Are your products really hand-made? 

All wood products offered for sale by Blackwood Hill are hand-made by me, James Montero, in my own shop with my own two hands. I love woodworking and established my own home shop to pursue my hobby. Then I decided I should make products for everyone else. I strive for quality and I’m proud to make products here in the U.S.A. 

I may come across products which are difficult or not feasible for me to make myself, but I find may be desirable to my customers. Any products sold by Blackwood Hill which are not handmade by Blackwood Hill will be designated as such. 

Are wood cutting boards food-safe?  

All cutting boards made by Blackwood Hill are made of food-safe wood and finished with food-safe materials. Each wood species is checked on the FDA website to ensure they are safe as a food contact surface. The finishes used are all intended for food contact surfaces, including food-safe mineral oil or a mineral oil and beeswax mix which gives the cutting boards a beautiful finished look and protects the wood from liquids. 

What is the best way to take care of a wood cutting board?  

Wood cutting boards are a safe food contact surface if they are cared for appropriately. Refer to the Blackwood Hill cutting board care instructions found here. 

Are the woods you use American sourced?  

All wood material purchased for production of my products come from local lumber suppliers who supply hardwoods from American lumber growers and from sources outside the United States. I use mostly American woods, such as the walnut, maple, and cherry woods. However, to add some beauty to some products such as cutting boards and pens, I do use some hardwoods from South America (still American, right?), Africa, and Asia. I know, not the U.S., but I can’t help it when there are some beautiful woods from outside the U.S.