Welcome to the Shop Blog at 86

🌿 Crafting with Conscience: Woodworking That Supports Our Forests—crafting woodworking pieces with conscience at 86 Custom Woodworking. Discover sustainable practices and the legacy behind each creation. Welcome to our shop.

By Barbra, 86 Custom Woodworking

“Every board I shape carries a story. But lately, I’ve started asking — whose forest did this come from? It’s not just a piece of wood. It’s legacy, habitat, oxygen, and history. As a woodworker, I want my creations to honor the roots they came from — and help grow something better.”

I came to woodworking not as a trade, but as a second calling. After a career in nursing, where every small detail mattered and every life deserved care, I now give that same attention to each grain of wood I touch. At 86 Custom Woodworking, I don’t just build — I listen, shape, and respect the material’s journey.

Holding a piece of ebony or walnut, I feel the echo of the forest it came from. My hands might carve its future, but I never forget its past.

That’s why I’ve made a quiet pledge: to choose materials thoughtfully, source responsibly, and support reforestation in every way I can. I believe we can make beautiful things and still give back to the earth that gave us the wood.

🌱 What Sustainable Woodworking Means to Me

Eco-friendly woodworking is more than a trend — it’s a shift in mindset. For me, it means asking better questions before I ever lay a blade on board.

• Where did this wood come from?
  I source most of my materials from https://rawheartwood.com/, a local shop in West Chicago that secures many trees locally. Their lumber comes from naturally fallen or responsibly removed trees, not clear-cut forests. That means every slab I use has a second life, rather than being a cost to the planet.

• How much can I repurpose?
  Off-cuts aren’t just scrapped in my shop. They become jewelry boxes, inlays, test cuts — anything to give those fibers a second chance at purpose.

• What finishes keep nature in mind?
  I look for low-VOC oils and water-based sealers that are kinder to both the wood and the air we breathe.

At 86 Custom Woodworking, I believe in honoring the full story of the wood — from its roots in the forest to its final form in someone’s home.

🌟 A Cause That Grows with Meaning

You’ll notice a small tree I planted with Tree-Nation at the bottom of this page — it’s not just decoration. It’s a quiet declaration that 86 Custom Woodworking believes in giving back. For every piece I craft, I aim to leave a positive mark on the world, not just on the wood.

Craftsmanship should leave a positive mark, not just on wood, but on the world. Reforestation efforts and resources matter deeply to me. If you're curious, I invite you to visit Tree Nation and learn more about their global impact.

Learn about the forests that give us so much — and how thoughtful choices in the workshop can echo across entire ecosystems—crafting woodworking pieces with conscience at 86 Custom Woodworking. Discover sustainable practices and the legacy behind each creation. Welcome to our shop.

🌳 Let’s build a world where craftsmanship and conservation walk hand in hand.

Whether you're a fellow woodworker, a nature lover, or someone drawn to stories told in grain and growth, welcome. I’m so glad you’re here.

“Planted through Tree-Nation with the Arbor Day Foundation - a small act rooted in hope.” A lush green tree stands. “