FAQ's

Are Walnut Hollow products made in the USA?

Yes! All of our solid wood products are proudly hand crafted right here in Wisconsin. We're proud of the fact that we can offer quality products at reasonable prices while doing our part to support our local community and our nation's economy.

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Is there any type of guarantee on Walnut Hollow products?

Yes. We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our products. Walnut Hollow prides itself in producing high quality and competitively priced wood surfaces, tools and accessories designed specifically for arts and crafts projects. If for whatever reason, you are not completely satisfied with your order you can return your items for a refund or exchange within 30 days of purchase. We will do whatever is necessary to ensure that you are completely satisfied with your purchase.

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What makes Walnut Hollow wood surfaces unique?

Our solid wood items are made in the USA and manufactured from furniture grade lumber. Using extreme care and special equipment, each surface is verified to have a consistent wood color. State of the art technology and an experienced production team ensure accurate, precise and consistent quality from start to finish. All orders are carefully handled, securely packaged and individually processed by our highly qualified shipping team to ensure that the merchandise arrives to you in excellent condition. Most importantly, we are able to do all of this while continuing to offer you the most reasonable and competitive prices around.

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How do I know what the listed product dimensions mean?

Product dimensions are listed as: Width x Height x Depth.

Width = from left to right, Height = from base to top, Depth = from front to back

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What should I know about wood burning before I begin?

• Use fine graphite powder to help prevent the point/tip from sticking in the tool.
• The wood burning tool is a very hot tool. Never touch the top or metal parts.
• Always unplug the tool and let cool before replacing points. 
• Practice safety. Tape the holder on a table or other flat surface to hold the tool when not in use.
• Always turn the wood as needed so that your hand and arm are comfortable while wood burning.
• Use sandpaper to clean off the point as needed.
• After wood burning is complete, seal wood. You can fix paint or oil pencil mistakes easier if wood is sealed.
• Let the heat from the tool do the work. Don’t use pressure.
• The slower you move the tool points on the wood, the darker the wood burning will be.
• It’s easier to wood burn by pulling the tool towards your body.
• Use the back or bottom of your wood piece to practice.

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How should I transfer my pattern onto the wood?

• Place pattern on wood. Slip transfer paper (shiny side up, carbon side down) between pattern and wood surface.
• Use stylus or pencil to transfer pattern.

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How do I change the points on my wood burning tool?

• All of the Points are threaded and designed to be screwed into the end of the tool.
• Use pliers to change the points.
• Make sure you turn the switch “OFF” and let the tool cool before changing points.
• Use graphite powder to help prevent the point/tip from sticking in the tool.
• Always remove the points from the tool before storing to prevent the point from “freezing” inside the tool.

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Can I use all Walnut Hollow Points on my wood burning tool?

All points are interchangeable on any of our hot tools with the exception of the Creative Woodburner wire tip tool. If you have the wire tip tool, you can only use the wire tip points which have the double prongs that are inserted into the tool.  If your tool uses the traditional screw in points, you can use any of our hot tool points with the screw in threads. Click Here for more detailed information about all of the traditional screw in hot tool points.

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Can all wood species be used for wood burning?

All types of wood can be burned, but some are better than others. The wood should be light in color (basswood, pine) so that the wood burning stands out.

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How can I add color to the wood burned project?

• Before adding any color, seal the wood burning first.
• Usually, oil color pencils are used with wood burning. They are not intimidating as most people are comfortable using a pencil. The colors can be blended as with paints, but they are transparent so the wood burning shows through the color.
• If you paint the wood burning, use transparent paints or washes of color so you don’t cover the wood burning.

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How do I prepare my Walnut Hollow surface?

• If you are wood burning, simply sand the surface lightly and transfer your pattern onto the surface. After the wood burning is complete, seal the wood.
• Wood preparation is important for your project. Unless you are covering your surface with fabric or paper, you will need to seal the wood with a wood sealer. Regardless of the brand or type of wood sealer you use, it is important to let it dry thoroughly. After it is dry, sand the wood lightly with the grain of the wood.
• During the manufacturing process, nails are sometimes used. The process leaves a hole that needs to be filled with putty. After filing holes, let dry, then sand lightly to smooth the surface. The wood product is now ready for sealing.

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Should I varnish my completed project?

