[Kilbey]

I decided to make my parents and my brother cutting boards from Christmas. We agreed to go cheap this year. I already got them a few things, but I was still feeling like I wanted to get them more. So I scrounged up some scraps in my workshop. I say scraps, but I am using some excellent Hard Maple and some Walnut lumber I have from some previous projects.

I am just waiting for the glue to dry, then sand and finish with a food grade oil.

Here are both cutting boards clamped up together.



And a slightly different angle.



I really need to clean that place up! What a mess.

[brapper]

nifty, I wish I had some tools.

[G4ME]

biscuits, or just butt joints?

also curious how it will look with the saw burn sanded off.


btw you have goddamn sexy ass clamps, eventually i will score a few of those.

[Xeo]

Do you use several smaller pieces of wood for any reason other than aesthetics? Be sure to post pics of the final product.

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by G4ME:
biscuits, or just butt joints?

Just butt joined. Biscuits seemed like overkill. Besides, the glue is stronger than the wood anyway.

Originally posted by G4ME:
also curious how it will look with the saw burn sanded off.

Me too. That Maple always burns when I rip thick pieces. Plus I didn't have the splitter installed and the saw kerf kept closing up. Heading out to take the clamps off in a few minutes, then scrape and sand it. I'll post more pics when I am done.

Originally posted by G4ME:
btw you have goddamn sexy ass clamps, eventually i will score a few of those.

Thanks. They were a gift from my In-laws and I am sure they were NOT cheap. They are Bessey Clamps and they are the best I have ever used. Woodcraft.com has some pretty good prices on them. I have the 50" length.

[Jellytussle]

Cool, but why not end grain for a cutting board?

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by Jellytussle:
Cool, but why not end grain for a cutting board?

Too much labor. I don't have the time. I just wanted something I could do in an afternoon.

In the end it will be more of a decorative piece of work. Most of my family uses plastic as cutting boards. But they put them away after cleaning them because they are so ugly. These will be able to be hanged on the wall or placed out as a decorative piece.

Update: Turned out nice. Now I need to drill a thumb hole in a corner of each one, use a round-over router bit to clean up the edges, a finer sanding, and the finish coat of oil.





And my other hobby: Homebrewing beer. More specifically, my keg setup in my workshop/garage.



The keg on the right is home made root beer and the one on the left is a Belgian Wit style ale.



With the Detroit Tigers tap installed

[Rev-O]

You must be a glutton for punishment using maple! I've edged my tile countertops with maple... ugh. Beautiful when it's finished, but maple and planers just don't mix. It's either tedious or burnt. On my long projects list is a maple cutting board inset for the rest of the kitchen counters after I finish tiling 'em.
Yah, after I finish framing, wiring, plumbing and drywalling the basement. And tile the bathroom floors and counter tops. And tile the kitchen floor. And finish pouring the sidewalk around the side of the house. And re-do my brick patio...
To hell with it. That sounds like too much work. I'll just stay online forever!

P.S. They look GREAT!

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by Rev-O:
You must be a glutton for punishment using maple! I've edged my tile countertops with maple... ugh. Beautiful when it's finished, but maple and planers just don't mix. It's either tedious or burnt. On my long projects list is a maple cutting board inset for the rest of the kitchen counters after I finish tiling 'em.
Yah, after I finish framing, wiring, plumbing and drywalling the basement. And tile the bathroom floors and counter tops. And tile the kitchen floor. And finish pouring the sidewalk around the side of the house. And re-do my brick patio...
To hell with it. That sounds like too much work. I'll just stay online forever!

P.S. They look GREAT!

Thanks. Maple and walnut are equally hard to work with. I hand planed these cutting boards. I love maple. It is my favorite with cherry coming in a close second.

Good luck with all the work you got planned. Just think, when you get it all done you'll either want to move or renovate everything all over again.

[MountainMac]

They look good. What kind of oil do you finish them with?

[wdlove]

Good job on the cutting boards Kilbey. I think that your parents and brother will be very pleased with their gift. Something that is had made is always well appreciated.

[acadian]

Originally posted by Jellytussle:
Cool, but why not end grain for a cutting board?

End grain absorbs moisture unevenly.

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by MountainMac:
They look good. What kind of oil do you finish them with?

I haven't decided yet. Any suggestions?

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by acadian:
End grain absorbs moisture unevenly.

Actually, end grain is preferred because it withstands knife use more and wears better. The best most expensive antique meat processors cutting boards were a few inches think and had end grain showing on the tops.

Going perpendicular to the grain is just cheaper, faster, and easier.

