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Guides and stories

Stories from the shop and practical woodworking guides.

Practical help for choosing wood, planning a lumber request, and understanding kiln drying, along with firsthand stories from the mill, the kiln, and the shop.

Guides for planning and buyingWhat working with wood has taught meStories from the shop

Plan your project

Guides for planning and buying

Practical, well-researched guides on getting a quote together, sizing and choosing material, comparing wood, and how kiln drying works.

Rough-sawn dimensional lumber boards stacked at the mill
Guide
Quotes and buying4 min read

How to Prepare for a Lumber Quote

A short checklist of what to send for a useful lumber, slab, custom-cut, or kiln-drying quote, plus what common pricing units mean and what happens after you send a request.

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Walnut live-edge slab with a natural edge, shown as an example and not current inventory
Guide
Live-edge slabs8 min read

How to Choose a Live-Edge Slab

A practical way to evaluate a live-edge slab before you ask about one: match the piece to the project, then check species behavior, moisture, movement, and cracks.

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From the mill

What working with wood has taught me

I write about the wood, the people, and the hard-earned lessons behind the work, from long days at the mill and the kiln to the finished piece.

Meet the makers

Stories from the shop

The people, partnerships, and places behind the work at Fresno Forest Creations.

Yori sitting with master craftsman and Vietnam veteran Michael Frazier at the Fresno Home and Garden Show
Story
Craftsman stories6 min read

How I Met Master Craftsman Michael Frazier

A chance meeting at the Fresno Home & Garden Show led to a partnership built around handcrafted redwood furniture, an ingenious folding design, and more than 40 years of experience.

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Ready when you are

Have a project in mind?

Tell us what you are building, the material you have in mind, and where it is headed. A request starts the conversation so the shop can review the work and follow up.

Request a quote