Easy Beginner Cutting Board Using Only Three Tools
Introduction: Easy Beginner Cutting Board Using Only Three Tools
In this video, I will show you how to make a beautiful cutting board using only three tools: a chop saw/miter saw, a table saw and a sander. This is a great tutorial for beginner woodworkers who want a simpler project without sacrificing design or quality. As always, wear the proper PPE when attempting any woodworking project and do not attempt anything if you are uncomfortable or unsure. Make sure to SUBSCRIBE for more content from us!
Overall Board Dimensions: 17"x12 1/2"x1"
Supplies
Materials:
* 4/4 or 1" Lumber
* Wood Glue
* Wood Clamps
* Sand Paper (80 grit, 150 grit & 220 grit)
* Food Grade Mineral Oil
* Cutting Board Conditioner or Wax
Tools:
* Chop Saw/Miter Saw
* Table Saw
* Orbital Palm Sander
Step 1: Choose Your Lumber
You will want to choose hard woods that are all the same thickness. For my board, I chose to work with two pieces of maple and a strip of wenge that were 4/4 or 1” thick.
Step 2: Cut Length on Chop Saw
Decide how long you want your final cutting board to be and cut each piece of lumber slightly longer than that measurement. I wanted my cutting board to be 17” long, so I cut each piece of wood at 18."
Step 3: Cut Width on Table Saw
First cut a clean edge using the table saw. Then place the clean and cut edge against the fence, and cut the desired width. The two maple pieces for this board were 4" and 7". The strip of wenge was approximately 1 1/2" wide.
Step 4: Glue Up
Time to glue up your cutting board! I used Titebond III wood glue and spread the glue with my finger. Use wood clamps and snuggly tighten them. To clamp my board, I used two parallel clamps and two bar clamps.
Step 5: Cut Final Length
Once the glue has had time to dry, unclamp your board. Then cut a clean edge on either side of your cutting board using the chop saw. I cut my board to be 17" in length.
Step 6: Sand Board
I used three different grits of sandpaper for this process: 80, 150 and 220 grit. Start sanding using 80 grit sandpaper and a palm sander. With this grit, you want to make sure to remove any glue and get the surface of the board smooth and flat. 76
When sanding, make sure to also sand the edges of the board. Sand everything with 150 grit and then 220 grit.
Step 7: Pop/Raise the Grain
There are a lot of different ways that woodworkers will pop or raise the grain of the wood. Some will use a wet paper towel and wipe the board. Others prefer to use a spray bottle and spray water on the board. I personally like to use a hose or water spout to wet the entire board. Immediately after wetting the board, wipe off any excess water and place the board in front of a fan to dry if possible.
Step 8: Final Sand
Once the board is completely dry, sand all of the surfaces again at 220 grit.
Step 9: Oil Cutting Board
Apply a food grade mineral oil to your board. I poured some oil onto the board and spread it with a shop rag. Oil both sides of the board and allow the oil to soak in. If you find your board is too dry, you can apply more oil if needed.
Step 10: Apply Conditioner or Wax
After the oil has been absorbed by your cutting board, apply a cutting board wax or conditioner. Walrus oil wood wax has been our favorite product for this. Take a clean shop rag or paper towel and rub the wax into the board. Then, take another rag/towel and buff the board.
*If you found that after some time the board did not absorb all of the mineral oil, wipe off the excess oil before applying the conditioner/wax. When the board is initially waxed, it will likely feel greasy. Allow time for the wax to absorb into the board. You may have to buff the board again if the greasy feeling is not gone after a couple of days.
Step 11: Enjoy Your Board!
BAM! You just made an awesome cutting board that is ready to be put to use!
Thanks for checking out our Instructable! Leave a comment below letting us know what you thought or if you made the board. And don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to our Youtube channel to see more content from us! 76