Custom Artisan Bread Board

This Custom Artisan Bread Board is for sale by visiting this item at my Etsy.com Shop

The baking of fresh bread generates a wonderful mouth watering smell in any home it is made in. Learn more and make your own...

To make the process easier I am creating a custom paddle to work the dough and prepare it for placement into the oven also using the paddle it was molded on. My client is patiently awaiting the creation of her new bread paddle.

Here is the pile of selected coastal maple lumber which I chose to create this peel. Typically I use the same birch I use in pizza peels, however when I saw this wood I knew I had to try it out and see how it works. Coastal maple is a faster growing wood and therefore does not have the grain tightness found in typical hard maple. The difference will make this paddle lighter and easier to use.

The full one inch dimension lumber was resawed into approximately 3/8’ thickness, and then, the individual boards are cut to width and length to make up the final size board desired.
This particular board will hopefully end up with a 12 inch x 12 inch paddle and a 7 inch handle.

The edges have been prepared and boards squared up.
The glue has been applied and the clamps are in place. It will be allowed to set overnight in these clamps and tomorrow the shaping process will begin.

As you can see I use a lot of clamps. I try and give the boards every opportunity to get a good flat strong glue job. The boards are clamped from side to side to bond the boards together. I then place strips of hardwood on top and bottom of the boards and clamp them to ensure the boards glue joints dry in a flat stable manner.

The clamps are off and the board is being laid out..

The finished project….

Aside from making a little adjustment on the front lip of this board, my client really liked her board and as a matter of fact….got more orders for me.

To me that is the best form of advertisement, to have a client sell your product to other folks. Although, I am sure she would say the product sold itself….I think her excitement had something to do with it. Thanks!!!

The grain pattern of this coastal maple used in this project really popped when I applied the food grade mineral oil after it was scraped and fine sanded. The front lip of the board will be sanded down to create a thin front to assist in moving the bread on and off the board.

This board is around a 12 inch square paddle with a 6-7 inch handle and is around 3/8 inch thick. Very light weight and easy to handle. It is used to shape the loaves on and slide them onto the hot stone which is pre-heated in the oven.

I am really pleased with this and sure it will be a hard one to keep on the shelves….

For more information about ordering your own custom board go to: http://www.splinterswoodworks.com/

-- Splinters - Living and Loving life in the Rockies - http://www.splinterswoodworks.com/ - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5220040