Frequently Asked Questions

I work on a variety of project applications from tables (small or large), live edge, epoxy resin, charcuterie boards and a number of other household furnishings.

While I always like to stay positive with builds & projects, the short answer is no. I’ve created many projects over the years and the term “anything” is so vague and vast it could include so many unforeseen details.

What I suggest is having contacting me HERE to get started with an idea or perhaps your vision. If things feel as if they’re a good fit then we can absolutely take the next steps to working together to bring your project to life.

This question has a LOT of variables.

• Wood species?
• Project size (is it a dining room table or a serving tray) ?
• Type of finish desired?
• Epoxy involved at all?

In general projects can take a few weeks to a few months until final completion. While the woodworking itself requires hours of labor, please consider finish curing times as well.

As an example –  epoxy takes at least 7-10 days to cure (sometimes longer depending on the pour depth) which then has to be worked with, sanded and finished.

Some finishes take a few days to cure while some can take 30 days to cure.

Most of the time yes, we have a client waiting list to start projects. This timeframe fluctuates often however so please contact me with what you have in mind and your overall timeline.

Currently we accept checks, cash and certain online payments (via this website) for both deposits and project completion. Please contact us with any questions.

I am located in Ft Collins, Colorado.

Yes. The smaller items such as charcuterie boards, small lamp fixtures, artistic pieces, frames etc. are all deliverable through regular shipping carriers (UPS, FEDEX and USPS). Larger items such as tables, live edge pieces, dining tables, doors and larger scale lamps are available for local pickup OR freight quoted delivery. Please contact us with any questions regarding the delivery of an item.

This often depends on the type of project, your goals and availability. I am always happy to make recommendations when we speak and you describe what you’re looking for in a build.

Reclaimed tends to at times be a buzz word with woodworking and rightfully so. I have a writeup on reclaimed wood in this post HERE

A variety of projects we build started out as something else in their timber or lumber form. Many projects are also built from scratch with “fresh” or “salvaged” wood. However, this simply means a tree was taken down and our project is the first time the wood is being processed.

Salvaged tends to at times be a buzz word with woodworking and rightfully so. I have a writeup on salvaged wood in this post HERE

A variety of projects we build started out as something else in their timber or lumber form. Many projects are also built from scratch with “fresh” or “salvaged” wood. However, this simply means a tree was taken down and our project is the first time the wood (or parts of the wood from that tree) is being processed.

Please also see the FAQ on our sustainable efforts when building projects.

Wood hardness is commonly measured with the Janka Wood Rating. Check out the info list below (sourced via Wikipedia).

The Janka hardness test was created by Austrian-born American researcher Gabriel Janka (1864–1932). This system measures the resistance of a sample of wood to denting and wear. It measures the force required to embed an 11.28-millimeter-diameter (7⁄16 in) steel ball halfway into a sample of wood. (The diameter was chosen to produce a circle with an area of 100 square millimeters, or one square centimeter).

