Wade Working

Serious woodwork, Relaxed attitude, Built to outlast.

Let's build something See the work

Nubs, the Wade Working llama, wearing aviator sunglasses

A few things I have made

This is only a sample. I take on all kinds of woodworking, from boards to CNC cut work and custom one-off pieces.

Maple and walnut football helmet shaped catch-all tray holding keys, a wallet and coins — Football helmet catch-all

Walnut end grain board with a maple inlay reading Johnson est. 1974 — Johnson family board

Walnut end grain board with a maple inlay reading Smith Family — Smith family board

Maple guitar-shaped catch-all tray engraved T-Bone holding a knife, flashlight and charger — Guitar catch-all tray

Walnut pumpkin-shaped serving tray with three sections and brass handles — Pumpkin serving tray

Walnut football-shaped serving tray with engraved laces — Football serving tray

Football-shaped walnut and cherry tray engraved Cyclones — Cyclones football tray

Hinged maple box with the lid open, showing brass hinges and a routed interior — Hinged box

Oak plaque with a carved MINI Cooper SS — MINI Cooper carving

Do not see what you need? Describe it and I will tell you if I can build it. Ask about your project

End grain inlay boards

Each board is an end grain board with a custom inlay: a pocket is cut into the board and a matching plug of contrasting wood is fitted into it.

PocketYour name, logo or shape is cut into the board.
PlugA matching piece is cut from contrasting wood.
FitThe plug is glued in and sanded flush.

Have a name, date or design in mind? Send it over and I will reply with a plan and a price.

Let's customize something special

End grain walnut blank clamped up after gluing — Gluing up the blank

The pig diagram pocket cut into the board before the maple plug is fitted — Pocket before the plug

The maple plug cut on the CNC to match the pig pocket, shown mirrored before it is flipped and glued in — Matching plug cut from maple

Walnut end grain board with a maple inlay reading Noland Family, on the CNC table right after first level surfacing — Right after first level surfacing

Finished walnut end grain board with a maple pig butcher diagram inlay — Finished inlay board

Watch it being made

The CNC cutting the pockets and plugs for an inlay.

Cutting the pocket

Clearing the pocket

Cutting the plug

One person, one shop, every piece made start to finish.

Walnut with a maple inlay? Classic. Ooh, cherry with a walnut plug... A family name? A date? Both! Or a whole pig. Wearing shades. Hmm, maple with a dark walnut plug? Measure twice. Snack once. That grain? Chef's kiss. Oak? Ash? Why not both? Sanded to 330. Smooth as my snout. Built to outlast. Like my naps. Epoxy river? Um, no thanks. Unless you're paying... Sawdust is just wood confetti. Off the shelf? Not in this sty. One of a kind. Just like me. Your idea. My sawdust.

Wade Working is a small woodworking business in central Iowa, building pieces made for you specifically.

Nothing here is mass-produced. Every piece is handcrafted and one of a kind, made with great effort, and every detail is meticulously thought out before your piece is ever started.

Have something in mind? Send a message and we will talk through it.

Start a project

Send the basics and I will reply.

Or email info@wadeworking.com