This site is a place for me to showcase my creations and discuss my journey in woodworking. I create cutting boards, boxes, trays, pens, mechanical pencils, bottle openers, kitchen utensils and many other items to come.
I use local (to Pittsburgh, PA), non-harvested wood like Black Cherry, Hard Maple, Black Walnut and Osage Orange.
I also will use exotic woods from other countries such as Purpleheart, Cocobolo, Wenge, Olive Wood, Padauk, Leopardwood, Sapele, Zebrawood and whatever else I feel would be great for a project.
Most of the local wood that I use is very rough cut which I meticulously hand-process into usable smooth, squared boards or other special pieces for my craft.
Watching the changes in the wood as I make it into new creations is a passion for me. I study each piece, get to know its grain patterns and texture, think about what type of item it would be best used for, then I try to make something worthy of its beauty.
I do this in my spare time - I am not in this to quit my day job. I'm in this to create beautiful, high-quality items and to learn more and more about the wood that I work with. My cutting boards are all intended to be heirloom quality - something that a parent can pass down to their children.
That said, I do hope to build my skills up well enough to continue pursuing this craft after retirement, and maybe then I can make a few bucks selling items online or at craft shows.
My pens, pencils and other items are created to highlight the natural grains in the wood that I use and to be long-lasting tools that you want to use for a long time - not something you use a few times then lose in a drawer somewhere.
If you have any questions about anything on this site, please email me at don@pghrare.com