Article #2: Cutting Board Tutorial by Mike Schwing

[Bob Reeve]

I just ran across your article and it was what the doctor ordered. I was looking for cutting board ideas for Christmas presents. Very helpful and well written.

Thanks

[George Grubaugh]

Thanks for the tutorial! I've made 6 now for gifts & I need many more to supply demand. (maybe free is too cheap?)

I am able to make them with just a Bies fence. I use shop made set up blocks so I can move the fence accurately.

[peggy gaddis]

Mike I really liked your turorial. I am a beginner at woodwork and I made several cutting boards out of red oak for my family for Christmas. I didn't think they turned out to bad. I am attaching a picture of them. This is the first time so I have lots of room for improvement. I started woodworking in Jan. '04 after a near fatal 4-wheeler wreck. I asked my husband while I still laid up hooked to an epideral to go and find me the tools I needed to start a wood shop. I love it. Thanks so much for the info. I shall try.

[Christopher Pine]

Originally Posted by peggy gaddis

Mike I really liked your turorial. I am a beginner at woodwork and I made several cutting boards out of red oak for my family for Christmas. I didn't think they turned out to bad. I am attaching a picture of them. This is the first time so I have lots of room for improvement. I started woodworking in Jan. '04 after a near fatal 4-wheeler wreck. I asked my husband while I still laid up hooked to an epideral to go and find me the tools I needed to start a wood shop. I love it. Thanks so much for the info. I shall try.

I like what I can see of them! But the picture looks very small?
Can you upsize a little so we can see better?
Chris

[Thomas Rudolph]

Mike,
Thank-you for a superb tutorial, very well put together. The Incra jig is nice piece of precision equipment. What a work of ART.

[al ladd]

These boards are gluing endgrain to endgrain with no reinforcement at cool stripe detail. How have they held up in use? I'm a full time box and board maker for whom these questions are of profound importance, and the chance of gaining a little knowledge at someone's else expense (for a change...) is too hard to resist. see my work at www.alladd.com. Thanks!

[Neil Gentry]

Mike

I have always understood that end grain will not glue up very well. How did you get the the 3 sections to stay together. Did you use dowels or biscuits? Just glued them up without anything?

[Wayne Stoops]

It looks like it might be a better structural option to glue an inlay in, rather than try to glue end grain. Maybe that's what was done??

[Edward Vasek]

Originally Posted by Rajiv Dighe

Ok, Be prepared for stupid question...

I have always heard of walnut being toxic wood. Given that is it safe to use it in an application where it will be in contact with food? Or is the toxicity of walnut referes to something else?

--Rajiv

Hi Rajiv :
You can get a Specil sealer for wood if they are to get in contac with food check your wood magazine's in the sealer section

Edward Vasek Where are you from we are in SE South Dakota

[Floyd Cox]

If I decide to make one of these, you won't see it with a knife on it but hanging on a wall. That is some beautiful work, Mike

[Roy Hatch]

Mike, It'll be interesting to see how many years the compliments continue to come. I've made a few cutting boards that I was pleased with, but nothing like you have created. I have a big slab of cherry that I bought years ago sitting in the shop and I know that piece of wood is ready to sacrifice itself for something beautiful. Now, I just have to find a piece of maple or something light in color and that will complete the question of what to make for this Christmas! Thanks for the inspiration!

Roy

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

Originally Posted by Wayne Stoops

It looks like it might be a better structural option to glue an inlay in, rather than try to glue end grain. Maybe that's what was done??

It would be possible to rip that strip down for an inlay of about a quarter inch thick. A couple extra steps and some precision cutting required.

I wondered about the end grain glue up too.

However, there are methods for getting a good end grain glue line without resorting to epoxies.
Here is an end grain strength test I found somewhere on the web
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...32076#poststop

[Dirk Lewis]

Originally Posted by Cliff Rohrabacher

It would be possible to rip that strip down for an inlay of about a quarter inch thick. A couple extra steps and some precision cutting required.

I wondered about the end grain glue up too.

However, there are methods for getting a good end grain glue line without resorting to epoxies.
Here is an end grain strength test I found somewhere on the web
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...32076#poststop

Just hope he's still reading this thread 3 years later...