Institute for Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurial Education Partner
GRAFTON FIELD TRIP DAY
STOP 4•Knotty by Nature •Owner: Dan Bechtold
🌳🪵 You won’t believe what they have found inside of a tree!
You MUST stop by this shop next time you’re in Grafton. They have some of the most unique handmade wood items from local vendors as well as beautiful slabs of wood crafted by Dan himself.
Dan bought his first sawmill in 1978. He said he knew hardly anything about wood at that time and that it started as a hobby. He is truly passionate about it and said that is why he has become so knowledgeable about it over the years.
This visit was truly an experience with Dan showing us from step one of cutting slabs from the trees to putting them through the planer to smooth them out. He also taught the students about the different types of cuts, how he imports exotic wood, burrows, and species. This shop has over 100 different species of wood to choose from.
Dan was telling the students that the lawn trees he receives often have nails in them and most people won’t work with them because it ruins your blades. He said the reason they have nails on the inside is because people may have hung a clothes line or something years ago and the tree grows around it.
He said two of the most unique things he has found inside of a tree, that the tree has grown around, is a horseshoe and a shotgun! He said someone must have set the shotgun up against the tree and left it there.
This visit was an experience and we are so appreciative of Dan taking the time to show us around!
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