FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. What are your Shtenders made from?

2. Are other styles available?

3. What is the Children’s model?

4. Why are Shtenders made of certain woods more expensive?

5. What is the standard height of a Shtender?

6. Can Shtenders be made with adjustable heights? What would that cost?

7. What are the dimensions of the Shtender top? Can this be modified?

8. How is payment made? Do you accept credit cards?

9. Will I be charged sales tax?

10. What is a dovetail joint and why is it considered such a good method to build furniture?

11. I just received my Shtender and notice that there is a slight space between some pieces – is this a
defect?

12. How do I care for my new Shtender?

Pricing Information

Shipping Information

1. What are your Shtenders made from?

All of our Shtenders are made from solid wood. No plywood, particle board, laminates, or other man-made products are used. The following types of wood are available: pine, maple, oak, walnut, cherry, butternut, and more.

2. Are other styles available?

Yes! Your new Shtender can be made in any style you choose. If you’d like, your new Shtender can be matched to other furniture in the room.

3. What is the Children’s model?

Our standard Children’s model is made much like the Contemporary model, only slightly smaller and shorter. The exact dimensions depend on the age and height of your child. It is possible to make a Children’s model adjustable for a small additional charge.

4. Why are Shtenders made of certain woods more expensive?

Many species of wood are becoming rare or must be harvested from distant forests. The limited supply of  these materials and the extra cost of obtaining the raw lumber add to the cost of furniture made from them.

5. What is the standard height of a Shtender?

There is really no “standard” height. The Shtenders we make are usually 36” to 39" tall, measured from the edge of the top nearest the user. However, a Shtender can be made any height you’d like. Ask yourself if you tend to sit or stand more during prayer – this will help determine if you’d like your Shtender slightly higher or lower.

6. Can Shtenders be made with adjustable heights?

A new version of our contemporary model will be released soon which allows for a 3" height adjustment. Three different sizes will be available:

7. What are the dimensions of the Shtender top? Can this be modified?

Most Shtenders leave our shop with a 14” x 20” top – plenty big enough for a Chumash or large siddur. If you’d like another dimension, just say so when placing your order.

8. How is payment made? Do you accept credit cards?

Payment by check is preferred. Payment must be received prior to shipping. It is possible to pay by credit card by using the online PayPal system. If you'd like to pay via PayPal, just let us know and we will send an interactive invoice which will direct you how to submit payment. However, we try to keep our prices as low as possible, and payment by check will help us avoid the extra fees we must pay involved with receiving funds through PayPal.

9. Will I be charged sales tax?

Only residents of Wisconsin or shipments going to addresses in Wisconsin will be charged sales tax. If your state requires the payment of a sales tax or use tax on merchandise ordered through the mail from out of state, you are responsible for taking care of this.

10. What is a dovetail joint and why is it considered such a good method to build furniture?

A dovetail joint is one in which the two pieces of wood to be joined are cut to fit together along the edge, much like two crossword puzzle pieces fit together. Once this joint is assembled, it is nearly impossible for it to pull apart or become misaligned.

Rather than using screw or other metal fasteners which tend to loosen over years of use, we join the parts of our Shtenders using traditional techniques such as dovetail joints, mortise and tenon joints, wooden pins, etc. This will ensure that your Shtender will last for generations.

11. I just received my Shtender and notice that there is a slight space between some pieces – is this a
defect?

No. On some parts of the Shtender (such as the bottom of the storage box), this is done to allow for the natural expansion and contraction of the wood. If there were not places like this built into the Shtender, cracks would develop as it aged and went through the various seasons. Be assured that these parts of the Shtender are firmly and permanently attached, usually through the use of wooden pins or tenons which hold the wood together at various points along the joint. If you look carefully, you will see the ends of these on the Shtender.

12. How do I care for my new Shtender?

Unless you requested a different finish, your Shtender is protected by a polyurethane finish that is resistant to liquids, including alcohol. An occasional wipe with a slightly damp cloth should be all that is needed to keep your Shtender looking new. No wax or polish is required to preserve this finish.

More question??  send us a message.

Shipping

Most of our shtenders are shipped to customers via FedEx Ground. UPS Ground is also available, but does cost more. Shipping charges will vary depending on the size of your shtender.

The new model of our contemporary shtender is designed to make shipping more affordable by reducing the size of the carton(s) required. More information will be available soon about this.

All shtenders are shipped fully assembled and ready for use, except for the new contemporary model which requires minimal assembly (hand tools only - included with shtender). Care is taken to pack them securely, including the use of extra-heavy cartons which we construct ourselves. All shipments are sent insured, so notify the driver immediately upon delivery if there is any obvious damage to the carton.

Pricing

Due to the custom nature of our work, prices will vary. Please contact us to discuss your needs and to get a price quote.