[Rev-O]

Originally posted by Kilbey:
I haven't decided yet. Any suggestions?

Linseed oil is the only thing I've ever heard of finishing a cutting board with. Some good information about linseed oil here

[DeathToWindows]

really nice dude... I wish I had more in the way of wooworking and shop skills than I have... I'm not inept, but I'm not hugely skilled either... I'd love to learn how to make my own decent furniture at some point...

yeah, right after I get a PhD in Psychology (which should be around 2013-2015)

[acadian]

Originally posted by Kilbey:
Actually, end grain is preferred because it withstands knife use more and wears better. The best most expensive antique meat processors cutting boards were a few inches think and had end grain showing on the tops.

Going perpendicular to the grain is just cheaper, faster, and easier.

3rd generation cabinetmaker here. Your analysis only holds true for wood with tight grain (padouk, tulip wood etc...). over prolonged use, unless regularly oiled, the end grain will absord moisture more rapidly (especially if it's sap wood).

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by acadian:
3rd generation cabinetmaker here. Your analysis only holds true for wood with tight grain (padouk, tulip wood etc...). over prolonged use, unless regularly oiled, the end grain will absord moisture more rapidly (especially if it's sap wood).

I wasn't commenting on the moisture absorbtion comment. End grain is prefered for the wear capabilities. You really don't need to worry about moisture absorbtion on a cutting board. The fact that the board will expand and contract more with seasonal changes doesn't affect it's usability.

Now cabinets and and all other wood products you do. But end grain is better for cutting boards.

And I don't need to be a 3rd gen. cabinet maker to know a lot about cutting boards.

[The Mick]

Originally posted by Kilbey:
And my other hobby: Homebrewing beer. More specifically, my keg setup in my workshop/garage.

<snip>

Nice rig! Here's mine: http://homepage.mac.com/beveritt/PhotoAlbum17.html

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by The Mick:
Nice rig! Here's mine: http://homepage.mac.com/beveritt/PhotoAlbum17.html

Nice set up. Are you into lagering with the chest freezer and temp controller there?

[Kilbey]

Done. Oiled and ready to give.

[f1000]

Originally posted by Kilbey:
They are Bessey Clamps and they are the best I have ever used. Woodcraft.com has some pretty good prices on them. I have the 50" length.

They are indeed great clamps. I've got a smaller one that I find indispensable.

PS: That's some beautiful woodwork.

[Rev-O]

Nice job!

[ambush]

very good looking things.

you have skills with your hands.

[The Mick]

Originally posted by Kilbey:
Nice set up. Are you into lagering with the chest freezer and temp controller there?

Yuppers, done a couple lagers that way, came out nice.

[nredman]

Originally posted by Kilbey:

very nice.

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by f1000:
They are indeed great clamps. I've got a smaller one that I find indispensable.

PS: That's some beautiful woodwork.

I am going to buy these exclusively from now on. Fine Woodworking magazine gave them their editor's award for best clamps.

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by The Mick:
Yuppers, done a couple lagers that way, came out nice.

I have yet to delve into making lagers. I would like to soon. It opens your beermaking into such a larger available variety it would seem worth it to invest in the freezer and temp controller.

I have some space issues right now. But I am sure it is one of those things that if I don't do it now I probably never will.

[d4nth3m4n]

hope your glue job holds, seems the leverage on the darker wood with the hole there could be problematic.

but i'm sure you'll be fine.

[Cubeoid]

very nice finish. i wish tasty chopping.

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by d4nth3m4n:
hope your glue job holds, seems the leverage on the darker wood with the hole there could be problematic.

but i'm sure you'll be fine.

One of my classes at Western Michigan University was a research project on glue technologies. Funded by Steelcase.

Believe me, the wood will fail long before the glue does.

[d4nth3m4n]

Originally posted by Kilbey:
One of my classes at Western Michigan University was a research project on glue technologies. Funded by Steelcase.

Believe me, the wood will fail long before the glue does.

not to mention that even hanging there will be little stress on that piece.

all in all, nice work.

[Lancer409]

wow .. very nice. see'ing the first board, i was thinking .. how will this look? ... burn marks n all .. i was kinda worried. i was impressed with the fact that you knew what you were doing but ... see'ing the finished product ...WOW ... big thumbs up.

those look as good as something i'd find in a store (end grain aside)...

wow again.. woodworking ... amazing. i think it's nice to see people still know how to use their hands and work wood from scratch (instead of buying all their goods and furniture from foreign countries)..


*jaw dropped* ... yeah i know it's just a cutting board .. but still mine would look like your first picture =P.

[MilkmanDan]

Wow, someone has some great wood shop skills.