Handcrafting The Live Board
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Organic Elegance for Gatherings That Matter
There’s beauty in simplicity. Especially when it’s paired with rare natural detail. Designed for effortless hosting, this live-edge charcuterie board celebrates the untamed edge of the tree, paired with clean book-matched symmetry and minimal shaping for an understated, sculptural presence. It’s where raw nature meets refined taste.
The Live Board Foundation
Curly Maple is one of nature’s most captivating hardwoods. What sets it apart is a natural optical illusion in the grain that creates a three-dimensional, rippling effect across the surface. The result? A luminous, wavy shimmer that seems to move with the light.
This striking figure isn’t something that can be engineered or dyed. It naturally occurs in only about 3% of maple trees, making it both rare and highly desirable among fine furniture makers, luthiers, and luxury craftspeople. The figure is caused by the fiber cells of the tree twisting and turning as it grows.
Why We Use Curly Maple:
Visual Movement: The grain appears to dance and shimmer, creating a dramatic sense of depth and elegance.
Quiet Sophistication: It’s a subtle, organic luxury—never flashy, always refined.
Natural Uniqueness: No two boards will ever be the same. Each is a one-of-a-kind expression of the tree it came from.
Heritage Craftsmanship: Used for centuries in heirloom-quality instruments and furniture, it’s a material that speaks to enduring beauty and intentional design.
A well-made board deserves a material with a story. That’s why we choose Curly Maple for its rarity, its beauty, and its ability to make every gathering feel special.
Behind The Design
Born from gratitude and love. The first Live Board was created as a thank you gift for lifelong friends. People whose home reflected a minimalist, nature-inspired design sensibility. Andrew wanted to create something they couldn’t buy in stores. A charcuterie board that honored both the natural beauty of the material and the thoughtfulness of their space.
They loved it. And in making it, we found something worth sharing.
The Live Board was born from that moment. A fusion of connection, gratitude, craftsmanship, and the rare beauty of Curly Maple. Today, it remains one of the most personal pieces in our collection. Still handcrafted one at a time, and designed to feel like a treasured gift.
The Process
Thoughtful Selection
It first starts with lumber selection. Every piece of lumber used is chosen for the special character it possesses. This character is reflected in its age, color, grain, and other natural variations which all have an impact on the final product.
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Refining The Form
Most of the raw Curly Maple we receive arrives from the mill with the bark still intact. When that is the case, the first step is to remove the different bark layers. Removing the bark is essential to prevent the wood from rotting and for keeping pests away. There are several ways to do it, but a good chisel is the most effective. This allows us to preserve the ridges and character of the live-edge. Other makers typically opt to sand off the final layer of bark, the cambium layer, but in our case doing so would remove the qualities that help make each one so special. So while using a chisel is more time consuming, the end result is well worth the extra time and attention.
The next step is to begin milling the rough lumber close to the dimensions needed. A variety of tools are used to accomplish this, such as a planer and drum sander. The lumber is then re-sawn using a bandsaw, and the resulting halves are folded open revealing what will be the board's book-matched surface. The halves are then planed again to ensure an equal thickness.
Finishing Touches
Now the final assembly process begins. The halves are glued together using an EPA approved food-safe adhesive and left to cure overnight. After cured, it is on to final sanding. The entire board is misted with water prior to sanding as we work our way through finer and finer grits of sandpaper.
Applying moisture to wood before its final sanding is an essential technique for any woodworker aiming for an ultra-smooth surface, particularly when a finish will be applied. This step is commonly known as raising the grain. The science behind it is quite interesting. The act of sanding, no matter how fine the grit, shears and crushes microscopic wood fibers. While the surface feels smooth, many of these fibers are simply flattened into the wood. When a finish is later applied, these dormant fibers absorb the moisture, swell, and stand up, creating a rough, fuzzy texture.
By intentionally dampening the wood with water beforehand, we trigger this effect on our own terms. Once the wood dries, sanding will cut away these raised fibers. This creates a stable surface that will no longer react to the finish, ensuring the final surface remains as smooth and luxurious as intended.
Each board is then laser engraved, and our company logo is applied by hand on the front edge. This is also when any custom engraving, if selected during purchase, is applied. Lastly, each board is cleaned, oiled with food-grade mineral oil, and sealed with a combination of beeswax from Texas bees and mineral oil.
The Live Board is best suited for use as a charcuterie board, serving board, or for light cutting. Face grain boards such as this will more readily show knife marks, so heavy cutting or chopping is not recommended.
Secure yours today for what will surely be the conversation piece at your next gathering. Cheers!
