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Invader Cutting Board

Project by DannyBoy posted 444 days ago 669 views 4 times favorited 14 comments Add to Favorites Watch

You may have seen one of these on the internet before, and yes that was my inspiration. A couple of my friends got married last month and I thought this was perfect for them because they love games and nostalgic stuff like this.

For those who don’t know (don’t be shy), the character is one of the invaders from the Space Invaders arcade game. It works perfect for a cutting board because of the large pixel graphics that they used back in the day.

Now, for how it was done…

The woods I used were maple (scraps from the shop, but I’m pretty sure it was rock maple) and purple heart. I considered two options: First: Cut each individual block (or pixel), arrange each column and glue, then gang-glue them. Second: (this is harder to describe, but made more sense to make) Found common patterns and made wider sections of them, cut them in halves or thirds, then glued them up.

All in all it went well. I had already made a few before, so other than a modified process for the graphic, the board went together quite easily. The only problem I had was a hot and dulling table saw blade which you can see the arches it made on the second shot (back side). Luckily, those tended to only appear on one side of each cut column so I was able to put them all on one side of the finished board.

Finishing was a breeze compared to the previous ones I did. I finally bought a random orbit sander and it made it much easier. Plus, the finished piece was much smoother because I went through the extra effort to raise the grain between sanding jobs. Basically, I would sand from low to high grit until smooth. Then, I’d wipe down the board with a wet cloth. Water absorbed into the end grain and would rough up the finish. So, I’d go through the grits again. By them time I had done this about four times, I could wipe it down with a wet cloth and it would stay smooth.

Lastly, I coated it with two coats of food safe mineral oil. It really deepens the color of the woods and makes it look great.

I always get a kick out of making things like this as gifts. My friends didn’t know I made it until I asked them to take a few pictures for my projects list (yeah, I forgot to take them myself). They replied back saying they were almost afraid to use it. Ha!

~Danny Boy

-- He said wood...http://hickbyassociation.blogspot.com/


14 comments so far

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

1030 posts in 884 days


posted 444 days ago

I loved this idea when I first saw it, and this is a great reproduction, have to get around to making one myself (I’ve been saving the maple and walnut offcuts from my workbench to make one)

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

View SteveKorz's profile

SteveKorz

2030 posts in 606 days


posted 444 days ago

That’s pretty cool… creative idea. I bet they got a kick out of it when they got it.

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

View Ampeater's profile

Ampeater

200 posts in 640 days


posted 444 days ago

Very nice, but using it as a bullet-proof vest might be a little too much.

-- "A goal without a plan is a wish."

View woodyone's profile

woodyone

234 posts in 483 days


posted 444 days ago

Like it very much, Good job.

Woody.

-- Woody, UK

View Greg Wurst's profile

Greg Wurst

716 posts in 725 days


posted 444 days ago

Okay, I may have to make one of these for the wife. Other options would be Pac-Man or other classic 8-bit characters.

-- You're a unique and special person, just like everyone else.

View Kaytrim's profile

Kaytrim

56 posts in 467 days


posted 444 days ago

A man after my own heart. Love the idea.

-- Computer programmer by day, fine woodworker by night. Custom made joysticks for Console Systems and Personal Computers.

View Bigbuck's profile

Bigbuck

1366 posts in 556 days


posted 444 days ago

Interesting design, nice job.

-- Glenn, New Mexico

View mattm's profile

mattm

28 posts in 539 days


posted 444 days ago

Now this is truly awesome. Excellent work!!

View macpiper's profile

macpiper

52 posts in 680 days


posted 444 days ago

i knew i wasn’t fast enough on getting to this…..looks good.

isn’t purple heart toxic though?

View sidestepmcgee's profile

sidestepmcgee

136 posts in 617 days


posted 443 days ago

what can i say man, freakin hot board.

-- eric post, tallahassee FL

View thetimberkid's profile

thetimberkid

1944 posts in 595 days


posted 441 days ago

Very cool!

Thanks for the post

Callum

-- For wood working podcasts with a twist check out http://thetimberkid.com/

View ThePickledZebra's profile

ThePickledZebra

29 posts in 490 days


posted 436 days ago

Ha! Awesome!

View UnstoppableDrew's profile

UnstoppableDrew

26 posts in 356 days


posted 352 days ago

Great idea. I’ve been thinking about trying to do something similar only making a platter by turning it.

-- Nothing looks worse on your outdoors resume than a list of the possible locations of your remains.

View Dusty56's profile

Dusty56

3457 posts in 580 days


posted 337 days ago

Looks good …I use the same grain raising techniques on my boards…..saves a lot of hassle if you do it before giving them to your customers / friends : )

-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .

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