Crich Woodworks

Crich Woodworks Designing and producing handmade items from my workshop in Crich, Derbyshire.

I've been to the Lake District many many times and never get bored of the beauty it holds. The nature is outstanding and...
22/03/2026

I've been to the Lake District many many times and never get bored of the beauty it holds. The nature is outstanding and is home to a small population of native red squirrels. Sadly, their numbers have declined dramatically since the introduction of the grey squirrel in 1876.
Cumbria is one of the last places in England where the reds exist. Various groups work tirelessly to extend their existence across the county through programmes and habitat preservation. A much loved and truly iconic member of our native species in the UK. I could happily take slightly grainy shots on my phone all day long.

Hello. If you're reading this, I hope you are well. As the winter months draw to an end, I can definately sense the star...
22/02/2026

Hello. If you're reading this, I hope you are well. As the winter months draw to an end, I can definately sense the start of Spring. The birds are active and noisy, the spring flowers are starting to appear and the days are getting longer (thank goodness).

I've limited my time in the workshop because my recovery from sepsis has taken longer than I thought it would. I didn't know what to expect when I came out of hospital, but what I do know is, the effects of sepsis strips your body of almost everything. Red blood cells take 4 months to regenerate (best case scenario) and these carry oxygen around the body, so it comes as no surprise that after an hour or so in the workshop requires rest, a large mug of tea and cake (if available).
Thats been the pattern for the last few weeks and i'm grateful that I can actually spend small amounts of time in there. To that end, a new 'chaotic' style cutting board.

It's taken almost 2 months to make, spending an hour at a time on the days that I feel I have enough energy to make it.
The wood is from various offcuts from other boards that i've made over the last year or so. I added some end grain braces to the sides from vaneers (iroko, sapele and maple).

I hope you like the board. It is utterly unique. All very very colourful. It will be gifted to a work friend who recently retired.

Drop a comment in below and let me know what you think.

Tra for now


Need a last minute Christmas gift? I have an end grain cutting board requiring a new home. Made from Sapele, Maple and E...
21/12/2025

Need a last minute Christmas gift?

I have an end grain cutting board requiring a new home. Made from Sapele, Maple and English Oak (side rails).

Measurements:
22 inches / 560mm Wide
16 inches / 410mm Deep
2 inches / 50mm Thick

This is a unique kitchen item which features hand slots to pick it up with rubber feet to the underside. The contrasting colours look amazing.

Please feel free to share. Ideally, a local pick up will be required to avoid the Christmas delivery timeframe.

Drop a message if you have any questions.
TTFN

Right then. I was hoping to post lots of pictures of me making stuff for the Christmas run-in but, unfortunately, I have...
11/12/2025

Right then. I was hoping to post lots of pictures of me making stuff for the Christmas run-in but, unfortunately, I have a different story to tell.

I'm at home recovering after a stay in intensive care at the hospital. Basically my kidneys had packed in and I had sepsis (really not good). I didn't recognise the signs during the days/weeks leading in and did what most blokes do and just carried on. From what i've been told, it was quite a close call.

So.....lessons learnt as a 50 year old grumpy man after a rather scary experience.

1- listen to your body and take time to recover. Don't go hammer and tongue

2- Drink. Not alcohol. 6 pints of fluid a day. You can always top up with Yorkshire Tea (other tea brands will be available). I will now be T-Total for the next 6 months.

3- Diet. Eat your 5 a day. Eat 10 a day. Eat 20!! The best way to get all the vitamins and minerals you need to keep you healthy is through diet. Suppliments will help

4- The final lesson - Be thankful. My experience could have been a lot worse. By that I mean, it could have been the last time i was in my workshop, the last time I spent time with my Grandson, the last time i had a pint with my Dad and the last time i had a round of golf.

All these little tiny things are a gift, and, i'm deeply grateful that I can continue to enjoy them.
I have a wonderful family who have supported me and i love them so much

The picture is of me in New Zealand at 4.30am in Kaikoura. The night sky shows us the Milky Way, the sun is starting to rise. It's called 'A new beginning'
Quite apt.

