Bloomington, Illinois

Carved by machine.
Finished by grandkids.

Vector Woodworks makes premium hardwood coasters, deep-carved on a CNC router — never printed — then sanded, sealed, corked, and boxed entirely by hand. Grandpa runs the machines. The kids do the rest.

Order or Get a Quote See How It's Made
Carved Vector Woodworks coaster beside a glass of beer
carved, not printed!
how it all started

A grandpa, a CNC machine, and a crew of grandkids

Vector Woodworks began in a family workshop in Bloomington, Illinois, with a simple idea: make wooden coasters the way they ought to be made — carved deep into real hardwood, so the design has depth and texture you can feel with your fingertips.

The precision half of the job belongs to the ShopSabre CNC router. The heart of the operation belongs to the grandkids, who hand-finish every single coaster: sanding, sealing, corking, and packing each one before it leaves the shop.

Every set that goes out the door has been touched by two generations' worth of care.

The grandkids working at the bench in the shop
the finishing crew, hard at work
from wood sheet to gift box

How a Coaster Is Made

Grandpa's part 🛠️

Precision machine work

  1. 1Design the logo or artwork in VCarve CAD software
  2. 2Lay out the designs across the wood sheet
  3. 3Generate G-code and send it to the CNC
  4. 4Cut coaster and holder blanks with beveled edges on the ShopSabre CNC
Coaster and holder blanks set up on the ShopSabre CNC table
Then the kids take over ✋

Every coaster, finished by hand

  1. 1Sand it smooth — edges and surface, no burrs allowed
  2. 2Dust it off until it's spotless
  3. 3Dip in clear polyurethane and hand-wipe the finish
  4. 4Cork the back so it's kind to your furniture
  5. 5Box it up (or bag it in burlap) — ready to go
A grandkid clearing freshly cut coasters from the CNC table
Corking and Packaging 📦

The last stop before your table

  1. 1Press a cork pad onto the back of every coaster — soft on furniture, steady under glasses
  2. 2Give each one a final look-over — quality control by sharp young eyes
  3. 3Pack the sets into gift boxes or burlap bags, ready for market
A grandkid applying cork backing and packaging coasters at the bench

…and that's how a sheet of hardwood becomes a coaster worth keeping. ↓

why carved beats printed

The Computer-Carving Advantage

🪵

Deep carved detail

These are not laser-printed. Precision routing carves real depth and texture into the wood — a finish that stands out from traditional engraving.

🖐️

Tactile appeal

A premium carved surface people love to touch, with rich wooden texture that makes a memorable impression.

🛡️

Built to last

Deep carving keeps its detail through daily use, protected by a hand-wiped polyurethane finish and cork backing.

make it personal

Custom Commemorative Coasters

A wedding date, a family name, a new home — some things deserve to be carved in wood. Our classic commemorative design features a large split-letter monogram with your family name across the center and a traditional border, with an "Est." date to mark the occasion.

VCarve design screen showing four custom family monogram coasters with CNC toolpaths
straight from the design screen — four family monograms laid out in VCarve, toolpaths and all
1

Tell us the details

The family name, the initial, and the date you want to commemorate — or send your own artwork for a fully custom design (+$15 one-time fee).

2

We draw it up

Your design is drafted in VCarve CAD software and laid out for the CNC — exactly what you see in the screen above.

3

You approve the proof

A digital proof comes to you before any wood is cut. Custom artwork includes one round of revisions.

4

We carve & finish

The ShopSabre carves it deep, the grandkids hand-finish it, and your set ships in 5–8 days.

Start Your Commemorative Set
for families & for businesses

Ways to Order

Personal & Gift Sets

$26.95 / set of 4
  • Family crest or marriage commemoration design — no extra charge
  • Custom logos or artwork: one-time $15 design fee, digital proof included
  • Polyurethane finish and cork backing
  • Box or Burlap gift bag — plain or with holiday decoration
  • Please allow 5–8 days for production
Start a Custom Order

Wholesale & Consignment

from $11.50 / set wholesale
  • Wholesale: 10-set minimum at $11.50 per set — restock anytime
  • Consignment: we stock 10 sets at no cost, price negotiable
  • Your logo, deep-carved — a prototype is included for approval
  • Perfect for breweries, restaurants, bars & corporate gifts
  • Free design consultation
Request a Wholesale Quote

Proudly carved for local favorites

Lucca Grill · Reverberation Vinyl · Analytical Brewing
Coasters packaged in gift boxes and burlap bags
ready for gifting
the finishing touch

Packaged like a present

Every set arrives professionally packaged — your choice of a crisp gift box or a rustic burlap bag, with or without holiday adornment. Because half the fun of a handmade gift is handing it over.

say hello

Order, Ask, or Come Find Us

📧 Get in touch

dheis@msn.com

(309) 838-2312

David Heisner · Vector Woodworks
Bloomington, Illinois

🎪 Find us in person

Catch us at local maker's fairs and markets around Bloomington–Normal — come say hi to the whole crew and feel the carved finish for yourself.

🎨 Free design consultation  ·  🚀 Prototype included with wholesale orders