The Magic of Wood
What is it exactly that I love so much about working with wood? Many of you who follow my work will have probably noticed that the majority of framing that comes through my workshop is done in natural hardwood frames - Ash, Walnut, Oak, Cherry, Maple and Tulip to name the species I work with most.
Of course wood is a natural resource, which means it’s renewable (I only use FSC certified hardwoods), and aesthetically it’s absolutely beautiful. Every single piece of wood is completely unique and tells a story of its life. I find that absolutely magical! You can see the years unfold, the force of the elements, and the trees surrounding environment at play. It sequesters carbon. It’s material properties make it wonderful to work with and to touch. When sanded with a fine grit pad, it becomes silky smooth and luxurious.
A well made hardwood frame lasts a lifetime. If you’re going to go to the effort of growing and processing a tree, that timber should be handled with love and respect. When handled and finished well, the grain becomes illuminated and brought to life. Applying oils and waxes to wood is one of the most gratifying elements of my job. That’s when, after cutting, joining and sanding, the labour pays off. The rich characteristics are brought to life. I always try and encourage my customers to stretch the extra to have a hardwood frame spline jointed too. Particularly if it’s a deep moulding. This not only works aesthetically as a feature, but also provides a join that is bomb proof.
Choosing a hardwood frame is a sustainable option for many reasons. Particularly as Capstone Framing donate 1% of all profits to tree planting schemes. I want to actively contribute to a circular, regenerative system. I don’t just want to see woodland cover at a stable level, but be rapidly in the ascendancy. We’re all heavily dependent on natural resources, a rich biodiversity and healthy ecosystems for our future prosperity. We are ourselves as humans, intrinsically part of nature, not somehow removed from it as some people seem to feel. Nature is not ours to exploit for our own gain.
At heart, I’m just a tree hugging hippie, but I hold no shame in that! I consider myself lucky to work with wood most days of my life, and there’s no place I feel more regulated and at ease than in a well established native woodland. Every time I receive a batch of hardwood moulding, I’m so excited to unbox it to see what the grain’s like. I’m like a kid at Christmas, filled with excitement at what lies beneath the wrapping!
So if you, like me, are a wood lover, then you’re in the right place.
