Feb 14, 2019 | Uncategorized
Probably should have posted this sooner but better late than never.
Enough humidity is as important to your board as to much humidity is not so good for your board.
A couple of years ago I made a 18″ x 20″ x 2″ cherry board for my wife which stays on the kitchen counter. Once winter and the dry air that comes with it rolled in, the board which was flat bowed in the middle and rocked. Fortunately all we had to do was turn it over and the rocking was gone but there was a hump in the middle. We used it anyway and once the warmer more humid air of mid – late spring arrived, the board returned to its normal flat state.
Using a decent thermometer/hygrometer that I picked up at Amazon I found that just relying on the humidifier attached to the furnace the humidity in the house was only about 20%, which is way to low not only for an end grain cutting board but any wood items in your home. I recommend any whole house type humidifier but personally like the one with removable water jugs that you fill and replace. I’ve been keeping the house right around 43% humidity and none of the boards are bending or bowing. Also, the oak floors in the house are appreciating the extra moisture as well. I’m not seeing any of the gaps between the boards that we have seen in previous winters.
Don’t forget to condition your board each month!
Dec 26, 2018 | Uncategorized
On Christmas Eve we cooked a wonderful roast. I sharpened my carving knife, my wife took out the first cherry end grain board I made for her, this is the one that she set on fire and then ran through the dishwasher. I strongly recommend that you do not set your board on fire or run it through the dishwasher. But I digress, I carved the roast and we had a nice meal. We cleaned up the kitchen a bit but the dishwasher was full and It’s A Wonderful Life was about to come on. So we grabbed a cup of coffee and a slice of apple pie and watched. My wife asked about finishing the kitchen and I asked to just leave it until morning. The board was one of the items needing to be cleaned up, I was tired.
As I went to the kitchen in the morning to make some coffee I noticed that Santa made his annual stop at my house. I got the coffee started and looked to my right. The board was sitting where I left it on the counter but there was a crack starting to run through it. I moved the board and saw water and some run off from the roast under it. As I have preached to everyone who has bought one of our boards, don’t let it sit flat after it’s been cleaned, water will get sucked up into the wood and it will split in two. Now I have to add to be sure to not leave it laying flat after using it and you’re tired and will just finish it in the morning.
Guess I’m going to make her a new one.
Nov 30, 2018 | Pictures
This is a beautiful 12 x 18 x 1.75 cherry board with finger grooves.
Here is a stunning walnut 12 x 18 x 1.75 that was ordered by one of our customers.
Nov 30, 2018 | Pictures
My wife has been “encouraging” me to post pictures of some of the boards that we’ve produced. Some of the pictures were taken by a professional and the ones that do not look good, by me. I’ll post more as they’re made.
The following 2 end grain cutting boards are made from maple, cherry, walnut and padauk.
This is a mid sized end grain board made with varying sized pieces of cherry.
These below were made of varying sized pieces of maple.
Oct 30, 2018 | Farmers Market, Uncategorized
The picture is from a couple of weeks ago, our friend Gretchen stopped by for a visit and wanted a picture.
The weather was beautiful this past Saturday at the farmers market. As I was setting up the booth it was 38 degrees, my kind of weather!
Farmers market season is coming to an end, the Farmers Market at 5th Avenue Station has been extended by two weeks. We are planning on being there as long as there is no rain or snow.
It’s been enjoyable meeting a bunch of good people who have stopped by.
Sep 19, 2018 | Farmers Market
We finally had a nice day at the Naperville Farmers Market on Saturday. No rain! And, almost a feeling of autumn in the air.
