Choosing an Engraving Bit

July 23, 2019How To & Calculators, CNCDavid Wertheimer6 Comments

So many engraving bits to choose from; which is the right one to use? Did you ever expect to apply that high school trigonometry for engraving? In this post, we go through the considerations in selecting the size and angle of engraving bit based on the width of the characters and the thickness of the stock.

Unexpected Complexities of Swearing in Braille

July 9, 2019CNC, Products & ShowsDavid Wertheimer1 Comment

Carving Braille into a simple wood coaster introduced a lot more design and usability complexity than I initially expected; this post shares a few of the design considerations, and the implications of those issues on machining time.

How Moisture Resistant is that Finish?

June 12, 2019How To & CalculatorsDavid Wertheimer2 Comments

Applying those multiple coats of finish can quickly get to be tedious. But beyond bringing out the beauty of the natural wood grain, it also provides an essential moisture barrier. Just how effective is that moisture barrier? And is that third coat really necessary? This post illuminates a great resource for understanding the moisture retardance properties of different finishes, and based on how many coats you’ve applied.

Seven Amazing Transformations

May 29, 2019Products & ShowsDavid Wertheimer2 Comments

If you’re considering some built-in furniture, these before and after transformation photos of projects I’ve worked in the last year might help you flesh out some of your ideas: natural wood, or painted? floor-to-ceiling, or just partway up the wall?

Honoring my Commitment to Clean Energy

May 15, 2019SustainabilityDavid Wertheimer3 Comments

I have committed Branching Out Wood to dedicate at least 10% of revenues to net new solar projects. In the years since opening up shop, I wanted to provide an update on how I’ve followed through on that commitment, as well as provide a few pointers to resources you might find useful in helping to evaluate whether solar would be useful for you.

Four Nifty Steampunk Display Technologies

May 5, 2019Technology & SteampunkDavid Wertheimer4 Comments

I love incorporating old technologies in bespoke designs, so let’s check out a few old display technologies. You’ve probably heard of the Nixie tube (or seen it in one of my creations), but have you heard of the one plane display? And you may have seen flip dot or split pane displays on a bus or at a ferry terminal, even though both are electromechanical display technologies of yore, yet available in new form factors. These are just a few of the ingenious devices that would allow display of complex information, and fit perfectly in a “Steampunk” aesthetic. And as an added bonus, check out the display made out of 6400 spools of thread!