{"id":338560,"date":"2017-04-18T00:16:12","date_gmt":"2017-04-17T16:16:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/techcrunch.com\/?p=1477399"},"modified":"2017-04-18T00:16:12","modified_gmt":"2017-04-17T16:16:12","slug":"pittsburghs-kerf-cases-enrobes-your-phone-in-fine-wood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/pittsburghs-kerf-cases-enrobes-your-phone-in-fine-wood\/","title":{"rendered":"Pittsburgh\u2019s Kerf Cases enrobes your phone in fine wood"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Next Story<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s meet in Longmont on\u00a0Wednesday<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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One iPhone case is much like the other unless it\u2019s made of figured walnut wood from a retired woodworker in California and feels like the surface of a finely-sanded and well-made piece of antique cabinetry. That\u2019s why Kerf Cases<\/a>, a Pittsburgh-based manufacturer, is so cool.<\/p>\n

The founder, Ben Saks, has been working in wood for most of his life. While working at Carnegie Mellon University he created his first case using a manual milling machine and then, over the next six months, he perfected his design. He became an artist residency at Alpha Lab Gear in 2014 and then joined Techship Pittsburgh where he honed his product. Finally he opened a facility in Pittsburgh\u2019s East End.<\/p>\n

Saks makes cases for iPhones and the Pixel. They start at $99 and are available in multiple woods including mahogany, cherry, and maple. All of the pieces come from salvaged trees and Saks makes wallets and iPad accessories as well.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Kerf\u2019 is the thickness of material removed from a saw blade, usually measured in 1\/1000 of an inch. This standard wood working term is important to KerfCase\u2019s philosophy, as it represents the precision needed to make our wood iPhone cases,\u201d said Saks. \u201cEvery piece of wood has a story, whether it\u2019s a piece of reclaimed flooring, or a beautiful burled wood from a local tree which was damaged in a storm. Our woodworking is a continuation of this story, connecting you to the history of the material.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKerf is not a startup, and it took us a long time to realize this. Our value proposition is not something that is scalable like software. By scaling, we would lose the most important aspects of our business. We have grown slowly and organically, through word-of-mouth and a small, dedicated fanbase,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The case I tested, a deep and dark walnut model, is smooth and cool to the touch and actually amplifies the speaker thanks to the way the wood surrounds the entire phone. It\u2019s quite light and feels far nicer than the original rubber case. It\u2019s no richly inlaid wooden case hand-made by a blind woodcutter but, I suspect, it\u2019s the next best thing.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"\" One iPhone case is much like the other unless it’s made of figured walnut wood from a retired woodworker in California and feels like the surface of a finely-sanded and well-made piece of antique cabinetry. That’s why Kerf Cases, a Pittsburgh-based manufacturer, is so cool.
\nThe founder, Ben Saks, has been working in wood for most of his life. While working at Carnegie Mellon… Read More<\/a><\/p>\n

\n<\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a> <\/img><\/a>\n<\/div>\n

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