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I have a love/hate relationship with pigs. I grew up on a farm, and quickly decided that I was not meant to be a pig farmer. I sold my hogs at the market in St Joe, MO, and reinvested my money in 2 heifers. It was the cattle business for me. I was about 12 at the time.

Alas, that didn't work out well either.

Flash forward 50 years, and I am now resident in the US' 2nd largest urban sprawl. I was happy making cutting boards, when people began to ask me to make pig-shaped cutting boards for them.

It's a thing, apparently.

Most stories I hear involve an older relative that gifted pig cutting boards to the next generation. When people see my pigs, I help them carry on that tradition.

So, I'm back in the pig business.

Photo # 1: Cherry, Jarrah, Yellowheart & Hard Maple
Photo # 2: Black Walnut, Teak & Yellowheart
Photo # 3: Black Walnut, Hard Maple, Yellowheart & Jatoba
Photo # 4: Black Walnut, Padauk & Hard Maple
Photo # 5: Black Walnut, Hard Maple, Bloodwood & Yellowheart
Photo # 6: Black Walnut, Hard Maple & Jatoba

This is a custom design that I made after reflection on what shape was pleasing and could be shaped easily enough. Not negotiable was the curly-Q tail, which I often hang the pigs from when I take them to market.

All boards are finished with mineral oil, and a topcoat of board butter, AKA my custom mix of mineral oil + locally-harvested beeswax.

Gallery

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I made some Fish shaped boards for my November show, just a few. They sold out very quickly and people seeing the sign were asking for them. I just finished a half dozen more but I have so many shapes and sizes already it's tough to add more shapes. With 7 templates, a few of each and suddenly I'm making 3 dozen boards and not much else.
 

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nice boards henry

good you got some orders
makes them fun to do
 

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i like them henry. i have made them from an old cutting my great aunt had. it was a high school shop project around 1900. made from hard maple. the only difference between yours and mine is that little piece of "tail" below the curly cue. thanks for posting, paul
 

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Jim, I feel your pain. I now carry 12 different styles of boards, of which pigs are just one. When I have all 12, I know that sales are maximized … but keeping all 12 in stock is a constant challenge!

David & Paul, thanks for the props. I do enjoy making them, though I hate to be in the pig business again!
 

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browsing your projects after looking at the "Cracker Thing" and saw this, very cool
 
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