The Wooden Nickel

Our process begins with freshly cut Myrtlewood logs which we rough into shape, then kiln dry for approximately 12 weeks. The final process, after drying, continues with lathe preparation, lathe turning, sanding and application of finish. The process takes approximately six months from start to completion of the final products.
Our love of wood and woodworking has offered us great satisfaction over the years. The continuous attention to quality in our handmade wood creations is the "Prime Directive" of our staff.
We are blessed with one of the finest hardwoods available anywhere. The Myrtlewood tree offers extraordinary color and figure variation. Beautiful finish and natural warmth are the hallmark characteristics of fine wood-crafts, and our products will speak for themselves.

Oregon Myrtle (Umbellularia Californica), a distant member of the Laurel family, is native only to the Southern Oregon and Northern California coast. It is actually a bush that occasionally grows into a tree. In California it is usually found in bush form, but in the rich river bottoms of the Southern Oregon coast it grows into a magnificent tree.
When grown in the open, the Oregon Myrtle takes on a dome shape to protect itself against the wind. However, in the forest it grows straight, reaching heights of sixty to one hundred feet. The bush form grows to ten to fifteen feet in height. The tree is symmetrical with olive-like fruit or nuts. The nuts are not edible, but the waxy Myrtle leaves can be substituted for bay leaves. Color and grain pattern in the wood varies greatly from yellowish-brown, gray, black, blond, brown, with hints of red, blue, and green. Its grain patterns such as burl, swirls, and fiddle-back, with the mingling of different colors makes this wood one of the most unique and beautiful in the world. With so many varieties of color and grain, it is impossible to duplicate a piece. Therefore, every piece made is valuable in its uniqueness.
This rare tree is slow growing. No one quite knows the age limits of the Oregon Myrtle. It grows to heights of one hundred feet and a diameter of two to six feet. A tree with a diameter of four feet can be as old as five hundred years. It takes centuries for these trees to come to full maturity.
Green (or wet) Myrtlewood is extremely heavy and does not float. Myrtlewood planks, if air-dried, will take one year per inch of wood to dry, whereas kiln drying takes 6 to 8 weeks. If the drying process is too fast, the wood may crack or warp. Extreme care must be taken when readying the wood for use.
In addition to Oregon Myrtle, there is Common Myrtle (Myrtus Communis L.) an evergreen shrub and relative of the Oregon Myrtle. Common Myrtle grows wild in Galilee, the Upper Jordan Valley, the Golan, and the Carmel Range. It is used both ornamentally and ritually as one of the four species of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. The branches were used in betrothal rites and sometimes for remedies. Also, there are biblical references to the myrtle: "and instead of the briar shall come unto the myrtle tree." (Isaiah 55:13) The Mediterranean species is an evergreen shrub with dense upright branches bearing a blackish-blue berry fruit that can be used as a condiment. The biblical background of the Oregon Myrtle's relative makes the wood valuable and unique in the manufacturing of religious pieces. An offering plate, bread plate, or communion tray made of Myrtlewood carries with it a biblically historical story.
When visiting the Southern Oregon coast, be sure to stop by and see us.