I would like to take the time to thank everyone that have commented/liked on project/workshop updates
I hope you all have a peaceful Christmas (plenty of greens for xmas dinner) and 2026 brings a new vigour to whatever you do.

Have good'un me ode's

Hello peeps. I hope you're all doing well. I'm dropping in this progress post to showcase a very VERY chunky end grain b...
29/11/2025

Hello peeps. I hope you're all doing well. I'm dropping in this progress post to showcase a very VERY chunky end grain board i've started. Absolutely love the grain patterns of the Sapele and the English Oak side braces really make this look like a solid board.

This is probably the biggest board i've made so far. Measuring in at 22 inches by 16 inches and 2 inches thick, the snap-on mug (photo 4) shows the scale.

Things still to do: trim the edges, profile the edges, cut finger profiles to the oak braces, sand, sand and more sand, then, apply food safe mineral oil and beeswax.

Sound track in the workshop this week mostly consisted of the Teskey Brothers and Prodigy

I'm a self-taught woodworker. I did a bit of coach building during my apprenticeship but that was the limit of my formal...
20/11/2025

I'm a self-taught woodworker. I did a bit of coach building during my apprenticeship but that was the limit of my formal training. Over the past 30 years, I've always admired cabinet makers, small and large scale producers, bespoke joiners and designers alike. I know I wouldn't place myself within any of these titles.....although, I am trying. Now I have my workshop built and fitted out, I will be testing myself with new techniques, methods, wood types and projects. I've no doubt I will fail along the way, but I have to remind myself, it's about the lessons you learn.

One thing I do very well is, making good use of leftover or scrap pieces of wood from various projects. I made an end grain chopping board for a family member a while back. I'd made too much for 1 board and not enough for 2 (lesson learned). So, I glued up, cut up, chiseled, routed, sanded and shaped a matching coaster set to go with it. A perfect match.
Wood types - Sapele and Maple

Let me know what you think. Your comments are very much appreciated.

TTFN
Greg

Another end grain cutting board. Made from Sapele, Brazilian Mahogany and Maple. 40mm thick, 400mm long and 300mm wide. ...
08/11/2025

Another end grain cutting board. Made from Sapele, Brazilian Mahogany and Maple.

40mm thick, 400mm long and 300mm wide.

Made as a present for a family member, who, fortunately, isn't on social media.

Feel free to share. I will be making more for the Christmas run. Message me on here for details.

Tra duck.

A new bit of kit for the workshop- A Drum Sander. Be after one for a long time but now its here. Cuts down on sanding ti...
05/11/2025

A new bit of kit for the workshop- A Drum Sander. Be after one for a long time but now its here. Cuts down on sanding times by a long way. Very pleased with it.

My Grandfather was a joiner. My Dad was an engineer at Rolls Royce, but he wished he had become a joiner. When my Grandf...
26/10/2025

My Grandfather was a joiner. My Dad was an engineer at Rolls Royce, but he wished he had become a joiner. When my Grandfather passed away, my Dad inherited his old tools. My Dad is into his 80's now, so i'm grateful for the time we spend together. We decided these 2 wood planes (previously my Grandfathers) needed a facelift. Out came the WD40, wire wool, sandpaper and wire brushes. After we sharpened the irons, one of the planes needed a new handle. The inner shoes had 2 new coats of black paint and the handles had 2 coats of varnish. Really happy to see these looking shiny and new again.

Time well spent with my Dad doing stuff we both love. Breathing new life into traditional wood working tools is my new favourite thing.

The 1st of many projects I still have to do on my house- A gate. The boundary walls were finished last summer so it seem...
20/10/2025

The 1st of many projects I still have to do on my house- A gate. The boundary walls were finished last summer so it seemed fitting to make a solid gate to compliment the colour of the stone. Made from Iroke (main body), Sapele (arch top and tail) and maple dowels, then finished with 3 coats of yacht varnish and set onto parliament hinges. The wooden uprights are made from Keruing.

I really like the look of the warm tones of the wood and the overall modern appearance.

Until the next update.....

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