About Us

When you begin working with natural wood, you come to understand that it follows its own set of rules. It starts with the scent—fresh earth, the aroma of lush green leaves, and of course, the fragrance of decay. So, why the smell of decay? Because I carefully choose fallen or decayed trees, or those consumed by woodworms. This isn't about seasoned and polished oak beams or extensively dried wood processed in a kiln.

The scent of decay is almost intoxicating. After the meticulous process of cleaning and carving out the endless wormholes, the power of nature reveals itself. Taking a deep breath of the Safed air, lifting my head high, I realize that humans can never surpass nature, and we, humans, only have the privilege to discover a small fraction of it.

Working with natural wood demands humility—bowing our heads before nature's mysteries, acknowledging its vastness, and recognizing the enigma hidden behind every corner. It's an exhilarating craft because even today, after a decade of working with wood, I am moved by each new texture, each knot, and almost every splinter.

How did we start working with epoxy?

Initially, I presented people with an olive wood board with holes, aesthetically pleasing but impractical for serving food. It wasn't suitable, and it wasn't food-safe.

Then we discovered epoxy, a substance primarily used as an adhesive and coating for heavy-duty industrial items. In the global epoxy industry (worth around $15 billion annually), it comes in various forms: with metal additives for the metal industry, with fast-drying agents, in a more transparent liquid form, and in a more rubbery, adhesive form.

It took me a long time to understand which type to use—one that maximizes resonance, can be poured, and can be processed after casting.

The process itself is somewhat complex, but maintaining order and adhering to certain rules and a lot of patience make it much simpler.

In the end, the product we get is a kind of glass-like surface integrated into the wood. It provides a unified appearance and, of course, is much more practical. It solves additional problems, such as a board made up of several pieces that, on their own, would disintegrate. Epoxy binds them together, creating an amazing collage.

Epoxy makes us see wood from a different perspective, appreciating it on one hand, and on the other, safeguarding the board from future cracks and potential explosions caused by the expansion and contraction of the wood.

-David Gutman, Wood Epoxy Artisan