Frequently Asked Questions

You can buy finished pieces through the shop page when pieces are available, or send me a request for something you’re hoping to find. When a batch is finished, I first check the customer requests and contact customers directly when I have a suitable piece to offer. Any additional pieces are then listed on the Shop page. I announce these Shop listings through my newsletter and social media a day or so in advance. The How to Purchase page explains both options.

Yes, I’m always happy to hear what you’re looking for. Please send me a note with the type of piece, size, finish, lining, and quantity you have in mind.

I keep track of requests and will email you if a matching piece becomes available, to see whether you’re still interested. If you’d like to purchase it, I’ll email you an invoice with a link to pay online. There’s no payment or deposit up front and no obligation to buy.

Requests help me plan future batches, but they aren’t orders or pre-orders. Unless we’ve made a specific arrangement, I can’t guarantee whether a requested piece will become available or when.

No. I’ll use your email to reply about your request. If you’d also like to hear when new pieces are available and get workshop news, you can sign up separately for my newsletter.

New work comes out in small batches a few times a year, depending on what I’m making, milling needs, and other factors. I announce when new pieces will be listed on the Shop page through my newsletter and social media a day or so in advance.

It varies, but in most years I produce around 800 finished items — including boxes, trays, carriers, and the occasional special project.

I welcome requests for the styles and sizes I already make, including the finishes and linings I offer. I don’t take on entirely new shapes or unusual sizes as custom projects. If you’re unsure whether what you have in mind fits my usual work, send me a note and I’ll let you know.

I offered materials for a short time, but it pulled me away from the workshop more than I’d like, so these days I’m focusing on finished pieces. If that ever changes, I’ll be sure to mention it in the newsletter.

I no longer offer traditional wholesale pricing, but I’m always happy to talk with folks planning a class, retreat, or special project. A couple of times a year I take on a larger order for a group — these get planned well in advance, so if you have something in mind, write me early.

These days I tend to focus on the more popular sizes — typically Size #7 and smaller. That said, I’ve made boxes as large as Size #20 (think coffee table size), and every now and then I get the urge to make a few.
If you’re hoping to find one of the larger boxes, be sure to sign up for my newsletter — I always announce when a batch includes them.

When I have a finished piece that matches a request, I contact the customer before listing that piece on the Shop page. I’ll share the details and price and ask whether they’d still like it. If they do, I’ll email them an invoice with a link to pay online. Any additional pieces available after those conversations are listed on the Shop page. Making a request doesn’t guarantee availability or a particular date.

Each piece is individually handcrafted, and natural materials like wood always bring some variation. The photos in the gallery section are meant to show the range of finishes and styles I offer. They’re good examples but are not photos of the exact piece you’ll receive.
If you’re ever unhappy with your purchase, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I want you to be satisfied, and I am happy to arrange a return or exchange.

Shipping is free within the United States via USPS Ground Advantage or UPS Ground.

Most packages are shipped via USPS Ground Advantage. Larger boxes may ship via UPS Ground. Once payment is received, I typically ship within three business days.
Tracking information is sent automatically to your email. If you haven’t received it within three business days, feel free to email me at robert@lehays.com.

For now, I ship within the United States only — I’m sorry about that.

If that ever changes, I’ll be sure to announce it in the newsletter.

Absolutely. Many customers place several quick orders when new pieces become available on the Shop page to avoid missing specific items. My shipping software automatically combines orders with the same shipping address.

Of course. If you’re not home to receive your package, just leave a note at checkout or email me after placing your order. I’ll be happy to hold it and ship when you’re ready.

If your shipping address is incorrect, please contact me as soon as possible. I usually start packing the day after orders are placed, and the address is pulled directly from your order into my shipping software — so I won’t catch an error unless you let me know.
If the order hasn’t shipped yet, I can usually correct it. Once it’s out the door, I may not be able to redirect it.

This is one of the most common questions I get, and I completely understand how frustrating it can be.
Items aren’t reserved when you add them to your cart — whoever completes checkout first gets the item. With limited batches (and often only one of each piece), this is unfortunately the only fair and practical way to handle purchases from the Shop page.

For those interested, here are a few tips that may help you check out a bit quicker:

• Use a fast checkout method like PayPal, Venmo, or the Shop app
• Create an account ahead of time and save your shipping info
• Log in a few minutes early so you’re ready to go when the pieces become available
• Check out quickly if there’s something you want — then come back and place another order for anything else that catches your eye (I automatically combine orders that ship to the same address)

If something sells out before you can grab it, please know I appreciate your interest — and I’ll do my best to include similar pieces in future batches.

Of course! Just leave a note at checkout or send me an email after placing your order, and I’ll be happy to include a message with the package.

I’ve been making Shaker boxes since 1993, initially selling them with Shaker-style furniture I built with my parents. After a few years, I focused on boxes full-time and have continued to do so ever since.

In 1993, I learned how to make Shaker boxes at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village here in Maine. It was a wonderful place to learn the trade — if you ever get the chance to visit, I highly recommend it.

All lumber comes from logs sourced here in Maine — a local sawyer mills the logs. The sides of my boxes, trays, and carriers are made from maple, birch, or ash. Tops and bottoms are made from quartersawn Eastern white pine, and the carrier handles are made from ash.
Fasteners are copper tacks made on original 19th-century machines. Finishes are either milk paint (from the Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company — the real thing, mixed fresh from powder in the shop) or traditional dyes. Each piece is sealed with pure tung oil — two coats on painted pieces, five on natural.

Minimal care is needed. The traditional finishes I use are designed to deepen and improve with age.

• Wipe occasionally with a slightly damp (not wet) cloth
• Furniture polish is fine in moderation, but avoid saturating the surface
• For antiqued natural finishes, be gentle — excess moisture or rubbing can lift the dye
• Avoid placing your item near heat sources or in very dry environments

Tops and bottoms are made from solid wood (not plywood), so a bit of seasonal movement is natural. In extremely dry conditions, you might notice minor gapping between the board and the band. This is cosmetic and will often self-correct once humidity levels return to normal.

They are — every piece is shaped by my own hands. A local sawyer mills the logs, and from there every step is mine: the pine dries in my own kiln, I plane and cut every board to size, cut each swallowtail joint by hand, and use historical finishing and fastening techniques throughout. These aren’t kits or mass-produced items — they’re made start to finish, by hand.

Just me. I handle everything from milling and building to finishing, packing, shipping, and even the computer work. Tricia, my wife, occasionally helps with emails or a blog post, but she’s usually busy with her own antiques business.

My workshop is in Embden, Maine, on 24 wooded acres. It’s a small, rural town in central Maine — about halfway between Waterville and the Sugarloaf Mountain ski area, and roughly two hours northwest of Portland.
I’m not on the coast — think more woods, hills, and dirt roads than lighthouses and lobster boats!

I’d be glad to have you — visits are welcome by appointment. Just know this is a working shop, not a showroom or formal retail space, and depending on where I am in the production cycle, I may or may not have finished pieces on hand to view.
I’m always happy to show visitors around — just give me a couple of days’ notice so I can plan ahead.