Frequently Asked Questions
Why Choose Black Creek Design?
- We use only quality, kiln dried Hardwoods
- We love to create unique looking products using highlights of imported, exotic hardwoods such as Sapele, Jatobá, Tiger Wood, Paduk, and Wenge, from Africa. Along with all domestic hardwoods.
- My passion for woodworking began in high school woodshop class. My first project was a Walnut and Maple bowl that I turned on a lathe. My mom still has that bowl. 40+ years later. That is when I realized I can make something with my hands and a few tools that can last a lifetime.
What size projects can you handle at your shop?
My shop is just large enough to handle large projects and keep producing smaller items. I have built small 2’ x 4’ epoxy/river coffee tables. And, I have built a 15’ long x 5’ wide conference table, and many sizes in between.
Why have a place to dry wood?
I have an Alaskan chainsaw mill, that allows me to cut logs up to 48” in diameter. By cutting, and processing my own slabs, I can control my supply of materials. The next step is to dry the material. So, I built my own 10’ x 14’ solar kiln, to not only dry wood, but to kill any bugs that might live in the wood. This is achieved by maintaining a specific temperature in a controlled environment. The sun provides this for us, we just need to use the source to our advantage.
Do you have a way to personalize the pieces you produce?
Yes, actually we do, we have a laser engraver for adding that special personalized touch. The working area of my laser is 20” x 20”. This allows me to personalize any of our smaller wood products. Epoxy/wood charcuterie boards are favorites for wedding gifts. We typically engrave the last name and the wedding date. Lake maps are very popular engravings as well.
How Do I Care For My Wood Products?
All wood products will eventually lose their luster. We treat all our products with a food grade oil and bees wax product.
We make our own “Board Butter” product that can be used on any wooden kitchen utensil, as well as our products to bring back the beauty of the wood. Just wipe it on, let is set for 20-30 min, then wipe it off with a cotton cloth.
This video was done by my cousin Neil Koch who has his own YouTube channel called Dig Drive DIY. He kindly featured a bit about me, my shop, and my solar kiln as well as some of the projects in progress. I would like to thank him for featuring me in one of his videos and allowing me to use it here.
Some Of Our Work
