Creative Recycling with Scrap Wood: Aberdeen Custom Accessories
Creating custom furniture often comes with excess lumber leftover from commissioned projects, and in an effort to recycle the material we have we began making kitchen accessories for those interested in a smaller and more cost effective item from our studio. About a year and a half ago, we got a lathe for our shop to practice new woodworking techniques, and through that we began to make custom bowls made from recycled walnut and white oak. Selecting the lumber we purchase for projects on the front end is typically an intentional and tedious part of the process, understanding the grain patterns and richness in the wood will determine the movement and depth of a piece once complete. When making bowls, the scrap lumber that we have is often the more organic and sometimes spontaneous grain patterning, giving each bowl its own unique characteristics that highlight the complexities in the lumber.
Prior to making bowls, we fabricated and continue to create custom cutting boards with dimensional hand-stamped Aberdeen logos that also are a product of the scrap lumber we produce in our shop. Because of the natural shape of a cutting board, the striation of wood graining often produces tight linear movement and rich color variation on the surface of the board. Wood makes for an exceptional medium for cutting boards because of its impact resistance against knives and its natural antibacterial properties that inherently exist in the wood.
Our goal in creating household items made from recycled wood is to practice sustainability in a small and tangible way, while also providing those who are interested an opportunity to support our business. With the holidays quickly approaching, these kitchen necessities often make great gifts for loved ones, reach out if you are interested in buying a piece from us!