Care & FAQ
Wood is low-maintenance. Here's the whole manual.
- What's the finish?
- Two finishes, on purpose. The working face of every pressing tool is left completely bare, because open pores are what let the wood pull steam and heat out of a pressed seam so the fibers cool in place. The rest of the tool — everywhere your hands go — is finished with an all-natural oil-and-wax blend that protects the wood and brings out the figure in the grain. No lacquer, no polyurethane, nothing synthetic.
- How do I care for a wooden pressing tool?
- Mostly: use it. Keep it dry between sessions, store it flat, and don't leave it sitting on a wet surface. Keep the bare working face bare — never oil or wax it, since finish would seal the pores that do the pressing work. If the oiled top starts to look thirsty after a few years, a thin coat of any natural furniture wax or butcher-block conditioner brings it right back. And if the working face ever roughens, a light pass with fine sandpaper (320 grit) restores it.
- Will the wood or the finish stain my fabric?
- No. The woods we use are fully dry, the working faces are burnish-sanded, and the oil-and-wax blend is fully cured before a tool ships, so nothing transfers. As always with a new tool, give it a first press on scrap if you work with very light fabrics — but walnut, maple, and cherry are all safe, colorfast choices.
- The grain on my tool doesn't match the photo — is that normal?
- Yes, and it's the best part. Every tool comes from a different section of a different board. The form and dimensions match the listing; the figure and color are unique to yours.
- How long until my order ships?
- Most tools ship within 3–5 business days. Everything ships tracked. Made-to-order items or custom wood requests can take a little longer — the product page will say so, or email us and ask.
- Do you take custom requests?
- Within reason, happily — a clapper sized to your ruler, a seam ripper in a specific wood, a pin holder in a shape you have in mind. Email us with what you're imagining and we'll tell you honestly whether the shop can do it.
Something else on your mind? Email the shop — a person answers.