Helgi Eyjolfsson writes. “Like people, no two pieces of wood are exactly alike. I select woods locally and from around the world. My favorites include cocobolo, amboyna, and any type of burl especially those with natural eyes such as bird’s eye maple, yellow cedar burl and buckeye burl. A burl is a growth on the outside of the tree that can be removed without killing the tree”. 
“I first discovered the beauty of wood while completing my first project nearly 50 years ago in high school. Now in retirement, I spend as much time searching for wood as I do transforming it into my finished product. Once the wood arrives in my workshop, I let it dry for up to 5 years to ensure stability and to provide me with ample opportunity to study each piece and visualize the most outstanding finished product possible”. 
“I have discovered that the most important skills in woodworking are the selection of the wood and probably more importantly, the application of the finish. The finish gives each piece the chance to show its natural beauty and to preserve for generations to come the opportunity to admire the piece as it was in its living state. My Viking heritage has given me the desire to learn from the ancient masters and contributed to my striving for the perfect finish that can only be achieved with time, patience and lots and lots of sanding and polishing”.
“Like people, no two pieces of finished product are alike. If asked, I cannot duplicate a finished product. The wood grains, especially those in burls, cannot be duplicated in nature. Like many fortunate people, the wood that I use has lived to a wonderful old age and therefore may come with a blemish or crack. I strive not to hide these distinctive marks of maturity, but rather use them as a point of beauty”.
“Enjoy your unique piece of handcrafted artistry!”, you can find more of Helgi’s fine work at Side Street Studio.
No Comments