FAQ

Where do you get your wood?

From one big hardwood supplier right here in Winnipeg. They source exclusively from certified sustainable forestry outfits and everything arrives properly kiln-dried and ready to be put to good use.

Improperly dried hardwood warps, twists and generally just embarrasses everyone involved. Buying from people we trust means you never have to worry about it!

What species are available?

Walnut, maple, cherry, and white oak, with white ash making the occasional appearance.

Picking a species from a screen is genuinely hard, so if you're torn, grab a wood species sample pack to see the real thing before you commit.

So my piece will look exactly like the picture, right?

Real close, but not identical. And that's the point!

Wood is a record of how a tree spent its life, so grain, colour and figure will vary from board to board and even end to end! Every piece we ship is one we'd happily put in our own homes.

Are you taking on any custom projects?

Sort of, kind of, not really. We can adjust a length or size and we do offer laser engraving. Beyond that, we're focused on the products in the shop rather than one-offs right now.

But if you've got something specific in mind, feel free to ask! Don't be shy, we don't bite.

What happens to your offcuts?

They keep working, just like we do! The Tongs exist because we had a beautiful pile of scraps we just couldn't throw out. Whatever is too small for us goes to Jeff, a local fella who swings by to collect it.

Can I change or cancel my order?

You bet, as long as it hasn't shipped yet. Email info@biglowwoodcraft.com with your order number and tell us what you need: a different size, different species or scrapping the whole thing. We'll sort it out!

Can I add engraving to my order?

Sure, please reach out and we'll see what we can do!

I'm not sure which wood to pick.

Decisions, decisions! Grab a species sample pack and hold the real thing up to your paint colours, upholstery, cat... whatever you'd like it to coordinate with. It can be a lot easier to make the choice once you've seen them side-by-side in your own light.

How does it actually work?

The bar is filled with large glass balls sitting on an internal slope. Slide paper in and the balls roll up out of the way; let go and gravity rolls them back down to pinch the paper in place. No clips, no magnets, no pins. Just physics doing its job quietly, forever.

Swapping something out takes just a second, which is the whole point! Kids' art, prints, and photos all rotate through faster than a frame can keep up with.

What size do I need?

Our 20" model holds artwork up to 18", and the 32" holds up to 28" wide. Tip: Measure the widest thing you plan to hang.

Can it hold fabric?

Realistically, no. Soft fabric under about 5g per inch of width is light enough in theory, but it folds and binds instead of feeding up into the channel. Any fabric stiff enough is usually too heavy to stay put. It's a paper mechanism at heart.

How do I mount it?

Everything you need is in the box: mounting screws, drywall anchors, wood plugs to hide the screw heads and instructions.

Prefer not to drill? 3M mounting tape works too! Medium Command Strips are rated for 3lbs each, use at least three for a 20" bar and five for a 32". Clean the wall very well first; it's often the step people skip.

Glass or steel?

Glass covers almost everyone. Letters, invitations, notes, photos, bills (ew), really anything on normal paper can be handled by glass.

Steel is for the heavy stuff: large format prints (A1, Arch D, 30" x 40") on thick cover stock. Once you're combining big dimensions with heavy paper, the piece gets heavier than glass can grip and steel will roughly triple the holding power.

If you're unsure, check out the chart below. Green means glass works, yellow means you want steel.

Steel is a $1-per-inch upgrade ($20 on a 20" bar, $32 on a 32" and so on), so just add a note when you place your order and we'll be in touch.

When will I receive my pre-order?

The Book Stop pre-orders were a much bigger hit than we could have anticipated. Thanks for your support, everyone! We're building them as fast as we can without cutting any corners.

• Ordered before March 25, 2026? You're in the first production batch, shipping through this summer. You'll receive an email with tracking the moment yours is on the way.
• Ordered after March 25, 2026? You're in our next batch, shipping fall/winter 2026.

We know that's a wait and we appreciate you sticking with us. If you're unsure which batch you're in, email info@biglowwoodcraft.com and we'll let ya know.

Do I have to use glue?

Nope, but you can! The dovetails hold on friction alone and they hold well. A tiny bead of any wood glue on each tenon is optional insurance if you want it locked down for good.

How does the sliding stop actually work?

It's a sliding dovetail wedge. Push forward or up on the block and the wedge disengages, so it glides freely along the channel. Press the top of the block against your books and the wedge bites, rotate the block the other way to release.

It's a lever with a pivot point. SCIENCE!

Who ships your stuff?

We do! We're control freaks, so we've built our own shipping & logistics department — that way our customer experience and our ethical promises stay in our hands from bench to doorstep.

The long, boring version lives here: shipping policy

How soon does my order leave the workshop?

In-stock items ship in 2–4 business days. Made-to-order pieces typically ship within 2–3 weeks. Everything is built by hand in our Winnipeg workshop, and we'd rather get it right than get it out the door fast.

I'm in the US and my order hasn't moved in a few days. What's the hold up?

US orders may take a few extra days to show movement in tracking while they make their way across the border. Once your package reaches the US and is scanned by UPS, tracking will begin updating normally.

The courier may not scan your package into their system right away, so your tracking may say “waiting to receive package” for a few days after you receive your shipping email. Not to worry! Your order is on its way, the tracking just hasn't caught up yet. Once it's scanned in, you'll see regular tracking updates for the rest of the journey.

Do you ship internationally?

We sure do!

Can I pick up my order in Winnipeg?

You bet! Just choose local pickup at checkout and we'll email you when it's ready.

We're at 479-C Warsaw Ave, open Tuesday–Thursday 9AM–5PM and Friday 9AM–2PM. Let us know when you're planning to swing by and we'll keep an eye out for you. Look for the grey door with the white Biglow logo.

How do I care for my Biglow piece?

Mostly by leaving it alone!

Everything we make gets a penetrating wax-oil finish that soaks into the wood instead of sitting on top like a layer of plastic wrap.

For wall-mounted stuff like Book Stops, Gravity Bars and 2 Hooks, your maintenance routine is "dust it occasionally, if you feel like it." It'll age gracefully right alongside you. If you get the urge to fuss over it a decade from now, a hardwax oil like Osmo will perk it right back up.

What about the Chopping Blocks or Tongs?

These guys need just a little bit of love, so:

• Hand wash only, easy on the soap. A little dish soap is fine, the dishwasher is not. Don't do it. We'd hate to see it.
• Moisturize. Oil it when it looks thirsty. Every 25-50 washes, apply a nice food-safe oil like Osmo Top Oil or Walrus Oil.
• Do both sides, every time. When washing or oiling, make sure you treat both sides the same to keep the Chopping Block from warping. Wood holds a grudge.

What if I don't like it?

No worries, send it back! You've got 30 days from the day it arrives, no risk and no restocking fee. We'll email you a return label, you just stick it on there and drop the package at UPS. Your refund goes back to your original payment method the day the package lands with us. To get one started, email us at info@biglowwoodcraft.com.

Allow us one moment of bragging: we've had a real teeny tiny number of returns across thousands of orders. Maybe that's why we're so relaxed about this?

The longer, more official version lives here: returns policy

My order arrived damaged. Now what?

Oh no! Email us right away at info@biglowwoodcraft.com with a photo and your order number. Shipping is the one part of this we don't fully control and if something went sideways, we'll always make it right.

Do you sell wholesale?

We do and we're always looking for great stockists. If you run a shop that you think our work belongs in, email sara@biglowwoodcraft.com with a little bit about your store and we'll go from there.

I'm writing something / shooting something / want to feature you.

Also sara@biglowwoodcraft.com. Sara handles press, media and collaboration inquiries and will get you anything you need.