This project began with a look ahead at life on the homestead. We have some large pots in our kitchen, for boiling down maple sap and canning our harvest. When we sized our sink to fit our pots, we realized that there really wasn’t anything available on the normal market to meet our requirements. And so it actually ended up making more sense to make a sink out of wood. We could use materials that we harvested off our land and size it to fit our kitchen work. A unique sink for a somewhat unique lifestyle!
For a large, unusual project like this, it’s helpful to have a prototype. There are just so many variables. The shape, the wood, the joints, the finish. At every step, something unexpected could come up. It’s easier to deal with those moments on a smaller project and get them all worked out before starting on the big one.
And so, the story of The Kitchen Sink actually begins with The Bathroom Sink.
Made out of white pine, this sink is essentially a dove-tailed box. It was important to have a really durable waterproof finish, so Joe tested a marine finish made for wooden boats – 3 layers of West System epoxy and 3 layers of Epifanes varnish.
With a successful test run installed and field-tested by a family of five over a series of months, we were ready to take the lessons we had learned into the kitchen sink project.
The kitchen sink is also a dovetailed box constructed out of thick white pine harvested from our land. It’s a farmhouse style sink, rectangular with a center drain. Joe decided on a gentle gouge-work surface for the bottom. The epoxy finish makes the surface smooth for cleaning while the subtle texture plays with the light.
The final install includes a blackened maple surround, natural pine cabinetry, whitewashed storage cubbies, and custom copper faucets. It’s a workhorse for the family, such a welcome addition to kitchen chores.
It doesn’t always make sense to make a wooden sink – but it’s the perfect fit for life on the homestead!
by Sydney Michalski
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