Kitchen Blocks
When I turn a bowl on my lathe, I use dead or downed trees: green wood turns better, I like the subtle warps that come with aging, it's environmentally sustainable, and it's almost always free. In milling a log into rough bowl shapes, though, it's generally advised to cut around the pith, which warps, checks, and cracks faster and bigger than any other part of the log. Instead of chucking this middle section, I started making these kitchen blocks. Too pretty to be just cutting boards, but too versatile and durable to simply be serving pieces. Stock rotates as I mill new logs- currently spalted maple, birch, black locust, and white oak. Almost never square (I try to maximize the thickness area) but as flat and smooth as can be, these are finished with food-safe 100% pure tung oil and ready for your kitchen!
Style
- kitchen
Finish
- white
- black
Material
- maple
- oak
Type
- wood
Shape
- square
Meet the Maker
David Wunderink
Riftsawn Carpentry
Furniture, woodturnings, installations, and reproductions. Made in Grand Rapids with solid wood and love.
I came to furniture and woodworking the long way through general construction, spending many years rehabbing urban rowhomes on the staff of Sandtown Habitat for Humanity in Baltimore, where I was forced to think abstractly and learned to love solving problems and working within restricted budgets.
This translates well to the work I do now, where the projects I love taking on the most involve critical thinking, imagination, and the challenge (and joy) of finding just the right solution to a tricky situation. The projects I love best involve elements I've never done before, which both make me a better carpenter and produce my most creative works.
I try my best to use sustainably harvested and local lumber, or reclaim lumber from barns, houses, and factories around me. I use solid hardwoods, not only for their natural beauty, but because it fits best with my own woodworking philosophies of building to last generations and reflecting the natural properties and character of different wood species. I aim for simplicity and elegance in my work, employing traditional joinery when it's needed, not simply for ornament. I love what I do, and hope you do too.
Customer Reviews
Julie Raimondi
Nov 4, 2014David is a creative, communicative, and expert carpenter. The project he created for me, which he delivered mid-storm, turned out much better than I had hoped--and I hoped for a lot. It was a pleasure to work with him every step of the way. My only regret about David is that I wish I had found him sooner.
Jessica Christina
Oct 20, 2014Working with David was the easiest purchase ever. He knew what I was looking for and made a beautiful table within my budget. I am so happy to have a custom piece in my home with such craftsmanship!!! Thank you so much!
Suraj Savalia
Oct 8, 2014David was great to work with. Provided the details, gave me good options of other batches he had done, and promptly delivered them to me before my anniversary. Thanks David! Assuming you make some other products as well, I'll be a repeat customer.
Lauren St. Pierre
Sep 9, 2014This was an amazing experience. David was extremely diligent and communicated with me regularly. My project was beyond my expectations. I couldn't be happier. Great result. I highly recommend David at Riftsawn Carpentry!!!
Michael Korie
Sep 5, 2014I couldn't be happier with David's work from Riftsawn Carpentry. He did a superb job -- it's built to last, with all of the specifications that I wanted including design, wood type, wood color, hardware, handles. The design is exactly what I wanted when I first imagined the project, and he was able to make it even better than what I imagined. It was finished in a timely manner with great communication -- highest recommendation!