How to Make Your Own Cutting Board
Featured pro: Eric Stromer
Category: Home Improvement
Cutting boards are a necessity for any kitchen, and with a little time and energy, you can easily make one for yourself. In this clip, Eric Stromer uses two different kinds of wood to make an inexpensive fish-shaped cutting board that's not only durable, but giftable, too.
Step 1
Line birch and maple slats next to each other. Glue them together with wood glue.
Step 2
Clamp the pieces together and press down to ensure they're flat.
Step 3
Once the pieces are dry, remove the clamps and begin sanding with a palm sander. Start with a 60-grit sandpaper and work your way up to a 220-grit to make sure the wood is nice and smooth.
Step 4
Trace your template onto the wood and use a jig saw to cut it the shape out. Sand the edges.
Step 5
Put a coat of mineral oil on the wood to keep it hydrated and to prevent cracking.
Items You'll Need for this GMC Trade Secret
- Birch wood
- Maple wood
- Wood glue
- Clamps
- Palm sander
- 60-grit and 220-grit sandpaper
- Template
- Jig saw
- Mineral oil
More Trade Secrets
Add a Comment
I seldom use a cutting board; I use ordinary china plates and bowls. Think about it -- how often do you see a mark on a platter because you cut meat on it? And cleanup is easy -- the plate just goes in the dishwasher or sink along with all the others. Of course, you can't cut raw meat on a plate and then eat from it, but most folks have a lot of plates in the kitchen cabinets
April 05 2013 at 6:32 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyCutting on china plates is terrible for your knives. The same thing with glass cutting boards. The knives get dull very quickly.
April 06 2013 at 5:38 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyAre you kidding me? This guy needs a good enema. By the time you buy the wood, glue, clamps, jigsaw, etc. I can assure you, you will spend much more money than simply buying a cutting board. Besides that, I stopped using wood cutting boards about three decades ago. They harbor bacteria and at some point begin to smell. I have several large plastic cutting boards. Every so often I soak them in a chlorine bleach solution. It kills the bacteria, removes food stains and keeps the boards safe to use.
April 05 2013 at 4:39 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIt is my understanding that only poplar and maple wood kills any bacteria that gets into the cuts on the board. Other woods acually accumulate the bacteria and may cause a health problem.
April 05 2013 at 12:19 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyMAY cause health problems??? your pathetic! never heard of anyone EVER having problems, seriously GET A LIFE!
April 05 2013 at 4:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI have 2 cutting boards made by my husband in 1967 that still are good as new. One is solid oak and the other is maple. I use them practically every day. They will outlive me (already have outlived my spouse) and probably my child.
April 05 2013 at 11:19 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyGreat ! Thank yo for teachimg us. Eric, you are right they are ridiculous expensive.. I will make my today. D
April 05 2013 at 9:44 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHey Eric, Another one of those..."I can't sleep tonight" things...so I head to the PC. I have seen you on tv but never really had a web site to follow you. Somehow I found you tonight and I really learned quite a few things from you tonight from cleaning how to's, to making my own cutting boards. Although I am 100% disabled, most of the stuff is hard for me to do, but what you showed me tonight, even me, a wasted space around the house now, after all these years, there are still some things that I can do. Thank you Eric for your time and really informative ideas. Have a great day!
March 20 2013 at 1:35 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHey Eric, 9 "go aheads" this time, cute fishie, Nancy
March 19 2013 at 2:36 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyGet our latest tips in your inbox
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