Wood for Cutting Boards

Jarrah and Tassie Oak.

Also, you may be interested to know that some research indicates that wooden chopping/cutting boards are safer, hygienically speaking, than the popular white plastic boards. And that the safest finish is ‘no finish at all’. I have the research somewhere and can provide it if you want it.

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/

The old time butchers used parrafin on their chopping blocks. When I made my block I used 6” thick maple squares and then used parrafin and an electric iron to melt the wax into the pores of the maple. You just scrape the top every so often and put on aditional parrafin.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

6” thick?

-- Kalamazoo, MI

Karson, I assume that this is a chopping block as opposed to a cutting board.

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/

Yes on the chopping block, but some cutting boards are built with end grain as the cutting surface.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

the Woodwhisperer did a great podcast on making a cutting board. I liked his idea of using the endgrains to protect the knife.
As for wood? I think he mentioned varieties as well but I’m not sure.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

I have heard that walnut would not be good to use because of potential for food allergies. I do not know if that is true or not. I think the contrasting woods would be a great look for a cutting board.

I liked the wood whisperer’s video on the cutting boards. I have wondered if it would be better to build the boards with end grain instead of long grain. Most cutting boards I have seen are long grain, and they seem to last for years. The end grain method would seem to involve more work.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

I made end grain cutting boards from an article in a woodworking magazine. The article stated the best woods to use were maple, cherry and walnut. The finish suggested was plain old mineral oil.

To see what mine look like look under projects.

-- Fred Childs, Pasadena, CA - - - Law of the Workshop: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

Hickory, Cherry, and White Oak should fit in just fine.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

I made about 10 cutting boards last year for gifts… I usec maple, cherry and black walnut, they all turned out great. I made endgrain and long grain boards, used tightbond III, three coats of mineral oil on each.

-- My Father was my mentor for my woodworking hobby and knowledge. Luv ya Dad.

Ok, so now I have to make a cutting board to just to say I can. Nothing like a little competition to keep you going.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

funny, I was just watching Marc’s Podcast vid on his end grain cutting board today and was thinking about the same thing. Purpleheart is a bit expensive for me, but I like the idea of a maple/cherry combo. Looks like I’ve got my family christmas hobbie gift idea now!

-- ...straight lines or tight lines, either will make me happy! Muddler