Cutting Boards...somewhat duck related.

Brad Taylor (NC)

Brad Taylor (NC)

Well-known member
Well what started out as a slow summer has really heated up (no pun intended here in NC!)

I've mostly been hanging with my soon to be 9 year old and enjoying life, but towards the end of May I decided to try my hand at laminated cutting boards and just like the boats, one board turned into two, two into three and so on!

At the time I didn't have a boat order, of course now I have one along with other numerous irons in the fire and can't seem to catch a break to post or even read for that matter.

Anyway, just wanted to share a few of the boards.







I've made close to a hundred and sold quite a few, enough to start an off shoot of Toller Boatworks, called Compass Woodworking, even came up with and made my own brand out of a piece of copper pipe and some sheet metal. So, you ask, "how is this duck related". Well, my step-dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's about 8 or 9 years ago. He was an avid decoy carver as I was growing up. Anyway, I decided to borrow his collection of decoy head patterns and incorporate them into the boards. He means a lot to me as he taught me much I know about wood working and the outdoors, so it was really special to be able to pass on the spirit of his work in mine.

Here's a few of them.





I also did some whimsical things including some silhouettes of some of the famous Elmer Crowell decoys, as well as a widgeon decoy picture that was posted here years ago, along with a red fish and bonefish.





















Anyway, if you are an Instagram person, you can see all the boards and be sure to give me a follow if you will.

Regards and hope everyone is having a great summer!

Brad
 
Some of those are really striking (not that they aren't all nice). Nice work! I make enough to keep us into cutting boards, but never serious production - fun I bet.
 
great work Brad, I am a big fan of wooden cutting boards and mixing of species of wood. Hope you had fun with the project. What did you finish the boards with? Bally Block has great product called The Good Stuff specifically made for finishing butcher block.
 
Thanks guys. Been a busy summer for sure. Just got done repairing some "repair" work that was done on guys MLB classic. In grinding out one of the repairs on the side, it was leaking water out of it. Myself and the owner made the call that the foam was probably water logged so i would cur so I would cut some access holes in the bottom and dig out the old foam and pour in new. Oddly enough, there was no foam in the rear of the boat and 1/2" thick x 6" strip of foam that ran from the bow bulkhead to the bow. Really a head scratcher?

Shawn, I'm using a board butter blend I made using beeswax, mineral oil, carnuba wax, and lemon essential oil.

Brad
 
Good morning, Brad~

I have been enjoying this thread - but disappointed to hear you're not in the middle of a boat project. I always enjoy your craftsmanship.

You've got me wondering, too, about your cool logo/brand: Would you explain the iconography?

All the best,

SJS
 
Good morning, Brad~

I have been enjoying this thread - but disappointed to hear you're not in the middle of a boat project. I always enjoy your craftsmanship.

You've got me wondering, too, about your cool logo/brand: Would you explain the iconography?

All the best,

SJS
Click to expand...

Hello Steve,

I did pick up a boat order for the summer, albeit, later than normal. I just received ply and started this past Monday. I'm also painting a 21' C-Hawk and adding a big storage box for decoys/seat in front of the console. Couple that with the MLB repairs, a customer's boat repair (the Duckhunter is 64 or so inches wide at the widest point, the trees he tried to go between running near full throttle were about 63.5. They actually had to chop the tree in order to unwedge the boat! Surprisingly, it only caused a little stress crack where the sides join with the bottom) and keeping up with Cole on summer break, it leaves me little time to check in.

Regardless, to answer your question. Once I realized I was going to be moving a fair number of cutting boards I decided upon a company name of Compass Woodworks. I've always liked the Emerson quote, "Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" So I really wanted to work all this into a neat little design/packaging as I knew the packaging and story behind the boards would help with the appeal, as I know there are lots of wooden cutting board makers out there. I wanted a compass brand and even looked at using a web image to have one created. However, in the end that just wouldn't be original enough for me. So after several failed attempts using everything from carriage bolts to washers, I made my own brand/logo. The brand itself is simply some 1/2" copper pipe along with some thin strips of sheet metal. Its my loose interpretation of a compass.

I have since added a picture of an actual brand as opposed to the compass, and a little other tinkering, but for the most part here is what each board comes with.


I even started packaging my wood butter to go along with the boards.



I doubt many of the DB.net folks are instagram users, however, you can actually click on this link to see all of the boards.

http://www.pictaram.com/tag/compasswoodworks

Hope you are doing well!

Brad
 
Brad~

Now I am REALLY glad I asked!

Great back story - and I love the "value-added" stuff that goes with your work... (my customers just get an SJS notecard.....)

But, now I am wondering whether your tricked-out custom boats get GPS - or a magnetized needle and cork floating in a bowl of water ? ? ?

All the best,

SJS
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top