Revitalize
A long time ago … In a college business class, my dad was taught the concept of “planned obsolescence,” designing products to eventually fail or break. He challenged the idea as it didn’t make sense to him then, and it certainly doesn’t now. At Artifaqt, we strive for the opposite. We design and manufacture our product to last; we teach customers how to maintain it and offer a revitalization service for those who prefer that option.
In May of 2018, the culinary team at Restoration Hardware approached us about making a serving board for their 10 (and counting) restaurant locations across the country. They wanted to add warmth to their presentation. So, we set out to design a serving board for beauty, function, and longevity. We selected some of the highest grade Black Walnut from the Allegheny Mountains in Pennsylvania. We chose a 7/8" thick rectangular shape for maximum versatility - the RH restaurants planned to use the boards for a wide range of service - from French dip sandwiches to lobster rolls, to cheese and charcuterie. We added a finger notch on the ends to make it easy and sure for the wait staff to handle them. And we even provided each restaurant with our Artifaqt Balm, a house-made blend of beeswax and heat-treated walnut oil. We instructed them, the more balm the better!
After many months in service, our boards were performing great, but were starting to show signs of their heavy day to day use. Wood, after all, is an organic and fibrous material. Even with the best wood, steak knives, water, and heat will take its toll.
Fortunately for us, and for Restoration Hardware, maximizing the original board thickness makes it possible for them to be revitalized with planing or sanding to maintain their beauty and extend their life in service (and RH’s investment). So, against the principles of planned obsolescence, we developed a unique revitalization program with one of the country’s largest home-furnishing companies.
Every couple of months, an RH restaurant sends half of their boards back to us for a little woodshop beautification routine. We start by running each face over the joiner (see video below!). We take as little off the surface as possible to allow for a greater number of restorations in the future. Next, we sand the sides, edges, and corners on the edge sander. After that, we send the batch through our “Time Saver” sander which quickly finishes the two faces of the board to 150 grit. Then we raise the grain and finally hand finish each board to perfection. After two coats of oil, and one coat of Artifaqt Balm, the board appears brand new.
This revitalization program returns beautiful boards to service, keeps work in our shop, and provides a fair price for both parties, all while contributing to a more circular, responsible economy.
This is our revitalization program for Restoration Hardware. It would not be right to offer it to them and not to you, our customers and friends of Artifaqt. Click the link below to learn how you can have your own piece of Artifaqt wood serveware revitalized!
Wood Revitalization Program!
One pass on the jointer and the scars of many months of restaurant service are gone!
