Projects
“Flat work” is my term for traditional woodworking where the finished product is made mostly, or wholly, from flat pieces of wood with square edges and angled corners. Typically, little or no part of the finished piece is made on the lathe.
Examples include cutting boards, jewelry boxes, cheese slicers, serving trays, and even earrings.
Segmenting is building a blank or workpiece by gluing together smaller pieces of wood.
The technique can be used in flatwork to create intricate designs, such as a slab for a cutting board. In woodturning, segments are cut into wedges which are used to make rings. The rings are stacked to make larger shapes such as a bowl or a vase.
A subset of segmenting is called “open segmenting” in which the pieces are glued together with open spaces in between. In flat work this technique is often used for trivets to allow for heat dissipation in the open spaces. On the lathe open segments are often used to make bowls intended to hold larger items such as fruit.
All of the items that I make that are intended for food contact are given a food-safe finish. Typically this is food-grade mineral oil and beeswax, but might also be a commercial finish such as Howard’s Feed ‘N Wax or General Finished Salad Bowl Finish.
Many items not intended for food contact are also finished in this manner because it gives the wood a subtle shine that lets the wood grain speak for itself. Also, you never know when a toddler will grab something and chew on it.
How do I care for…
Over time, wood will absorb and exude moisture, depending on the ambient humidity where it is kept. The moisture changes cause the wood to expand and contract, and if allowed to retain too much water, can break down glue bonds or even rot the wood.
To prevent this kind of deterioration, wood items should never be cleaned in the dishwasher, or used in the microwave or conventional oven. Wood items should not be submerged in water or allowed to soak in water or other solvents.
The best way to care for food-contact items is to wring soapy water out of a sponge, and use the damp sponge to clean the item. Towel the item dry .promptly after washing,
When the finish on the item needs to be renewed, use any commercially available food-safe oil or wax finish. We sell our own blend of mineral oil and beeswax, but any food-grade walnut oil or mineral oil is fine, as is any butcher block conditioner or cutting board dressing
Our pens are generally finished with cyanoacrylate (a.k.a. “super glue”) for a hard, glossy, durable finish that will stand up to most everyday use.
However, high heat such as that in a locked car in summertime, can cause the finish to crack and craze. Wood pens can be dented, which can break the finish. The finish can also be scratched if the pen is tossed into a drawer with other pens. It is also possible to use a pen so much that the repeated use wears through the finish.
The best way to prevent these kinds of damage, is to protect the pen from physical hazards. As to wearing through the finish, it is highly unlikely but if it happens, the wooden parts of the pen can be renewed with a hardening wax, or we can refinish a well-used pen for modest fee.
All of our pens come with instructions on how to change the refill, and what type of refill to use. Many pens use a spring It is important to note whether the refills come with a new spring or if you need to retain and reuse the old one.
We use hybrid wood/resin blanks to make pens, bowls, and some flatwork. Pens are finished with cyanoacrylate and their care is covered in the previous section.
All other hybrid items are finished with a food-safe curing finish such as resin or Waterlox. These can be cleaned with soapy water and towel dried. Fine scratches can often be buffed out with a soft cloth. Deeper scratches which expose raw wood might require refinishing. In that case, feel free to contact us.
Store policies
Please visit our online store at GoImagine.com/SilentOddStudios.
We considered Etsy but GoImagine seemed a better fit for us. They screen each seller for adherence to their handmade policy, and they donate profits to a charity that helps children. The site is small but growing and still has a community feel to it. They also foster real-world community with tools to allow buyers to find local crafters and artists.
Some of our less fragile or smaller items ship free. This is indicated i the item listing.
Some of the larger or more fragile items specify a shipping cost. Depending on the item, we might double-box, or use double-weight boxes so so it is usually the packaging rather than the postage that adds to the cost.
Returns are not accepted for items damaged in shipping., Please purchase shipping insurance for expensive items.
All sales are final.
Returns are accepted for defects in workmanship only. We closely inspect each item and provide photos of any known defects prior to sale so this is exceedingly rare.
Please note that some types of wood, such as ambrosia maple or flame boxelder have holes in them due to insect activity. These are in fact what gives these types of wood their striking coloring and are not defects.
Similarly, many pieces contain natural voids, bark inclusions, or uneven natural edges. These are considered features that give the piece character and are not defects.
We love to collaborate with clients to create beautiful things to spec! We will work with you at each step of the process, including providing photos of the finished piece for your approval prior to shipping. Once shipped, all bespoke sales are final.
Payment must be made in full prior to shipping the item. On large projects, we may require a partial deposit to cover some of them material cost. Deposits are non-refundable.
We film many of our projects. We reserve the right to publish the video or stills from the video of bespoke projects, however we do not disclose buyer details or the project price.