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Made in the U.S.A! |
Here is how we do it!!
Welcome to our shop tour, please let us show you around and take you through the
steps we use to create your finished piece. By the way that's myself and my wife
you will see in the pictures. It may take a few minutes for all of the photos to
load.
Our process steps have
evolved enormously in the past years and today we utilize, what we consider to
be, a
combination of the very best of materials and methods. Our growth and evolution
will never change the fact that every piece goes through the craftsman's hands
and past his eye many times. This insures that an experienced person will
watch over your purchase as it moves, step by careful step, from a stack of raw
wood to a beautifully finished creation. We do all of this to provide you with an
affordable, quality piece that hopefully, will be enjoyed, and inspire for many years
to come.
Our ideal of true craftsmanship
We reject the notion that the only way to good craftsmanship is through the use
of "old fashioned" methods and tools. If this were true we would still be using
stones. We hold to the ideal that true craftsmanship is in the abilities and
experience of the crafter and this experience should not be stagnant, but should
lead to a growth of knowledge that yields ever better quality and availability
of their creations. God has blessed us with gifts that we feel compelled to
pursue. We are constantly striving and learning to improve what we do and if
that leads us to a new technology, so be it. That is why we purchased our laser.
It seemed the next logical step. Our learning curve has been long and steep. Tens of thousands of dollars
and many hundreds of hours
have been invested in refining and redefining what we do. Of all of our methods,
the laser by far requires the most experience (and prayer)to use. The variations of
power, speed, material and design are huge. As we start each day we pray for the Lord to
guide our hands and thus far, we have made it through by the skill and inspiration
which He provides.
Well, here we go...
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Customer Service
 Cedar
View Gifts aspires to give our customers excellent customer service by providing
quick responses to phone calls and e-mails, packing each order with care, and
shipping in a timely manner. In addition, we work very closely with you when
creating custom items so that you get an outstanding custom piece. Many of our
customers contact us after they receive their pieces to share their positive
feedback and experiences with us. Our model of service has allowed us to build a
Cedar View family of satisfied customers that reaches the entire United States
and around the world. We guarantee our work. Your satisfaction is our top
priority.
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The Shop
 Cedar View Graphics has a fully equipped, state of the art shop. From a
modern Laser to hand guided scrolls, we have it all. Our specialty is
creations in wood, the original "green material. In addition to the extensive line of items we normally carry
we have created many custom pieces designed with our customers, exclusively for
their unique application. All work is done in our newly constructed 6000 square
foot building in Salem Arkansas.
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The Design
 It
all starts with a concept or a design. We use tradition pencil sketch as well as
the latest graphic design software to bring to life our own concepts. The
finished piece may be a memorial plaque, a festive ornament or a customers logo
that they want converted into key chain or a hanging piece. At times we elect
to utilize a purchased design we think our customers will appreciate, however,
the quality of the designs we select must match the quality of the pieces we
make.
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Wood Stock
 We buy our stock in skid quantities to assure the highest quality and a reasonable price.
Pictured is a skid of premium 1/4” five ply Russian Birch hardwood. The quality
of the wood is key to a superior finished product. Prior to using any sheet wood in
our shop, samples are inspected for visual appearance and the integrity of the
plys. We actually grind completely through several samples to insure that the
core plys are all solid birch. We never use sheet stock containing softwood core or thin veneer (also known as luan). Only
solid hardwood birch is allowed for each of the plys.
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The Process Starts
 Rough
blanks are cut first with a laser. The laser cuts with a precision not possible
by even highly experienced hands. Each piece is still individually cut (no
stacking here) and inspected to insure it is free from defects that may affect
the structural integrity or visual appearance of the finished piece.
When you look closely at the finish of our pieces, you will see
the precision made with a minimum if
any tear-out and a nice dark finished edge. The laser step is
certainly not in place of hand work but compliments it and
ensures that pieces fit, earrings match and our prices continue to be
affordable.
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Scroll Sawing
 With
all of the wonders of a modern laser, (and it still amazes me to this day) it still all boils down to experienced
craftsmanship and care for each piece. That is why we will always use a
traditional hand guided scroll saw for some of the finishing cuts as well as cuts the
laser cannot complete. The best of both worlds, results in the best possible
products for you.
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Hand Clean-out
 Final
clean out is performed with care. Any burr or hangers (residual pieces) are
removed with either an exacto knife, mini file or one of our specially designed
sanding tools. This is an essential hand operation, since no machine can know
the high quality standards we strive to achieve.
At this point the piece takes the form of the final creation,
but is far from complete.
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Hand Sanding
 Each
piece is individually hand sanded and inspected. This smoothes the surface while
removing surface burrs and laser scorch that results from the cutting process. A
craftsman's eye is essential to know when the amount of wood removed is
sufficient.
Since the sanding brings out the final
grain and structure in the wood, some pieces are rejected at this stage for
imperfections that would impair the quality of the finished piece.
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Blow-off
 Each
piece is air cleaned and again inspected. This is an important step since it
removes even the smallest remnant of sanding dust or debris. Done correctly this
step reduces the likelihood of rough surfaces. Again a craftsman's eye is needed
to know when clean is clean enough.
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Staining
 Stains
and colorings are applied at this time. We use only the finest oil based stains
and colorings which deeply penetrate the wood to enhance and protect our
creations. Again the craftsman has an opportunity to interact with his work. A
prayer said many times in our shop is that it would be God's blessing if one day
this cross, wherever it ends up hanging, would inspire a lost soul to search Him
out.
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Curing of the Stain
 Stained
pieces are allowed to cure. Adequate curing is essential to ensure the best
finish quality. If this step is rushed it will result in skips, pin holes or
bubbles in the lacquer coat. This is also a good time for a post staining
inspection of the edges for skips and defects that can easily be detected.
We know that you are anxious to receive your
creation, but sufficient time here will result in a happy smile when you first
see your purchase.
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Assembly
 Complex
pieces are hand fitted, glued and then assembled. We use a premium water resistant
wood glue that is carefully applied. Too much and you will have excessive run
out, too little and the piece will fall apart. This is a critical step where a
craftsman experience will ensure the lasting integrity of your finished piece.
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Lacquer Spray Finish
 A
high quality, clear gloss lacquer is applied for protection and a rich
appearance. This insures the lasting beauty of each piece. Again an experienced
eye is required to lay down smooth even coats without the drips
or runs that would ruin an otherwise beautiful creation.
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Finishing Touches
 Findings
and finishing touches are added to jewelry and other pieces. We use only high quality gold or
silver plated jewelry findings that we buy in bulk to keep prices affordable.
And again, each piece is hand inspected for quality.
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 It's
come a long way from the birch forests in the Kirov region of
Russia, but this cross is finally finished and ready to pack and
ship to one of our customers. Maybe you!!!
 This
is a close-up of the edge of our Armenian Cross, probably closer
than you will ever look. Notice the clean edge. No cracks,
splits, splinters or burr. Also notice the dark contrast of the
edge to the rest of the piece. I have been asked by many
craftsmen who are not familiar with laser technology "how do you
manage to dark stain all of the edges"? Of course, this is due
to the heat of the laser beam as it burns through the wood.
Overall a much nicer edge. |
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We hope you found a walk through our shop enjoyable and
informative. If you have any questions at this point, please give us a call at
(870) 895-3338 or email us at
vap@cvgraphics.biz.
We would love to hear from you and answer your questions to the best of our
ability... If you wish to purchase one of our pieces, visit
our
Etsy store. |
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