The process · five phases
Slow work, on purpose.
Six to eight weeks from deposit to delivery. You always know which phase your piece is in — and you can read every step in the free journal below.
- 01
Site visit & drawing
I visit your room, measure the light, and sketch at full scale. You approve a drawing with exact dimensions before any board is cut.
Week 0 · included in every commission
- 02
Board selection
We walk the lumber racks together — in person or over video. Grain direction, color and figure are chosen board by board, and the offcuts become your joinery boxes.
Week 1 · air-dried 24–36 months
- 03
Hand-cut joinery
Through-tenons, dovetails and wedged mortises, cut by hand where machines would leave marks. You receive progress photos at the dry-fit stage.
Weeks 2–4 · photo updates
- 04
Oil, wax & cure
Linseed oil until the surface stops accepting it, then beeswax, then a full cure. No film finishes — the wood stays touchable and repairable for life.
Weeks 5–6 · food-safe, repairable
- 05
Delivery by the maker
I deliver and place the piece myself within the Pacific Northwest, and crate it personally for anywhere else. I need to see it in its room.
Week 6–8 · placed in your room
Air-dried, never rushed 
Cut once, fit for a century Read all five phases in depth
The 48-page Process Journal documents one dining table, start to finish.
Download Free PDFHow long does a commission take?
Six to eight weeks from deposit to delivery for dining tables; three to four for smaller pieces. The curing stage cannot be rushed, and I won't skip it.
How much should I budget?
Dining tables begin at $8,400, credenzas at $6,200, and small works at $480. Final pricing follows the approved drawing — the number never moves after that.
Do you ship outside Oregon?
Yes. I deliver personally across the Pacific Northwest and crate pieces myself for freight anywhere in the country. Every crate is insured door to door.
How do I care for an oil-and-wax finish?
Wipe spills, re-wax once a year, and call me for anything worse. Scratches steam out, rings buff out, and I refinish any Chisel piece for the cost of shipping.
Can I visit the shop mid-commission?
Please do. The dry-fit review happens in person whenever possible — it's the last moment a dimension can change, and clients always spot something.
Now booking · Q3 2026