Frequently asked questions
As much as possible I attempt to use responsibly harvested wood. I obtain wood from local tree services, contractors that are remodeling, even a local company that builds wooden blinds and has a sale on their scraps a couple of times a year. For some of the segmented pieces, I purchase unique wood from various suppliers.
I want you to be happy with your purchase so if you have any issues or concerns once you receive your product, please contact me within 48 hours of receiving the item(s) and I will work with you to rectify the situation.
Yes, but please understand that due to variation in wood and the turning process it may not look like an exact replica.
I will try. I will work closely with you on overall design, including style, dimensions, and type(s) of wood. Once we have settled on a design, I will provide you with a quote and an estimated timeline for completion of the project for your written approval before I begin construction.
I use a variety of finishes. Most finishes are food safe once completely cured. Some of the finishes I use are Tung Oil, General Finishes Salad Bowl Finish, Mineral Oil, our homemade Board Butter, Behlen Woodturner’s Finish, and even Acrylic Finish (but only on decorative items). Under the description of the item I have indicated the particular finish that was used for each piece.
Most pieces I create are intended to be used, however, some are decorative or at least not intended to be used for food. It really depends on the wood, shape, and finish that I use. For example, I like working with spalted woods however, spalted woods should not be used for food items due to the bacteria & fungi that create the spalting. However, these pieces can be used for non-food items. I also make items out of eastern red cedar but again these items are not intended to be used with food as the food can take on the odor of the eastern red cedar.
Care of the item should be minimal. For decorative items, you should not need to do anything special. For items used for food, you may occasionally need to reapply a finishing coat to continue to protect the wood. Segmented pieces should not be kept in direct sunlight as this may cause degradation of the glue. Finally, while it is perfectly fine to wash segmented bowls that are created for food (for these items I use water resistant glue – Tightbond III) they should not be immersed in water nor should they be placed in a dishwasher.
This depends on a number of factors. First, please remember that I have a full-time job and woodturning is a hobby that I do at nights and weekends. We can begin working on the design almost immediately but then it will depend upon whether I have the wood in stock, if I am already working on a commissioned piece, etc. So, there are a lot of variables however, if I am not working on a commissioned piece, your piece will receive priority. Moreover, if I agree to create a piece for you, I will remain in contact and provide progress updates.
I typically ship using FedEx or UPS standard shipping. If you would like some other form of shipping, let me know and we can see if it is possible and what the additional charge will be.
No, the listed price does not include sales tax, shipping or handling. If you are interested in purchasing a particular piece, we can discuss the shipping method and the quote I provide you will include sales tax as well as shipping and handling fees.
