How it works
Custom work, made simple.
Six steps from your first message to a finished piece at your door. No surprises, no ambiguity — you approve the design before we cut a single pass.
Consultation
We start with a conversation, not a catalogue.
Typical time: 2–3 business days
You submit an inquiry with your idea — even if it is half-formed. We follow up within 2–3 business days with questions that help us understand the piece you actually want: how it will be used, where it will live, what it needs to feel like. This step has no cost and no commitment.
Design
Every line is intentional.
Typical time: 3–7 business days
We work in Carbide Create Pro for 2D profiles and pockets, and Blender for 3D relief and sculptural elements. We produce a rendered digital proof — a photorealistic image of the finished piece — and share it with you for approval. You have two rounds of revisions before we finalize the design.
Material Selection
We choose the board, not just the species.
Typical time: 1 business day
Once the design is approved, we select the specific board from our stock. We look for consistent color, minimal sapwood (unless you want it), appropriate figure for the design, and stable moisture content. For pieces where the grain will be prominent, we can share a photo of the selected board before machining.
CNC Production
Precision at scale you cannot achieve by hand.
Typical time: 1–3 days depending on complexity
Our Shapeoko Pro 5 runs each toolpath exactly as designed — no fatigue, no drift, no variation between passes. Depending on complexity, a piece may involve roughing passes, detail passes with a 1/16" ball-nose bit, and a final cleanup pass. We monitor every run and make test cuts in scrap before touching the final stock.
Finishing
The machine stops; the craft continues.
Typical time: 2–5 days (including cure time)
Finishing is entirely by hand. We sand through five grits, raise the grain with a damp cloth, sand again, then apply the appropriate finish — oil, lacquer, wax — in multiple coats with drying and light sanding between each. This is where the piece transitions from a machined object to something that feels alive.
Delivery
Packed for the worst-case journey.
Typical time: 3–7 days transit (or same-day pickup)
We photograph the completed piece before packing. Each item is wrapped in kraft paper, nested in custom foam, and boxed in double-walled corrugated cartons. We ship via tracked courier with insurance. Local pickup from our Caledon studio is available if you prefer to collect in person.
Customization
What can be made to order.
Every variable that matters to the finished piece is open for discussion.
Dimensions
- ›Exact sizing to your specifications
- ›Scaled versions of existing designs
- ›Non-standard proportions and aspect ratios
Text & Lettering
- ›Names, addresses, and dates
- ›Quotes and longer passages
- ›Custom typeface selection
- ›Multiple languages and scripts
Artwork & Imagery
- ›Your logo or brand mark
- ›Custom illustrations and illustrations
- ›Portraits (discussed case by case)
- ›Maps and topographical forms
Material & Finish
- ›Wood species selection
- ›Natural or stained finish
- ›Food-safe or decorative finish
- ›Interior or exterior-grade coating
Timelines
Realistic expectations, clearly stated.
We will always give you a specific timeline when we confirm your order. These are the general ranges.
In-stock pieces
3–5 business days to ship
Simple custom work
2 weeks from design approval
Complex custom work
3–4 weeks from design approval
Rush orders
Case by case — ask us
Questions
Common questions about custom work.
How does the custom order process work?
Start by submitting an inquiry through our contact form with as much detail as you have — dimensions, material preference, intended use, any reference images. We will follow up within 2–3 business days to discuss the project, propose a design direction, and provide a quote. Once you approve the design and confirm the order, production begins. We share a photo of the completed piece before shipping.
Is there a minimum order for custom work?
There is no minimum quantity — we welcome single custom pieces. There is a minimum project value of $100 CAD for custom orders, as the design and setup work involved makes smaller commissions impractical.
Can you carve my logo or custom artwork?
Yes. We need your artwork in a vector format (.ai, .svg, .eps, or high-resolution .pdf). If you only have a raster image (jpg, png), we can often trace it — share what you have and we will confirm. Complex artwork with very fine detail may require simplification to translate well into a carve.
Custom work welcome
Ready to start?
Describe what you have in mind. We will respond within 2–3 business days with questions and an initial direction.