| Project by Bill | posted 821 days ago | 1940 views | 4 times favorited | 20 comments | ![]() |
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I have been thinking of several ideas for smaller items to build, especially with Christmas coming soon. I decided to build a cutting board, and was excited to see all the different varieties online. I had a nice piece of Maple left over from one of my projects, and thought it would make a nice board. I was tempted to simple square it up and put an edge on it. But, being a Lumberjock, I felt I could not call it a project if I did just that.
The board I made is Maple and Purpleheart. I cut them into strips 1 1/4 inches wide and about 10 inches long. I glued the pieces together, sanded to 220 grit, and rounded off the edges. I have put three coats of mineral oil on the board, and will probably add two more before calling it finished.
I like the contrast between the deep purple color and the light maple. Hopefully I can find a market for these boards. I would like to make some more, with different designs and such.
Just a note – the board is a rectangle, even though the picture makes it look like a rhombus. Taking a picture with the tripod does not give you a true look down on the work.
-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com































20 comments so far
TomFran
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2515 posts in 892 days
posted 821 days ago
Very nice, Bill! Love that contrast between the maple and purpleheart.
Where did you get that neat “brand” on there?
-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28
jockmike2
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7352 posts in 1144 days
posted 821 days ago
You are right Bill it is a beautiful contrast good luck selling more. Nice work. jockmike
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
snowdog
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808 posts in 880 days
posted 821 days ago
Any suggestions on where to get purple hart? I was thinking about using walnut, would there be any problem with that for cutting boards? I remember hearing that walnut and brass don’t get along at all, but I could not confirm that, not that I would use brass on a cutting board ( I was thinking about a boat at the time :)
Great Christmas project 118 days left
-- "so much to learn and so little time"..
TreeBones
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1557 posts in 921 days
posted 821 days ago
Great use of your wood. I have found that you have to make or develop a market when making new projects you want to sell. Very nice.
-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3 http://www.portablesawmill.biz/concrete/
WayneC
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6040 posts in 995 days
posted 821 days ago
My local Woodcraft has lots of purpleheart and it is not very expensive. I belive it was around $4 a board foot.
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
Tony
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813 posts in 928 days
posted 821 days ago
Ah! Purple Heart – I wonder how much I could get in my ski bag???
Lovely board bill – I just relised the first snow will be here in 8 weeks and Christmas is not long after that. I have also got to get busy making lots of small things in the next few weeks to show my customers so they can get there orders in.
-- Tony - All things are possible, just some things are more difficult than others! - SKYPE: Heron2005 (http://www.poydatjatuolit.fi)
jembo
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105 posts in 911 days
posted 821 days ago
Very nice Bill, and the colors are perfect for the mood of Christmas.
A few of these for the next challenge would be perfect.
-- James - Geneva, Switzerland
CharlieM1958
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7670 posts in 1116 days
posted 821 days ago
Nice work, Bill. Great color combo!
Wayne, the words “my local Woodcraft” make me angry, ‘cause MY “local” Woodcraft is 3 hours away. lol
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
cajunpen
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5968 posts in 963 days
posted 821 days ago
Beautiful cutting board Bill – love the contrast.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
Thos. Angle
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4013 posts in 860 days
posted 821 days ago
Jingle bells, jingle bells, pretty Christmasy Bill. I’d never thought of using purple heart. I suppose they do it all over but, around here they use purple heart to deck lowboys. It looks a lot better on Bill’a cutting boards.
-- Thos. Angle
WayneC
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6040 posts in 995 days
posted 821 days ago
Ouch. I think I have 4 woodcraft stores within 3 hours and a Rockler store.
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
Karson
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25806 posts in 1298 days
posted 821 days ago
Great cutting board bill. Love the color contrast.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Jojo
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580 posts in 870 days
posted 821 days ago
Tom, Woodcraft used to sell this branding irons if I recall correctly.
Don’t complain Charlie, “my local Woodcraft” is around 5.000 miles away, a tad over your mere three hours I’d say… ;o)
Of course Bill, nice project, as always. I love the constrasting woods and the simplicity of it. I’ve never been a fan of checkered cutting boards myself so your’s is a refreshing change. By the way, if you struggle with the perspective of your pictures just take them with a slightly wider-angle lense -leaving a background frame all around- and sent them to me. I’ll fix them for you in a snap.
Back to my breakfast now (I guess you’re a LJ when… you check your new LJ messages AND you comment on them during your breakfast).
-- Jojo, shopless in Kyoto · http://twitter.com/kagushokunin
Kaleo
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200 posts in 1037 days
posted 820 days ago
The Purple heart looks amazing. I have never used it before, is it nice to work with? The cutting board came out really nice Bill.
-- Kaleo , http://www.kalafinefurniture.com
Douglas Bordner
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3427 posts in 961 days
posted 820 days ago
Beautiful board, Bill! Have to put on my burgeoning round-to-it list.
Snodog asked about walnut. Anybody know if this could cause allergic reaction in nut sensitive folks? I think I recall The Wood Whisperer saying that Walnut Oil for the board wasn’t a good thing but I don’t know if walnut is a good choice for the board itself.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Bill
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2561 posts in 1059 days
posted 820 days ago
Thanks all. The board did come out nice.
I bought the branding iron last year from Rockler. It is an electric one that you plug in, wait some time, and then can brand you projects. I use it on each of my projects.
Wayne, that is a good price for Purpleheart if true. I get my at Aura (a hardwood dealer) and it runs between $5-6 a bd ft. They usually only have a piece or two there. Right now I still have about 1/2 of the board I bought a few months ago. Each time I go there, I check to see if they have any in stock. It can be a hit or miss thing.
Doug, I heard that Walnut is not good, because of the possible allergic reactions. Funny, but I do not recall reading anything like that about pine, but that would be too soft for a cutting board. I do not know how Walnut would hold up the the chopping. As a test, I took a piece of scrap purple heart and a piece of maple. I hit them pretty hard with a metal putty knife to see the dents it would make. The woods had about the same results, so I felt it would be ok to use. Besides, who doesn’t love that Purpleheart wood. Such a great color.
-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com
MsDebbieP
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14167 posts in 1058 days
posted 820 days ago
somewhere I read recently that “walnut oil” is safe… why it is safe and the wood is not .. I don’t understand
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Greg Mitchell
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1383 posts in 966 days
posted 768 days ago
Beautiful cutting boards Bill!
-- Greg Mitchell--Lowell, AR--gdamitchell@sbcglobal.net
PanamaJack
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4447 posts in 975 days
posted 767 days ago
You have done it once again Bill.
-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,
DAN
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6456 posts in 880 days
posted 755 days ago
Great project Bill. Nice color combination. Would make a terrific christmas gift.
-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever