Magnetic Knife Strip Gallery

12" Danngai (Kingiodendron)

Over the few years I've been doing this I've scattered posts on knife strips all over this blog. I wanted to consolidate pictures in a central location, so they're after the jump:

Also, I currently have a couple for sale on Etsy, walnut, danggai, and purpleheart.

Afromosia Diploma Frames

Pictured: Proof I'm a Warrior

Well I went a fancy school for some book-learnin' and purchased from them not one, but two, fancy sheepskin documents with gold-coloreds seal and autopen signatures on 'em. One even has Latin on it (I guess both do if you count "juris"). I figured if I had fancy diplomas that they needed fancy frames.

Afromosia Frames - Don't Tread On Me

Don't Tread on Me

This fine country of ours has a spectacular history. The struggle against tyranny is imprinted on our national identity, and one of the symbols of that struggle is the Gadsden Flag. An image as timeless as that requires a frame to match...

Latin Cross

My brother and his wife honored me by asking me to be the godfather to their daughter, Alexia. (She's adorable). I was trying to think of something good to give her for her baptism. I didn't want go out and get something kitschy, so I decided to grab some afromosia and make a cross for her.

(I talked about afromosia at length here)

My mom was big on putting crosses in rooms throughout the house, so I hoped it was a Catholic thing and that my sister-in-law would find a good place for it. This was a while ago; Alexia's talking now. A couple days ago my sister-in-law said, "We love it; that's why it's in a prominent place." She put it above the door to her washroom/laundry room/door to the garage. It overlooks the kitchen and dining room, which in our family is a prominent spot indeed. Most all of the family gatherings are located about 90% in the kitchen.

I really wanted to give a gift that was something that they would like to display, and then maybe when Alexia grows up she might want to display it in her home. I decided to go with a simple latin cross. I thought about trying to make a celtic cross, but I decided that because we aren't Irish, it wasn't really worth making it more complicated.

The latin cross is simple. Its simplicity is, I think, part of its theological character. It's not ostentatious. Its purpose is obvious. In this case I think it was perfect.

Other reasons aside, I do think that it's easy to fall into a trap of wanting complexity because "complexity is fancy and fancy is good."I think there is a great deal of beauty and power in simplicity. I think this is a great example of that.

I'd be happy to put together a cross like this (or any cross design for that matter) for anyone that's interested. All you have to do is ask.

Magnetic Knife Strips

What you are looking at is a strip of spalted maple, 18 inches long, 2 inches wide, and 7/8 inches thick. Embedded in the back of the wood are 17 rare earth magnets, each of which is rated with 50 lb pull strength. All I did to finish it is wipe it down with mineral oil, the same way one would wipe down a butcher's or chopping block. Routed into the back of the strip are two keyhole-mounting slots. Put a couple screws into the wall; it will hang securely.