Make a Cutting Board

1. Introduction: In my country, making a cutting board is the first woodworking project for most kids. All parents usually have a few of them in their kitchen drawer. In this class, we will make a cutting board butvwe are taking the design a step further. It's going to be pretty large and we're adding a few clever details. The project is suitable for the absolute beginner. This may be your first woodworking project with some easy to find materials and a few basic tools, you will end up with a cutting board that any chef will envy you. If you've done the micro workshop class, you have the skills and the setup to make the cutting board. However, if you haven't done the class, I recommend you to do so. My name is Oivind Lie-Jacobsen and I'm educated as a graphic designer, but I changed my career ten years ago and started working as a journalist. I also bought a small farm and moved from the city to the countryside. The first thing I did was to realize my big dream to build a workshop in the barn. I work for different magazines and write about Cabin life, home improvement and of course, woodworking. 2. Tools and Materials: Any type of wood can be used for this project. You may steer away from the softest types like spruce. Pine is what I have chosen. It's taken from a piece of a countertop 28 millimeters thick. It's cheap and easy to get. A board that is glued together from several pieces is less likely to crack up and bend. If you want to take it a step up, you may select hardwood. A piece of a hard wood countertop is perfect. Edge glued board, or a piece of a countertop, strips a sanding block, a planer, a hand saw, a screw drill, a measuring tape, a square, a pencil, clamps, wood glue and wood trim screws. 3. Design the cutting board: I start at the place where I usually do the cutting in my kitchen. It's next to the stove. First, I take all measurements. I'm going to store the cutting board on the vertical edge. So I also need to know the width and the height of the wall. The last measurement I need is the diameter and the height of the plate that will go under the board. I draw on the white wrapping paper. Then, to end up with a good design, I start with a bunch of ideas. I'm drawing fast thumbnail sketches. The more, the better. I pick the best idea and start to do the final drawing. It's done in full size. I do all the corrections and changes at this level. When I'm happy, I'm putting a fresh sheet on the top. The paper is transparent so it's easier to trace the final drawing. The last thing to do is to put on all measurements. If you want to know more about design, I recommend the make your own furniture class. There, I go into the details of the design process. 4. Putting the pieces together: My cutting board consists of four pieces. The board, two feet, and the grip. I put the plan on the top of the workpiece and push it around until I find the best part of the board. I ensure to use as many of the straight edges as possible. That means less sawing. I transfer the measurements to the board and draw the lines where I'm going to do the sawing. I need one cut across the grain. If I need to make strips, I will cut them from the side of the board. Then I need to cut the board to the correct width. I start with a cut that goes across the grain. Before sawing, I need to put three pieces of lumber underneath the board as a support. Then I need to clamp the board properly. To get a straight cut. I use a straight piece of wood as a saw guide. Then I clamp the guide flush with the pencil line. Then I start sawing. The next cut will be with the grain. It's easier to cut straight when you are above the saw. I use to step up on a stool to get a better work position. It's a bit harder to follow the line when sewing with the grain. To make it easier, I start with a few light strokes along the line to get at track. To fix a cut that isn't straight I used the planer a few strokes and the edge is close to perfect. You might use a sanding block if you don't have a planer. To make better space for the plate I cut the ends of the feet at an angle. Now the feet are ready to be mounted on the board. Flip the board, apply glue and clamp the strip of wood flush with the edge. I use trim wood screws as an extra fastening. I screw until the head is a few millimeters under the surface. I plug all of the screw holes with a thin dowel. At the end of the cutting board, I put a strip of wood to serve as a grip. The edge on one side will have an angle, not a necessity, more of a design thing. I use the planer to give the side of the grip the right shape. The grip is glued, a clamped. Then I flip the board and screw from the other side. The holes are plugged, cut, and sanded down. Now I'm ready for some finishing. Sharp edges are sanded with a few light strokes. Next, i sand the glued ends and sides until everything is flush. 5. Final Words: Thank you so much for joining my class. I hope you have enjoyed yourself and that you've ended up with a useful cutting board on your kitchen counter. Please show me your work along the way. Post your projects and ask questions. Press follow a new clauses with new projects with come to you pretty soon.