The Finer Wood Difference
You can find products of any kind offered at a wide range of price points from many sources. However, "what are you getting for your money," is probably the most important question clients should ask themselves. If you are looking for bespoke heirloom quality pieces individually hand crafted to suit you, then A Finer Wood can answer that question.
Heirloom quality work should provide form, fit, and function. It should be something you want to display, have quality craftsmanship, and can be used for it's stated purpose. After all, is something really heirloom quality if it can't be used, or you don't want to look at it? However, if you decide not to use your handcrafted item due to it's beauty, well, that is a different issue.
Cutting Boards and Charcuterie Trays
Quality
Any crack, void, checking, or other defect will destroy cutting boards and charcuterie trays. We select each piece of wood individually to ensure there are no defects, so moisture can't seep into and destroy your board or tray from the inside out.
In addition, each board and tray is crafted to ensure a seamless fit. This fit and assembly are a critical part of quality in order to prevent moisture intrusion and provide a long life.
Finish and Protection
While there are several types of protection available, only the safest and highest quality finishes will ensure your handcrafted woodwork will withstand the test of time
1) Production boards and trays are created overseas and finished with substances that have a short life and may not be food safe. Plus, maintenance requirements are high.
2) Mineral oil is a common food safe finish that can be applied quickly with one coat, no cure time, and brings out the natural colors in wood. However, it has a short to medium life span and requires more maintenance. Mineral oil is normally used for periodic maintenance of boards and trays.
3) At A Finer Wood we use the highest quality food safe finishes, such as Odie's Oil, that bond with the wood, providing long lasting protection, reducing maintenance needs, and actually enhancing the natural beauty of woodcraft. Our process involves multiple layers of protection applied and buffed by hand to provide seamless food safe protection. This process involves a 2 to 3 week cure time and provides a high quality finish you can rely on.
Wood Selection
Wood knowledge is paramount for creating an heirloom quality board or tray. Despite the beauty of some wood, they just aren't right for this type of use.
Some wood is too porous for this use and enables moisture to seep in. Some trees produce irritants that stay with the wood and can affect people even after it's been worked. Each type of wood is affected differently by temperature and humidity, which can cause them to warp and split apart. It is important the right raw materials are used when creating heirloom quality work.
Art
In addition to quality craftsmanship, esthetics are very important part of heirloom quality. Most heirloom pieces are also works of art. They are something you admire, want to display, and enhance the beauty of your home.
At A Finer Wood we use no dyes or colors on the wood for cutting boards or charcuterie trays. Therefore natural wood color, knowledge of it's aging process, pairing of different woods, style, and vision of the final product are just as important. Each of these aspects is carefully considered when crafting each piece. Form is just as important as function.
Furniture
The same qualities that apply to Cutting Boards and Charcuterie Trays also apply to heirloom quality furniture, with one significant difference. With furniture, the concern is safe durable protection that will withstand heavy use rather than a focus on being food safe. For example, table tops, end tables, and coffee tables must withstand cup rings, scratching, and daily wear and tear. Dressers must withstand spilled perfumes, lotions, and hair products.
While high quality finishes that provide this type of protection are safe, they may not be food safe. Food safe covers a different concern because your food will touch those surfaces on a regular recurring basis. This is not the case with furniture, and thus there is a different selection of quality finishes available to better meet the needs of furniture protection.