Made to Order: Pasta Racks, Snack Trays, and Civic Distractions
Things have been moving a little slower at Vital Woodcraft lately, but the work hasn’t stopped. I recently took a job in local government, which means I’m spending less time in the shop. Even so, I feel this is one of those moments when it really matters to show up for your community. Staying involved at the local level is important to me, and while the shop has taken a bit of a backseat, I’m still finding time to build when I can.
Recently, I got the chance to work on a couple of custom, made-to-order projects. Both were practical, but also gave me space to experiment and try out new ideas in the shop.
The first project was a collapsible pasta rack, crafted from black walnut and ash. I finished it with my own Vital Woodcraft wood butter, which is completely food safe. My wife, Jacqueline, and I have been making fresh pasta at home for a few months now, and she actually found the basic design online. I tweaked it a little—cleaned up the lines and gave it a bit more presence—but credit for the idea really goes to her. The wood butter not only keeps it food safe, but also helps the dowels glide smoothly, so it’s easy to assemble and take apart. It’s one of those pieces that disappears when you don’t need it and looks good on the counter when you do.
The second project was a snack tray, made from a thick slab of 7/4 white ash. This one was a custom order from a teacher who wanted to give her daughter a handmade gift. She’s a big Jets fan, so I burned a Jets logo into the center using a gel-burning technique I hadn’t tried before. It was a fun reason to learn some new methods. Shaping and routing the tray—especially removing that much material cleanly and forming the dividers—was tricky, but I learned a lot along the way. I’ll share some behind-the-scenes photos in a future post for anyone curious about how it all came together.
At first, I planned to finish both pieces with tung oil, but I ran out of time and couldn’t guarantee a full cure—which is necessary to make tung oil food safe. Instead, I used mineral oil and my Vital Woodcraft Wood Butter. This combo is food safe right away, and gives the wood a clean, durable surface with a warm, natural feel.
Neither of these projects is on Etsy—and honestly, I’ll probably be closing the Etsy shop soon. Sales have been slow, and with shipping costs, fees, and the time involved, it just isn’t the right fit for me. The same goes for eBay. For now, I’m sticking with local sales and hoping to move toward selling directly from my own website soon. Shipping big pieces is expensive and awkward, and a lot of what I’m building—like live edge cherry and white ash tables—are best seen in person anyway.
Looking ahead, I’m planning to shift direction. The online market for products is pretty crowded, and instead of chasing trends, I’d rather build things that are interesting, useful, and maybe a little unexpected. I’m exploring ideas for planter pots, drying racks, and birdhouses for spring—things that connect with home, garden, and everyday rituals.
If you see something you like, or want to talk about a custom project, don’t hesitate to reach out. You can always get in touch through the form here or by email. I’m still building—just at a pace that fits the winter season.
Fianlly, I would like to give a shout out to Charles at Ulster County Sawing for all of the wonderful material to work with!
