautiful natural appearance lasting for generations to come.

In order to preserve, protect, and bring out the beautiful grain of each piece, Danish oil or a high gloss varnish is applied. Varnish provides a thicker more glossy tone to the piece, while Danish oil soaks deeper into wood and is not as glossy, leaving a more natural look. Both bring out the wood grain wonderfully and will bring longevity to your next home furnishing.