The workshop
How we make a gavel
Every gavel begins as a solid block of Canadian hardwood and ends as a balanced, finished tool — shaped with wood, a lathe, and patient hand finishing in Niagara.
The wood
Solid Canadian hardwood
We work in three woods, all grown in Canada. You choose the species per order, so the gavel suits the room it will live in.
- Black Walnut
Deep chocolate brown, rich grain. The classic presentation wood for a gavel meant to be looked at as well as used.
- Hard Maple
Pale, dense, and fine-grained. Bright in tone and crisp on the block; takes engraving cleanly.
- Black Cherry
Warm reddish-brown that deepens with age. A softer look that ages beautifully.
On the lathe
Turning
The head and handle are turned separately on the lathe and joined with a glued hardwood tenon, shaped to hold for a lifetime of use. We balance the head in the hand for a clean strike, and turn a matched sound block from the same board so the two ring together rather than thud. A finished set is about 10½" long, with a 2½" head and a 4" × 2½" block.
By hand
Finishing
After turning we sand through progressively finer grits and hand-rub a food-safe hardwax oil — an oil-and-wax finish that protects the wood and brings out the grain while keeping a sure grip. It cures to a soft satin sheen, is easily refreshed years later, and is made to be used and kept.
Make it personal
Engraving options
Most sets include an engraved plaque. We can engrave:
- A recipient's name and a date
- A role, title, lodge number, school, or company
- A short line of dedication or thanks
- A crest, monogram, or emblem (such as the Masonic square and compasses) when you supply artwork
The plaque holds roughly four lines of about thirty characters each, and we can engrave a short line around the head of the gavel itself on request.
Made to order
How commissions work
- 01
Tell us what you need
Choose your wood and set type and give us the engraving details — name, date, occasion, and any wording or emblem.
- 02
We confirm the details
We reply within about two business days with a quote, a proof of the engraving layout, and an honest timeline. Nothing is cut until you approve the proof.
- 03
You approve and pay
Once you approve the proof and pricing, we send a secure payment link.
- 04
We make it
Your set is turned, finished, and engraved by hand in our Niagara workshop — usually about three weeks from approved proof, sooner when we can.
- 05
We ship it
We pack it carefully and send tracking. If you gave us a date, we plan the work to meet it — so commission with your date as early as you can.
Plain, un-engraved sets are in stock and ship right away. Engraving and special requests go through this commission path so we get the details right the first time.