Gray Burr Werks

Gray Burr Werks Beautiful wood carvings produced in the US. Finished carvings with care and pride by Gray Burr Werks.

A quick test cut in sassafras
02/25/2026

A quick test cut in sassafras

Cradle for my grandson
02/24/2026

Cradle for my grandson

Custom memorial for a friend of his mom
02/23/2026

Custom memorial for a friend of his mom

Mary ascension
02/22/2026

Mary ascension

Jesus, Mary, and Joesph
02/21/2026

Jesus, Mary, and Joesph

In today's video, I’m creating a memorial CNC router engraving for a friend, featuring a custom portrait carving from a ...
02/21/2026

In today's video, I’m creating a memorial CNC router engraving for a friend, featuring a custom portrait carving from a photograph of his mom. This project combines the precision of CNC machining with the heartfelt emotion of turning a personal memory into something lasting.
I start by gluing up a hard maple panel and use my self-made clamps to ensure a tight, flat surface. Then, I surface both sides of the board before moving on to engraving the shallow text and intricate portrait details. Watch as I run the roughing and finishing cuts on the CNC router, which takes over 9 hours in total!
The finishing touch includes sanding, staining, and applying poly to bring out the contrast and depth in the engraving. This piece will be a cherished memorial for years to come.
What You’ll Learn in This Video:
How to properly glue up and clamp hardwood panels
The importance of surfacing for CNC engraving
Choosing the right CNC router bits for text and portrait engraving
Step-by-step process of creating detailed wood carvings
Tips for sanding, staining, and finishing a carved piece
Materials Used:
Hard maple
Titebond III glue
60° V-bit, 1/4" end mill, and ball nose bits for carving
Polyurethane finish and wax for sealing
If you enjoyed this video, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more woodworking, restoration, and CNC projects! Have a project idea? Let me know in the comments!

Station of the Cross
02/20/2026

Station of the Cross

Reflecting on my Machine Shop https://youtu.be/VXVnu1gAlzM Welcome to Gray Burr Werks!Today’s video is a little walk do...
11/21/2025

Reflecting on my Machine Shop https://youtu.be/VXVnu1gAlzM

Welcome to Gray Burr Werks!
Today’s video is a little walk down memory lane for me — reflecting on the shop my wife and I ran together for nearly 15 years. Gray Burr Werks was more than a business… it was a part of our family. Founded by my grandfather in the late 1940s, passed to my father in the 1960s, and eventually to us — it represents three generations of hard work, craftsmanship, and innovation in American manufacturing.

What You’ll Learn in This Video
• The history and evolution of a family-run machine shop
• The impact of technology and imports on small manufacturing
• How automation and CNC equipment improved quality and efficiency
• Implementing lean manufacturing and Kanban inventory systems
• Lessons learned from 15 years of hands-on shop ownership

Why I Made This Video
Sometimes you just need to look back and appreciate where you came from. This video is my reflection on the challenges, lessons, and pride that come with running a small manufacturing business — and honoring the generations that came before me.

Join the Conversation
If you enjoyed this story or have your own shop memories to share, leave a comment below!
I always appreciate your feedback, suggestions, and stories from the community. Like, Subscribe, and Share for more videos on shop projects, machine restorations, and reflections from Gray Burr Werks.

Milling Vice Alignment Key https://youtu.be/a6NQ605-4t0 Today’s video is about making a key for the shars vice to help...
11/14/2025

Milling Vice Alignment Key https://youtu.be/a6NQ605-4t0

Today’s video is about making a key for the shars vice to help speed up alignment of the vice in the mill. I decided that I wanted a one-piece key, instead of the normal two piece that are used industry wide. I think it will be just as easy to make a one-piece key and if it doesn’t work out, I can cut the key in half for the two pieces.

CNC Router Bed Surfacing Part 3 https://youtu.be/pGvDHVn-UjQ Get a perfectly flat surface on your CNC router every time...
11/07/2025

CNC Router Bed Surfacing Part 3 https://youtu.be/pGvDHVn-UjQ

Get a perfectly flat surface on your CNC router every time. In part 3 of my CNC build, I'll walk you through the process of surfacing a temporary, cost-effective bed. You'll see how using a simple MDF and pine base allows you to easily fix errors and start fresh with a flat surface, saving you time and money on your CNC woodworking projects.

CNC Router Bed Surfacing Part 2. https://youtu.be/HefdtAeq24Q Todays video is part 2 of CNC Router Bed surfacing on the...
11/03/2025

CNC Router Bed Surfacing Part 2. https://youtu.be/HefdtAeq24Q

Todays video is part 2 of CNC Router Bed surfacing on the CNC Router that I built. This is just a temporary bed with MDF on the bottom layer and 1 x 5 pine boards laid and screwed to the mdf. I wanted a cheap bed, so that when I made mistakes or had other issues and damaged the bed, I could resurface the bed.

CNC Router Bed Surfacing Part 1 https://youtu.be/uzsjMhGkd1M Todays video is about CNC Router Bed surfacing on the CNC ...
11/03/2025

CNC Router Bed Surfacing Part 1 https://youtu.be/uzsjMhGkd1M

Todays video is about CNC Router Bed surfacing on the CNC Router that I built. This is just a temporary bed with MDF on the bottom layer and 1 x 5 pine boards laid and screwed to the mdf. I wanted a cheap bed, so that when I made mistakes or had other issues and damaged the bed, I could resurface the bed.

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Desoto, MO

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