The latest addition to my catalog of air-dried slabs for sale is butternut (Juglans cinerea). A relative to the highly sought-after black walnut, butternut shares the same grain patterns but the colour is lighter - similar to the shades of bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum). Butternut is also lighter in weight and softer than black walnut, making … Continue reading Butternut – it Carves like Butter with a Hot Knife
My primary task on Monday was to build a sample project for a seminar I'm teaching later this month called Make an Infinity Mirror Clock. Despite a number of unexpected complications, one miscalculation, a few mistakes, and a spring clamp launching itself right past my ear (wear eye protection when using clamps!), I got the clock … Continue reading A Day of Infinite Frustration, but Success in the End
This bedside table is my latest commissioned work. It is made of butternut. Although some woodworkers don't like to use knots in their work, I really like the focal point which a knot can provide. The grain around the knot is also very interesting and pretty. In the past, when using wood with two live … Continue reading Butternut Bedside Table
Sunday afternoon, I started a project with a board of butternut (I thought it was walnut at first). The idea was to let the wood dictate the end result. I documented the process of building and mounting wall brackets live on Twitter and what you see below are the updates from Day 2: Monday (you … Continue reading How to Listen to the Wood – Carving, Day 2
Sunday afternoon, I started a project with a board of butternut (I thought it was walnut at first). The idea was to let the wood dictate the end result. I documented the process of building and mounting wall brackets live on Twitter and what you see below are the updates from Sunday (the project wasn't … Continue reading How to Listen to the Wood – Carving, Day 1
The past two weeks, I've spent an awful lot of time in the shop, on top of the approximately 30 hours per week I've been working at Lee Valley. One of the projects I am working on is a carved headboard. By far, it has to be the most labour-intensive project I've done to date. … Continue reading The Reward For Hard Work
Sculptural Woodwork by Chris Wong 