Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I take care of my utensil?
- Never, ever put it in the dishwasher or let it soak in water for long periods of time.
- Hand wash and air or towel dry.
- As needed add wood butter or food grade mineral oil, let it rest for several hours to overnight, and buff with a smooth cloth.
- If the utensil starts to get fuzzy because the wood fibers are standing up, then take a fine piece of sandpaper 400-600 grit and lightly sand the wood. Follow that with either wood butter or mineral spirits.
Where do you source your wood?
Most of the wood I use is from Kirkland Sawmill. They are open to the public and a family owned and operated sawmill in Kirkland, IL. I have also collected wood from recently harvested trees.
What is the finish on the utensils?
What tools do you use?
It depends on what I am making. For most utensils I use some or all of the following:
- Template
- Bandsaw
- Spokeshave
- Draw knife
- Spoon gouge
- Other carving knives or gouges
- Belt sander
- Sand paper
Where do you get your design ideas/templates?
My utensils are inspired by designs I see online (Google, Pintrest, etc.). I will often look at templates and expand or change something that better fits my personal aesthetic.
Why are the utensils so expensive?
Great question. It’s fairly simple.
Cost of wood + Other materials + Hours and hours of work + Love = Expensive
All kidding aside… wood isn’t cheap and it could take me 4+ hours working on just a few utensils.
Why did you start making wood utensils?
COVID.
During COVID lockdown I was looking around on Pinterest and came across how to make a wood spoon. I checked out the article and decided “I can do that”, and away I went.
Why aren’t the utensils identical?
I don’t aim for perfection. Perfection isn’t something that is ever attainable. I strive for functional beauty.
Practical reasons:
- I am trying to capture something in the grain, or eliminate something from the utensil that I don’t like in the grain.
- I try not to waste anything. Sometimes this means adjusting the length or handle shape a little to fit the scrap piece that I have on hand.
- Sometimes I get carried away with the spokeshave or sanding.
- Sometimes the wood just doesn’t cooperate. The wood grain can be finicky which can lead to gouging the wood.
- I personally like things that are unique and not “cookie cutter”.
- Sometimes the wood “speaks to me” as I am carving and I decide to shape it differently.