For a protective finish, varnish your project with 2-3 coats of spray or brush-on varnish. Dry thoroughly between coats.

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Why is basswood considered the best species for painting, wood burning and carving?

Basswood is evenly grained, it sands easier, it is white in color, and it is the softest of all hardwoods.

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Does Walnut Hollow have a quality control system in manufacturing?

Yes. Quality is very important to Walnut Hollow. We have a quality control system throughout the entire manufacturing process. This is one advantage we have over companies that do not manufacture their own products.

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Why does Walnut Hollow use laminated panels for most products?

This provides more strength and products are less likely to warp. Laminating also minimizes waste to conserve resources.

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Many Walnut Hollow products are produced on CNC Routers. What does CNC stand for and what is the advantage of this technology?

CNC stands for Computerized Numerical Control. The advantage of this equipment is that it utilizes computer programming and operates within extremely close tolerances. This allows us to consistently produce accurate and high quality parts.

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Can I use Basswood Country Rounds® or Basswood Country Planks® as cake platters or for serving food?

Our Basswood Country Rounds® and Basswood Country Planks® are not treated with any chemicals. If you wish, you could rub the top surface with mineral oil – or place a paper doily or commercial cake cardboard shape on the surface before displaying or serving your food.

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How do I remove the residue left behind from a sticky label?

Remove the label as best you can. Use Goo-Gone (available at most craft and hardware stores) to remove the adhesive residue. Let dry. If you cannot find Goo-Gone, remove as much adhesive as possible and sand lightly over the area with fine sandpaper.

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What if the label on my wood surface leaves a slight discoloration on the surface around the label?

This change in the color of the wood is due to the lighting in the store where you purchased the wood. It is normal for the wood to show a slightly warmer tone around the label. Sanding the wood surface will usually correct this situation.

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I’ve lost my assembly instructions to attach my clock movement onto my project. Can you help?

Instructions are available here: Clock Assembly Instructions.

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How do I change the Points on my wood burning tool?

• All of the Points are threaded and designed to be screwed into the end of the Tool.
• Use pliers to change the Points.
• Make sure you turn the switch “OFF” and let the tool cool before changing Points.
• Use graphite powder to help prevent the point/tip from sticking in the tool.
• Always remove the points from the tool before storing to prevent the point from “freezing” inside the tool.

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Can I use all Walnut Hollow points on all of my hot tools?

Absolutely. All points are interchangeable on all of our hot tools.

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Sometimes my points become loose on my hot tool. What should I do?

You can tighten your points with pliers.

Note: Do not apply excess pressure to any Point. Let the heat from the hot tool and Point do the wood burning.

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How do I clean my hot tool points?

If your Point is hot, use a soft cloth to carefully wipe the point. If the point is cool, use fine sandpaper to sand away any residue that may have built up on the Point.

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I’m having trouble transferring an image using the transfer point on my hot tool. Can you help?

It is necessary to always use a laser copied image. The toner used with this type of copier will transfer to your chosen surface with heat.

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Sometimes my HotKnife blade becomes loose in my hot tool. What should I do?

If you are twisting the HotKnife when cutting foam pumpkins or foam core board, the blade is likely to loosen. Tighten with pliers.

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Where can I find Tool Instructions?

• 38283 Creative Versa-Tool®- Instructions
• 5570 Creative Woodburner® Value Tool- Instructions
• 24414 Creative Woodburner® Detailer- Instructions
• 28094 Creative Hobby Tool- Instructions
• 29639 Professional HotKnife- Instructions
• 29640 Professional Soldering Tool- Instructions
• 29414 Clay Embossing Set- Instructions
• 28301 Clay Extruder- Instructions

 

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What should I know about wood carving before I begin?

• Always keep your fingers away from the carving knife and carve slowly.
• Always push the carving knife away from yourself.
• It is sometimes helpful to place the forefinger of the hand not holding the carving knife onto the top of the knife to help balance and guide.
• Keep project being carved as steady as possible. Do not carve on your lap.
• Sharpen carving knives using sharpening stone or honing compound with leather strop.
• Slightly wiggle the carving knife slowly back and forth to help carve into the surface.
• Always carve from the outer edge toward the center, turn the piece around, and again carve from the outer edge toward the center.

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How should I transfer my pattern onto the wood?

