Jay Schreider

I am a retired state scientist with an appreciation of the wonder and beauty found in nature.  Woodworking provides a creative outlet and a way to celebrate this beauty (and an excuse to acquire more tools).  Starting small, I made household items (cutting boards, display boxes) out of purchased wood, but noticed the abundance of small logs from urban tree trimming operations.  Beginning with a chainsaw, I cut these logs into boards and dried them in a homemade kiln.  A new chainsaw mill enabled cutting larger logs into slabs.  The natural or “live” edges were left on the slabs, saving as much of the wood as possible and making each piece unique.  One of the most exciting parts of the process is seeing beauty when each log is milled.  The shape, grain, and color determine what the finished product will be and how it will be made.  My goal is to bring out that beauty for other people.

Like milling and construction, finishing has been a learning process.  My first finishes were solvent-based but they quickly transitioned to less intrusive water-based. Walnut oil is used for food safe bowls and cutting boards.  Epoxy may be used to fill cracks and voids and to provide a leveling surface on occasionally uneven wood surfaces. I have recently started working with newer materials such as hard wax oils, ceramic films, and UV cured polymers as potentially safer, easier to apply, and more resilient alternatives. Each step is approached as an adventure and learning experience.