Key Takeaways
- Andrick Li, a former IT engineer, turned a hobby into a successful woodworking business after moving to New Zealand in 2018.
- His chopsticks are crafted from matai, a dense, oily native timber that resists water and flavor absorption.
- Functional design—thin tip, thick butt, round eating end, square top—ensures comfort, grip, and stability.
- Making each pair involves over 10 manual steps; Li created custom hand tools because machines cannot hold the thin sticks steady enough for a smooth finish.
- Despite modest output (1,000‑2,000 pairs yearly), demand exceeds supply, prompting Li to consider outsourcing while still enjoying the meditative rhythm of chopstick‑making.
Early Life and Transition to Woodworking in New Zealand
Andrick Li arrived in New Zealand with his family in 2018, bringing a background as an IT engineer. In China, woodworking had been a longtime hobby—a refuge after long corporate days—but limited living space prevented him from pursuing larger projects like violin‑making. After his first son was born, he repurposed his tools to build a simple chair, discovering satisfaction in creating functional objects for his family. The move to New Zealand initially aimed at securing another IT position, yet the Covid‑19‑induced lockdowns redirected his focus toward the timber in his backyard, sparking a new entrepreneurial path.
From IT Engineer to Souvenir Maker
During the lockdown, Li experimented with a felled tree, carving a wood notebook that quickly attracted orders for 400 units. This modest success validated his idea of turning a hobby into a business, leading him to establish QWood Studio. Initially, the studio produced souvenirs such as wood‑covered notebooks, fridge magnets, and bookmarks, primarily using native rimu and totara. These items allowed Li to hone his craft, learn the properties of local timber, and build a customer base before branching into a more specialized product line.
The Birth of Chopstick Production
The chopstick line emerged unexpectedly when a customer asked whether Li could make chopsticks. Although he could carve intricate figurines, he had never attempted the utensil before. Accepting the challenge, Li spent a year refining a repeatable process that balanced tradition with efficiency. He relied on standard workshop equipment—saws, rigs, and planers—but soon realized that achieving the ideal shape required a few bespoke hand tools. This iterative phase laid the foundation for a product that would later become a signature offering of QWood Studio.
Why Matai Wood Is Ideal for Chopsticks
Li chose matai over the more common rimu and totara for his chopsticks because of its unique material properties. Matai is relatively dense and rich in natural oils, which give it excellent resistance to water and prevent it from absorbing flavors during use. Consequently, matai chopsticks withstand repeated washing without warping or retaining food aromas, ensuring longevity and hygiene—qualities essential for an eating utensil that sees daily use.
Design Principles Behind Functional Chopsticks
Functional chopsticks must satisfy several ergonomic criteria. The tip needs to be round to grip food effectively, while the upper end is squared to keep the sticks from rolling when set down. A gradual taper—thin at the food‑contact end and thicker at the handle—provides comfort in the hand and optimal balance. Li emphasizes that these seemingly simple features are the result of centuries of refinement; replicating them correctly requires attention to subtle angles and surface smoothness that only careful hand‑work can achieve.
Crafting Process: Tools and Techniques
Producing a pair of chopsticks involves more than ten steps, most of which remain manual. Li begins with rough‑sawn matai blanks, then uses two hand planers to achieve the precise taper—a stage he describes as the most time‑consuming but also the most enjoyable, owing to its low noise and minimal dust. Because the sticks are thin, conventional machines tend to vibrate, compromising surface smoothness; therefore, Li fabricated custom jigs and hand‑held tools to hold the workpieces securely while allowing fine control. The final stages involve sanding the ridges to a silky feel and applying a light oil finish that enhances the wood’s natural luster without compromising its food‑safe qualities.
Daily Routine and Personal Enjoyment
Chopstick‑making has settled into a pleasant rhythm for Li. He often starts his morning by shaping a few pairs, using the activity to centre his thoughts before the day’s other tasks. In the evenings, after completing work on notebooks, magnets, and other souvenirs, he returns to the lathe to make additional chopsticks as a way to unwind. This repetitive, meditative work contrasts with the higher‑energy demands of his souvenir line, providing a balanced workflow that sustains both his creativity and his well‑being.
Market Demand, Pricing, and Future Plans
Each pair of handmade matai chopsticks retails for approximately NZ $20, a premium over mass‑produced alternatives. Despite the higher price, demand consistently outstrips Li’s annual capacity of 1,000‑2,000 pairs, prompting him to explore outsourcing part of production to meet market needs while preserving the handcrafted quality that distinguishes his product. Li remains enthusiastic about sharing his craft, encouraging other detail‑oriented woodworkers to try chopstick‑making as a fulfilling niche that blends tradition, functionality, and personal satisfaction.
Advice for Aspiring Woodworkers
For those intrigued by the intersection of heritage craft and modern entrepreneurship, Li’s story underscores the value of starting small, listening to customer feedback, and being willing to experiment with materials and tools. He highlights that success often arrives not from grand inventions but from refining a simple idea—like a pair of chopsticks—through patience, repeated prototyping, and an appreciation for the tactile qualities of wood. By embracing both the challenges and the joys of hand‑work, new artisans can carve out their own sustainable path in the woodworking world.