• Place pattern on wood. Slip transfer paper (shiny side up, carbon side down) between pattern and wood surface.
• Use stylus or pencil to transfer pattern.

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How should I clean my clay tools?

• Wipe parts of the tools with a soft cloth to remove any soft clay residue.
• Baby wipes may also be used to wipe off the tools.
• You can also wash the tools in warm soapy water. Dry thoroughly.

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How does Walnut Hollow utilize the sawdust and scrap produced during the manufacturing process?

Our production facility has a unique sawdust recovering system whereby sawdust and chips from the manufacturing process are vacuumed at each workstation to a central silo storage system. As a result, the manufacturing operation is not detrimental to the health of our employees or the environment. Wood waste and sawdust are recycled and sold as livestock bedding. No wood waste ends up in landfills.

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Is Walnut Hollow eco-friendly?

Yes, very much so.  An important factor in our continued success is practicing a sensitive attitude toward our natural resources. Walnut Hollow has always been a huge advocate of environmental sustainability within the art, craft and hobby industry. Walnut Hollow has a strong commitment to environmental initiatives by preserving natural resources through our raw material consumption practices, production processes and recycling activities as well as maintaining an active involvement in our community.

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How does Walnut Hollow actively support the environment?

• Our raw material is harvested from plantation and managed woodlands.
• Our manufacturing process is state-of-the-art lean manufacturing, which allows for a minimum of waste and an increase in operating efficiencies.
• Our company partners with Alliant Energy on shared savings programs that help to conserve energy. Grants have also been received from Wisconsin Focus on Energy for energy saving programs adopted by the company.

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What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express.

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How long does it take to process my Walnut Hollow order?

Your Walnut Hollow order is usually processed and shipped within 2 - 5 business days. 

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How is my order packaged for shipping?

Each item in your order is carefully handled and packaged into a shipping carton. If you order multiple Walnut Hollow products, we try to use as few shipping cartons as possible in order to minimize waste.

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What are my shipping options?

We ship your Walnut Hollow order through UPS^®or Spee-Dee Delivery. UPS is a worldwide parcel carrier while Spee-Dee Delivery has parcel coverage in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois with limited coverage in South Dakota, North Dakota and Missouri. The carrier for ground delivery will be determined by the zip code of your delivery address. If your zip code falls within the Spee-Dee coverage zone, it will automatically be shipped via Spee-Dee to ensure you receive shipping rate savings.

 

UPS 2nd Day Air and UPS Next Day Air are available if you need express delivery. However, please keep in mind orders are processed the next business day after order placement.

You can also have parts of your order shipped to separate locations. Each location will have its own shipping charge.

 

Shipping is available to the United States only.

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How do I track my order?

You will receive an e-mail notification that your order has shipped along with a tracking number for your reference. Clicking on your tracking number in the email will take you to Spee-Dee or UPS for tracking information. This way you can track your Walnut Hollow Country order every step of the way until it is safely delivered into your hands.

You could also manually enter your tracking number at the corresponding delivery service's website. The tracking data is typically available the next business day after your order is placed.

UPS – www.ups.com

Spee-Dee Delivery – www.packages.speedeedelivery.com

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My order was damaged during shipment. What should I do?

We sincerely hope this NEVER happens, but the realities of shipping things cross country means that it is always a possibility. If this unfortunate incident were ever to occur, please contact customer service at (800) 395-5995 immediately, and we will make it right.

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What is your return policy?

Returns must be received within 30 days of receipt of merchandise.  For your convenience, we enclose a return/exchange form with every order.  Merchandise must be returned in the original shipping carton and with original packing materials. Items should be packed well and returned in the same condition as received. Please include the return/exchange form and reason for return.

All refunds will be issued by the method in which payment was received. The original shipping and handling charges are not refundable, and the customer is responsible for return shipping charges.

Please send all returns to:

Walnut Hollow

Returns Processing

1409 State Road 23

Dodgeville, WI 53533

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Do you ship to Canada?

Yes, we'd be happy to help you, but at this time, our website does not allow for orders from Canada, but if you call 1-800-395-5995 we can take your order by phone. 

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Do you ship to internationally?

We are currently unable to ship outside of the US. If you are interested in purchasing our products, you can check Amazon to see what they might offer near you.

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