Make a Nice, Wood Cutting Board

Good, thick wooden cutting boards are expensive and there’s no reason, with the right tools, that you can’t make one or more yourself. Cutting boards should be one of your most used kitchen tools and over time, good ones wear out. These three boards were all cut from one piece of wood.

When you make your own board you can decide how you want it to look  – square, rectangle, or curved with a handle. Draw a template to use and then all you have to do is find a good piece of wood for your project. You will need to buy a good piece of hard wood like maple or hickory, and you can shop at a lumber yard or even a salvage yard.

It’s best to have your template drawn first so you’ll know what size wood you need to get. The thicker your wood, the nicer your finished cutting board will be. Also, look for something with a pretty pattern in the grain.

You will need:

• Jigsaw
• Small electric hand sander
• Mineral oil

Put your template on top of your slab of wood and trace around it. Use the jigsaw and follow the pattern to cut along the lines.

Sand the top and the edges smooth with an orbital sander, first with medium 80 grit then followed up by 220 extra fine grit.

Wipe down all boards to remove any remaining sawdust, then condition with food safe mineral oil to bring out the beauty of the wood.  Mineral oil is a digestive aid and can be found at most drugstores or pharmacies.  Many specialty food and kitchen stores also carry mineral oil for use on butcher block counter tops so look for it there too.

Clean your board with hot water and sanitize with white vinegar, then every few months condition your board with food safe mineral oil.  Your cutting board should continue to look great for years to come.  

Project and Image Source: Centsational Girl