• • Australian Buloke 5,060 lbf (22,500 N)
  • Schinopsis brasiliensis, Quebracho, Barauna, Chamacoco 4,800 lbf (21,000 N)
  • Schinopsis balansae, Quebracho Colorado, Red Quebracho 4,570 lbf (20,300 N)
  • Lignum vitae, Guayacan, Pockholz 4,500 lbf (20,000 N)
  • Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil, Curupay, Angico Preto, Brazilian Tiger Mahogany 3,840 lbf (17,100 N)
  • Snakewood, Letterhout, Brosimum guianense 3,800 lbf (17,000 N)
  • Brazilian Olivewood 3,700 lbf (16,000 N)
  • Brazilian Ebony 3,700 lbf (16,000 N)
  • Ipê, Brazilian Walnut, Handroanthus lapacho 3,684 lbf (16,390 N)
  • African Pearwood, Moabi 3,680 lbf (16,400 N)
  • Grey Ironbark 3,664 lbf (16,300 N)
  • Bolivian Cherry 3,650 lbf (16,200 N)
  • Lapacho 3,640 lbf (16,200 N)
  • Sucupira, Brazilian Chestnut, Tiete Chestnut 3,417 lbf (15,200 N)
  • Kingwood 3,340 lbf (14,900 N)
  • Dipteryx, Cumaru, Brazilian Teak 3,330 lbf (14,800 N)
  • Ironwood 3,260 lbf (14,500 N)
  • Ebony 3,220 lbf (14,300 N)
  • Massaranduba, Brazilian Redwood, Paraju 3,190 lbf (14,200 N)
  • Yvyraro 3,040 lbf (13,500 N)
  • Strand Woven Bamboo 3,000 lbf (13,000 N)
  • Cocobolo 2,960 lbf (13,200 N)
  • Bloodwood (Brosimum rubescens) 2,900 lbf (13,000 N)
  • Boxwood 2,840 lbf (12,600 N)
  • Olive[10] 2,710 lbf (12,100 N)
  • Red Mahogany, Turpentine 2,697 lbf (12,000 N)
  • Live Oak 2,680 lbf (11,900 N)
  • Southern Chestnut 2,670 lbf (11,900 N)
  • Spotted Gum 2,473 lbf (11,000 N)
  • Brazilian Cherry, Jatoba 2,350 lbf (10,500 N)
  • Mesquite 2,345 lbf (10,430 N)
  • Golden Teak 2,330 lbf (10,400 N)
  • Guatambú, Kyrandy, Balfourodendron riedelianum 2,240 lbf (10,000 N)
  • Santos Mahogany, Bocote, Cabreuva, Honduran Rosewood 2,200 lbf (9,800 N)
  • Pradoo 2,170 lbf (9,700 N)
  • Brazilian Koa 2,160 lbf (9,600 N)
  • Brushbox 2,135 lbf (9,500 N)
  • Osage Orange 2,040 lbf (9,100 N)
  • Karri 2,030 lbf (9,000 N)
  • Sydney Blue Gum 2,023 lbf (9,000 N)
  • Palmyra Palm 2,020 lbf (9,000 N)
  • Bubinga 1,980 lbf (8,800 N)
  • Cameron 1,940 lbf (8,600 N)
  • Tallowwood 1,933 lbf (8,600 N)
  • Merbau 1,925 lbf (8,560 N)
  • Amendoim 1,912 lbf (8,500 N)
  • Jarrah 1,910 lbf (8,500 N)
  • Coconut Palm 1,900 lbf (8,500 N)
  • Purpleheart 1,860 lbf (8,300 N)
  • Goncalo Alves, Tigerwood 1,850 lbf (8,200 N)
  • Hickory, Pecan, Satinwood 1,820 lbf (8,100 N)
  • Afzelia, Doussie, Australian Wormy Chestnut 1,810 lbf (8,100 N)
  • Castello boxwood 1,810 lbf (8,100 N)
  • Bangkirai 1,798 lbf (8,000 N)
  • Rosewood 1,780 lbf (7,900 N)
  • Apple 1,730 lbf (7,700 N)
  • African Padauk 1,725 lbf (7,670 N)
  • Blackwood 1,720 lbf (7,700 N)
  • Merbau 1,712 lbf (7,620 N)
  • Kempas 1,710 lbf (7,600 N)
  • Black Locust 1,700 lbf (7,600 N)
  • Highland Beech 1,686 lbf (7,500 N)
  • Red Mulberry 1,680 lbf (7,500 N)
  • Wenge, Red Pine, Hornbeam 1,630 lbf (7,300 N)
  • Tualang 1,624 lbf (7,220 N)
  • Zebrawood 1,575 lbf (7,010 N)
  • True Pine, Timborana 1,570 lbf (7,000 N)
  • Peroba 1,557 lbf (6,930 N)
  • European Yew 1,520 lbf (6,800 N)
  • Sapele, Sapelli, Kupa’y 1,510 lbf (6,700 N)
  • Curupixa 1,490 lbf (6,600 N)
  • Sweet Birch 1,470 lbf (6,500 N)
  • Hard maple, Sugar Maple 1,450 lbf (6,400 N)
  • Caribbean Walnut 1,390 lbf (6,200 N)
  • Kentucky coffeetree 1,390 lbf (6,200 N)
  • Natural Bamboo (represents one species) 1,380 lbf (6,100 N)
  • Australian Cypress 1,375 lbf (6,120 N)
  • White Oak 1,360 lbf (6,000 N)
  • Tasmanian oak 1,350 lbf (6,000 N)
  • Ribbon Gum 1,349 lbf (6,000 N)
  • Ash (White) 1,320 lbf (5,900 N)
  • American Beech 1,300 lbf (5,800 N)
  • Red Oak (Northern) 1,290 lbf (5,700 N)
  • Caribbean Heart Pine 1,280 lbf (5,700 N)
  • Keruing 1,270 lbf (5,600 N)
  • Yellow Birch, Iroko 1,260 lbf (5,600 N)
  • Movingui 1,230 lbf (5,500 N)
  • Heart pine 1,225 lbf (5,450 N)
  • Carapa guianensis, Brazilian Mesquite 1,220 lbf (5,400 N)
  • Larch 1,200 lbf (5,300 N)
  • Carbonized Bamboo (represents one species) 1,180 lbf (5,200 N)
  • Teak 1,155 lbf (5,140 N)
  • Brazilian Eucalyptus, Rose Gum 1,125 lbf (5,000 N)
  • English Oak 1,120 lbf (5,000 N)
  • Makore 1,100 lbf (4,900 N)
  • Siberian Larch 1,100 lbf (4,900 N)
  • Peruvian Walnut 1,080 lbf (4,800 N)
  • Boreal 1,023 lbf (4,550 N)
  • Black Walnut, North American Walnut 1,010 lbf (4,500 N)
  • Cherry 995 lbf (4,430 N)
  • Black Cherry, Imbuia 950 lbf (4,200 N)
  • Red Maple 950 lbf (4,200 N)
  • Boire 940 lbf (4,200 N)
  • Paper Birch 910 lbf (4,000 N)
  • Eastern Red Cedar, Monkeypod 900 lbf (4,000 N)
  • Southern Yellow Pine (Longleaf) 870 lbf (3,900 N)
  • Lacewood, Leopardwood 840 lbf (3,700 N)
  • African Mahogany 830 lbf (3,700 N)
  • Mahogany, Honduran Mahogany 800 lbf (3,600 N)
  • Parana 780 lbf (3,500 N)
  • Sycamore 770 lbf (3,400 N)
  • Box Elder 720 lbf (3,200 N)
  • Shedua 710 lbf (3,200 N)
  • Radiata Pine 710 lbf (3,200 N)
  • Silver Maple 700 lbf (3,100 N)
  • Southern Yellow Pine (Loblolly and Shortleaf) 690 lbf (3,100 N)
  • Douglas Fir 660 lbf (2,900 N)
  • Western Juniper 626 lbf (2,780 N)
  • Alder (Red) 590 lbf (2,600 N)
  • Larch 590 lbf (2,600 N)
  • Chestnut 540 lbf (2,400 N)
  • Yellow Poplar, Poplar 540 lbf (2,400 N)
  • Hemlock 500 lbf (2,200 N)
  • Western White Pine 420 lbf (1,900 N)
  • Basswood 410 lbf (1,800 N)
  • Eastern White Pine 380 lbf (1,700 N)
  • Western Red Cedar 350 lbf (1,600 N)
  • Cuipo 75 lbf (330 N)
  • Balsa 70 lbf (310 N)
  • Balsa, softest wood ever measured: single unusual example 22 lbf (98 N)

