How to Make Cutting Boards From Cherry Wood
Commonly harvested in northeastern states such as Pennsylvania and West Virginia, cherry wood is a classic American hardwood. Cherry wood is revered for its rich, warm hue and attractive grain and any home furnishing made with cherry can be a handsome addition to a home's décor. If you are interested in wood crafts, a cherry-wood cutting board is a simple project that is easily achievable by a beginning woodworker. Cutting boards can be made to any practical dimensions, depending on your needs.
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Things You'll Need
- 1 3/4-inch-wide by 3/4-inch-thick cherry boards (27 feet worth of length)
- Miter or chop saw
- Resorcinol glue
- 2 bar clamps
- Table or circular saw
- Belt sander
- Fine-grit sandpaper
- Router with chamfer bit (optional)
- Food-grade mineral oil
- Soft cloths
- Beeswax
Instructions
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1
Cut your cherry boards into 18 sections that are each 18 inches long using a miter or chop saw.
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2
Glue the pieces together with the 1 3/4-inch wide sides together using resorcinol glue. Gluing the wide sides of the pieces together will put the 3/4-inch sides at the top and bottom of the board and give the cutting board a 1 3/4-inch thickness. When put together this will give you an 18 inch by 13 1/2-inch cutting board.
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3
Tighten two bar clamps on either side of the series of board pieces to secure them while the glue cures. Allow the glue to cure for 10 to 12 hours.
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4
Remove the clamps and run the ends of both short sides of the cutting board through a table saw to correct any uneven board ends. Use a circular saw if you do not have a table saw.
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5
Smooth down the top and bottom surfaces using a belt sander.
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Sand all corners lightly with fine-grit sandpaper to slightly round them off. Affix a chamfer bit to a hand or table router and run it along the edges of one side of the cutting board if you would like a beveled edge.
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7
Rub food-grade mineral oil onto all surfaces using a soft cloth to nourish and preserve the cutting board. Oil the board until oil starts beading up rather than soaking into the wood. Allow the oil to dry for at least 6 hours.
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8
Rub beeswax on all surfaces with a soft cloth to seal and finish the cutting board.
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References
- Photo Credit Onion On Cutting Board image by Igor Golovnov from Fotolia.com
