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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.

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Latest stories and guides

Walnut-stained 7-foot Douglas fir cross standing on a patio near rows of white ceremony chairs
Story
Custom builds6 min read

Commissioned to Build a 7-Foot Cross

After building dozens of small floating crosses, Yori was asked to build a 7-foot cross for a wedding ceremony. Here is how two Douglas fir 4x6s became the centerpiece.

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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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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.

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