Best is relative when it comes to selecting a species of wood.

What’s the purpose of the piece you’re planning to build? Lot’s wear and tear or decorative only?

Is overall cost/budget a factor? Indoor or outdoor project?

Is coloring important? Are grain patterns important?

The term “best” is always subjective to what your needs, goals and wants are with a project build.

Of course! There are always a variety of questions associated with making wood recommendations but that’s what we do!

This is highly subjective like many of the other “wood FAQ’s” on our site. Because wood selection can be highly specific to each individual client’s needs, I’ve always enjoyed the process and art of woodworking with many species.

Personally I enjoy oak, walnut and cedar for a variety of my own projects.

Moisture can play a big role in wood selection, fabrication & the lifespan use of a piece. We consider moisture throughout many stages during a project. Planning, preparation, acclimatization, gluing, dimensions, Janka ratings and surface treatment can all play key roles with a built piece of furniture.

A form of woodworking that uses a cutting tool (most often a chisel) to create a wooden figure or sculptural.

The use of a wood lathe with handheld tools to cut a shape that is symmetrical around the axis of rotation.

The process of refining or protecting a wooden surface

“Plumb” is typically used in construction, carpentry or larger timber based projects (relating to structure). It’s a term that generally means level or flush regarding two surfaces.

A structure is often called “plumb,” meaning it is straight up and down, like the walls of a building.

While I can’t speak for how other woodworkers make, prep & finish their charcuterie serving boards, the ones we make are rather straight forward for care & maintenance.

Please Note: Our serving boards specifically for serving foods only. They are NOT to be used as a cutting board.

Washing by hand with water or water & light soap is best. Allow ample time to dry before putting away.

One to two times per year (depending on overall use of your board) we recommend a very light maintenance application of 100% pure Tung oil. This can be done with a clean lint free rag. The board should be allowed to sit untouched for 7-10 days after a maintenance coat.

Please contact us HERE if you have questions on this OR would like us to performance maintenance on a serving board.