I had a client request a custom design for their cutting board. They wanted something that was 16 inches wide x 16 inches deep, and roughly 1 inch thick. They wanted a juice groove around the outside on all four sides (they called it a juice “trench” so tomato/tomato) and wanted to have indented handles on the two sides, so it could be picked up easier. They also wanted it in a light colored wood, like maple.
Often that is what I get for custom work – the client wants a specific dimension and design and they can’t easily find it on the internet or in stores. An example would be the foyer table (Tina’s table) that I made for someone in Brooklyn. My prices are relatively inexpensive for an American made product, so they get what they want without breaking the bank.
After considering the price of maple, the hours and tools needed to build, and building in a percentage for overhead (insurance, taxes, supplies, etc.) it came to $100.
- I first cut the boards to rough length on the tablesaw.
- Then jointed one edge on the jointer, before making final rip cuts to make sure all the board edges would line up
- I laid the boards out, and alternated the growth rings of the wood. This will make the board more stable than just a solid piece of wood – less likely to cup or bow. I used a carpenter’s triangle (shown on the wood) to maintain the orientation
- From there it was glue up, with extra clamps on the edges to try and keep it as flat as possible.
- Boards after glue up. Need to use tablesaw to rip it to final width and crosscut to final length – 16in x 16in.
- Used a router with a dish bit to cut a ¼ inch deep “juice groove” around all four sides
- Used a router with a straight bit to cut the handles in the bottom on two sides
- After that it is time to sand. I typically sand cutting boards to 150 grit before applying three coats of cutting board oil.
- To maintain, every 6-12 months just wash it clean (not the dishwasher) and then coat with mineral oil from the grocery store. Flood it on, let it sit for 5 minutes, then wipe off the excess. Your done!
The client was pretty happy with it when I delivered it. Looking forward to stories of lots of meals prepared for family.
Kevin