PHILOSOPHY & FAQs

Welcome to Irvington Woodworks! My name is Ryan and I’d like to share a bit of Irvington Woodworks’ philosophy in woodworking. I practice slow manufacturing where the priority of the product shifts from 'quantity' to 'quality', and usually, slow production disregards the need to follow trends. This also means that the products I make take longer to produce. These days we have been programmed by large third-party manufacturers that products can just arrive the next day without a care of who or how something was made. I have long lead times because I am a one-person shop and I take care of every piece, not to say that every piece is precious and twee, they are made to be used, but my hands are all over the work I create. Slow manufacturing also means striving to be more transparent, to that end it is wild to say this, but if you need something immediately and do not have the patience to wait for quality or understand that delays can happen, I suggest trying a different shop.

Here are a few things to consider before purchasing.

Why are your pieces so high?

My prices reflect a proper formula that includes the cost of materials, time to create, and a profit margin. Wood is expensive and prices can fluctuate depending on market demands. Different species can be more or less expensive than others and that is reflected in the price. Custom prices vary depending on the project and will have a design fee upfront that will be applied to the total cost of the piece and a separate invoice for shipping. Learn more in our CUSTOM FURNITURE section. To remain transparent I currently do not offer “FREE SHIPPING”, generally the “FREE SHIPPING” you may receive from other retailers is just factored into the cost of the product and there is no such thing as free shipping.

Why do your products take so long?

As mentioned briefly above, I am one person who currently also works a day job. This, however, is just one aspect of it. The major consideration is that my lead times are extended and I take the time to make sure each piece is constructed properly both physically and aesthetically. I am currently the sole person to make all the goods in my shop, so any delay in materials I have or an overload of orders can put me behind my already longer lead times. When this happens I ask for patience and kindness when working through this delay. It is a mental shift to understand that you won't get the thing in your hands the next day, let's work on that shift together. In general, be kind to your small business makers.

Are you available for custom work?

Absolutely! Please reach out and learn more in the CUSTOM FURNITURE section.

Wood. Let’s talk about wood!

Wood is a naturally occurring product that can have inclusions, defects, and other squirrely things in it, while I usually tend to avoid these bits, sometimes they have to be worked in. These inclusions and defects will either be filled (epoxy), patched (another piece of wood that may not match), or left alone if they are small enough. I will never fill or patch an inclusion or defect that proves to be structurally unsound and generally will only be an aesthetic nuisance to some. Believe it or not wood generally is not the same color throughout a board therefore you will notice a variance of color, figure, and grain throughout any given piece. This is why we love wood! I offer a variety of species in my listings ranging from walnut, ash, maple, and beech, if there is another species you'd like instead please message me.

Finish. Let’s talk about finishes!

I use three different finishes, the first and most common is a low VOC hard wax/oil finish called Osmo that is used for both furniture and flooring alike. It creates a molecular bond with the wood creating a very durable finish. This is used on everything except the incense holder and cutting boards. Second is a product called Walrus Oil, which also has low VOC, and is a mixture of several different oils. I use this on the incense holders mostly because of its ease of use for myself. Thirdly, I use a board butter consisting of beeswax and food-safe grade mineral oil that is applied to the cutting boards and serving boards. I do not use paint or stains outside of sumi ink for a few products.

Shipping!

I strive to not use any plastics outside of packing tape and little hot melt glue when shipping products. I stuff boxes with highly recyclable newsprint which allows me to pack tightly providing support and cushioning without the use of plastics.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions, custom requests, or wholesale orders.