Aspen Ridge Woodworking

Workability

Cherry is a woodworker’s friend — it cuts cleanly, sands like butter, and takes a tung‑oil finish incredibly well. It can burn if tools are dull, but with sharp blades and steady passes, it behaves beautifully. Glue‑ups are reliable, and the final surface feels silky.

Appearance

Cherry starts as a soft pinkish‑tan and deepens into a rich, reddish‑brown as it’s exposed to light. The grain is smooth and consistent, with the occasional curly figure or mineral streak that gives each board personality. Few woods develop a patina as gracefully as cherry.

Honoring the brave today.
This Memorial Day, we pause to remember the men and women who gave everything for our freedom. Their sacrifice is the reason we get to enjoy moments of peace, family, and the simple beauty of creating with our hands.

Proud to share a piece crafted in that spirit — built with care, gratitude, and the freedom they protected.

Today we remember. Today we honor. 🇺🇸

Wood of the week is the cherry tree!

Identity

American cherry — Prunus serotina — is one of the most iconic North American hardwoods. It grows throughout the eastern United States and has been prized for centuries for its warmth, stability, and timeless character. It’s a favorite among fine furniture makers because it ages beautifully and works like a dream in the shop.

Common Household Uses for Hard Maple

Cutting boards — dense, food‑safe, and naturally resistant to wear

Kitchen utensils — spoons, spatulas, rolling pins, and butcher blocks

Countertops — bright, durable, and great for high‑use kitchens

Cabinetry — smooth grain takes paint and clear finishes beautifully

Furniture — tables, chairs, dressers, and modern minimalist pieces

Flooring — famously used in gyms and bowling alleys for its toughness

Shelving — strong enough to resist sagging under weight

Trim & molding — crisp edges and a clean, refined look

Maple is a very common household wood used in all sorts of different areas within your household. It’s a great way to elevate any home project.

Our new grill trays have tons of space! 12 hotdogs and 5 brats. Who would have thought something could look so elevated being so basic just sitting on a platter! Let me know if these grill trays are something that interests you!

Hard maple ranks 1,450 lbf on the Janka hardness scale — harder than walnut, cherry, and many exotics.

That means:

Resists dents and scratches

Holds crisp edges and details

Stands up to daily kitchen abuse

Performs well in high‑traffic furniture

Hard maple works cleanly with sharp tools, but burns easily, resists dull cutters, and can blotch when stained.

Machines cleanly with sharp carbide cutters

Burns easily on the router table or table saw if feed rate slows

Prone to tear‑out in curly or figured grain

Planes well with a finely set, sharp iron

Sands to a smooth finish thanks to its closed pores

High blotch risk when staining — conditioners or dyes recommended

Glues reliably with no unusual issues

Requires pre‑drilling for screws due to density

Hard maple is known for its strength, brightness, and tight, consistent grain — the kind of wood that brings a clean, modern look to any project. The wood gets slightly brighter and more yellow when treated with oil.

Wood of the week

Maple

Scientific Name

Acer saccharum — the species most woodworkers mean when they say “hard maple” or “sugar maple.”

There are other maples used in woodworking (soft maple, red maple, bigleaf maple), but Acer saccharum is the premium, dense, tight‑grained stuff you use for cutting boards and high‑end kitchen pieces.

Where It Grows

Sugar maple’s native range covers the northeastern and midwestern United States and stretches into southeastern Canada.
Think:

• New England
• Great Lakes region (including Indiana)
• Appalachians
• Southern Canada (Ontario, Quebec)

It thrives in cool, moist climates with well‑drained soil — which is why the Midwest and Northeast produce such consistently high‑quality maple lumber.

It’s that time of year when homes are selling, families are moving, and realtors are helping clients start their next chapter.

At Aspen Ridge, we believe closing gifts should be meaningful, practical, and memorable. Our handcrafted cutting boards are gifts your clients will actually use, helping keep you top of mind long after closing day.

To support local realtors, we’re offering special bulk pricing on our handcrafted boards:

• Face Grain Boards: 4 for $200
Perfect for light prep, serving, and presentation.

• Edge Grain Boards: 4 for $325
Built for durability and everyday kitchen use.

Stock up for the busy season and always have a thoughtful closing gift ready to go.

Message us to place your order or learn more about custom options.