Frequently asked questions.

Where do you get your wood?

Most of our wood is sourced from local sawmills located around Duluth, MN. In order to offer a wide variety of board styles, we use various exotic and domestic species of hardwoods, including local wood harvested from trees grown right here in Minnesota.

Where can i purchase your boards?

NSW Boards can be purchased through our online SHOP or at various art fairs around Minnesota starting in the spring and through the holiday season. Check out the CONTACT page for a list of upcoming shows.

A small selection of boards are also currently available at North + Shore, located at the Enger Lofts building in Duluth.

We do not currently sell directly out of the shop, but local customers are encouraged to get in touch to coordinate a free delivery around the greater Duluth/Superior area.

Can they be used as cutting boards?

Yes, all of our boards are finished with a food-safe beeswax and mineral oil wood conditioner and are safe to be used for cutting and serving food. Please keep in mind that cutting on any kind of wood surface is probably going to leave knife marks.

We do want to emphasize that our boards are made to be used and enjoyed frequently. Dents, dings, scratches and knife marks just add to the story of the good times had while using your board.

Where can I learn more about the types of wood that you use?

The Wood Database is an excellent website that offers information about all different types of wood species.

You can check out their website here!

We are also more than happy to answer any questions or make recommendations about the different types of wood species that we offer.

How often do you recommend applying more board wax?

It depends on how often you are using and washing your board. Keeping the wood saturated with a wood conditioner will extend the life of the board, so reapply a food-safe board wax periodically when the wood feels like it is starting to dry out. After about 10 washes, it will probably be a good time to apply another thin layer.

Even if the board is not used often, it is recommended to apply some sort of conditioner a few times a year to keep it protected.

You can find our NorShor Board Wax in the shop - and more information about caring for your board can be found on the Care page.

Can you do custom orders?

Yes! Get in touch with us to get started!

(more Q&As coming soon!)