From Forest to Wall
Months of patience in every square inch
How It's Made
Creating a single HPFA piece takes between six weeks and six months, depending on species, size, and complexity. There are no shortcuts in a process designed to last for generations.
We travel to mills, private estates, and forest operations to hand-select burl specimens. Only slabs with exceptional figure, structural integrity, and sustainable provenance are acquired.
Green burl wood must be carefully dried over months or years. We use a combination of air-drying and kiln methods calibrated to each species to prevent cracking and stress.
Each slab is sliced to reveal its best figure, then shaped on our wide-belt sanders and hand tools. Natural edges are preserved wherever the design calls for organic form.
Natural voids, pockets, and checks are filled with tinted or clear epoxy resin, stabilizing the piece and creating the stunning "river" details that collectors prize.
Finishing begins at 80-grit and progresses through up to fifteen stages, ending at 3,000-grit wet-sanding. The final surface is smoother than glass to the touch.
A multi-layer hand-rubbed oil and wax finish protects and enhances the wood's natural color. French cleats or custom mounting hardware is fitted for easy, secure hanging.
The Finishing Process
Our finishing process is what separates HPFA pieces from the burl wood you might find at a craft fair. Every piece goes through a precise fifteen-stage sanding progression, beginning with coarse paper to remove mill marks and ending with ultra-fine wet sanding that creates a surface of almost mirror-like smoothness.
Between coats of finish, the piece is wiped down, inspected under raking light, and hand-sanded again. We apply a minimum of four coats of hand-rubbed Danish oil to deeply nourish the wood, followed by a final wax polish that provides UV protection and a soft, living sheen.
The result is a surface that seems to glow from within — as if lit by an interior light source. This is the chatoyance of fine burl: visible only when the finish is deep enough to reveal it.
We use custom-tinted marine-grade epoxy to fill natural voids and cracks. The result stabilizes the piece and creates stunning visual accents.
Every piece is inspected under multiple angles of raking light at each stage to catch any surface imperfection before the next coat of finish is applied.
Our final topcoat includes UV absorbers to prevent the color shifts that affect improperly finished wood over time. Your piece will look as good in 30 years as the day it arrives.
Every wall piece ships with a precision-machined aluminum French cleat — the strongest and most vibration-resistant hanging system available.
Time Investment
Freshly cut burl contains enormous quantities of water. Rushing this stage causes checking, cracking, and warping that ruins the piece. We never compromise on drying time.
Each coat of oil and wax must cure fully before the next is applied. Rushing the finish produces a cloudy, shallow result without depth or luster.
Filled voids must cure at a controlled temperature for a minimum of 72 hours before any sanding begins. Premature sanding pulls the epoxy from the wood.
Commission Yours
Custom commission clients receive a photographic journal of their piece's creation — from raw slab to finished artwork — as part of their commission package.
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