This is a picture of two monkey pod slabs. That’s rights…MONKEY POD. You can clearly see that they are imperfect. In fact, one of them has a sizable chunk out of it. Although they have been flattened, they need a lot of shaping, sanding, finishing, and TLC. These slabs are not perfect.
I’ll go you one better; the furniture we made from these two slabs (picture below) is also imperfect. We have hopefully diminished the surface imperfections so that it feels smooth, has the right finish, and is pleasing to our customer. But this kind of imperfection is synonymous with character and uniqueness. These things make it warm, interesting, and organic.
Sure, you can get near perfection. Big box stores, online retailers, and furniture manufacturers can make all kinds of material look something like wood. They can add some grain, put on some veneer, and work all kinds of magic to roll out a thousand of the same, perfect, interchangeable widgets. No shade here! There is a vast market for quality, mass-produced goods. But, that’s not what you get with real, handmade wood tables.
Every knot, epoxy fill, and grain figure are unique…just like a fingerprint. No one in the world has your heirloom piece. You can select the wood, even the very slab. You get to decide its shape andsize. You get to develop its character. You will be able to make it, and everyone of its organic “beauty marks,” yours. Your children and grandchildren will be able to enjoy something that no one else in the world could pass from generation to generation.
I don’t know. I could have been wrong. Maybe it IS perfect. Let us get started on your imperfectly perfect legacy. Give us a shout at Bulldog Custom Woodworking.
