Ben Strouse

So how does an 8th-grade science teacher end up completely hooked on woodworking and building pieces meant to be used and shown off? No clue — I just know I can’t stop.

It started when I saw someone online make an epoxy and olive wood ashtray and thought, yeah… I can do that. That was the spark. From there my brain wouldn’t shut off — first live-edge ashtrays, then more experimenting, and before long I was deep into making charcuterie boards.

The real turning point with boards was my wife. She’s got a serious gift for putting together charcuterie spreads that look almost too good to touch, and I wanted to make boards and serving pieces that could keep up with what she was creating.

I’m always up for a challenge — weird grain, tricky design, new idea — that’s the fun part. I build pieces meant to be used, passed around, and part of the moment — whether you’re hosting people, giving a gift, or just upgrading your own snack situation. Everything I make blends function, style, and attention to detail, with a little bit of science-brain mixed in.

Lucky for me, I’ve got an insanely supportive wife, a 12-year-old who doesn’t mind getting a little glue on his hands to help out, and two dogs that keep me grounded while I’m grinding toward the next piece. Honestly, without them, there is no BigBen WoodWorks.

If you’ve got an idea, I’m always down to talk it through.