As in any experienced wood shop, all of the lumber I work with is dried to approximately 8% MC. Large pieces and/or dense wood are sometimes rough-sculptured and left to dry further to achieve an 8% MC.

Sometimes a piece will be sawed and glued, sanded and planed multiple times and sometimes a natural or live edge is left intact for a more rustic appearance.

Cutting boards, or any piece that could possibly be used to serve food, are usually finished with two coats of food grade mineral oil. Cutting boards that can double as serving trays or center pieces are sometimes finished with tung oil to achieve a more glossy appearance.

I never apply stain or paint except on décor pieces that have an obvious distressed finish.

Of course some custom pieces are custom sawed, custom assembled, custom finished and custom shipped!