How to make a cutting board yourself? It is worth saying right away that the process itself is quite simple. There are only two important requirements that apply to this kitchen utensil. Firstly, it should be strong enough, and secondly, very clean, since food will be cut on it.
Board Material Options
Like many other products that are made independently, a board can become not only a device for work, but also a great decoration. Therefore, there are several options for how to make a cutting board.
Naturally, they can differ in the material used for the manufacture. It can be wood, plywood. As for the independent production of plywood, this is the most budgetary solution and the simplest. It is worth paying attention that in this case the following rule works - the thicker the plywood, the better. Thin material will not work.
As for wood boards, this option is the most practical. Also, this material has a longer service life. If the question is how to make a cutting board budget, then you can take not only plywood, but also a pine or birch board. Although the most durable and hygienic species are oak, beech or acacia.
Manufacturing options
If we consider the manufacturing methods, then there are also several options.
- The first option is solid. In other words, a cutting board is completely cut out of solid wood or plywood, if this material is selected.
- How to make a cutting board from individual fragments? This option also takes place. It is worth noting that it is easier to cut a whole board, but it is the glued version that is considered more durable, since such a product is less prone to deformation. Another advantage is that this method makes it possible to create a board of almost any shape and size.
There is another division into several types, depending on the shape and size. So, you can make a chopping board with your own hands, that is, a standard one. There is an option called sliding. It is best to set them on a raised platform, then it is convenient to clean the chopped products. Another very convenient shape is a board with a waste compartment. The last two quite simple and practical options are a corner board, as well as legs.
Raw material requirements
If the question is how to make a cutting board from plywood, then you should start by choosing the right material. To achieve success, it is worth using only class 1 raw materials. With such a material, the number of knots and any other defects is minimized. It is important to note here that it is impossible to take moisture-resistant plywood for such a purpose. Such raw materials are too saturated with sticky substances.
As for how to make a cutting board from wood, here you can use almost any breed. It is worth saying only that the cheapest options, such as pine or spruce, are not very durable, although their service life can be significantly increased if they are handled correctly.
There are several general requirements that you must follow:
- Naturally, the material must be sufficiently dry;
- wood or plywood should in no case contain such defects as oil stains, for example;
- the blank should not have rotten or loose sections, as well as knots, although with proper dexterity the latter can be turned into part of the design.
Start of assembly. Design
If everything is clear with the question of what a cutting board can be made of, then we can proceed to the assembly process. The first step in this case is the choice of design for the product. Here you can use almost any solution that the owner wants. In order to make it more convenient to work, it is worth transferring all your ideas to a drawing scheme. Dimensioning will help to avoid errors in the process.
As a scheme, you can use several options. Since the product is not something large-scale, you can use a regular drawing on a sheet of paper made with a simple pencil. You can print any contour and rely on it, you can even just circle any object whose shape is suitable.
Tools and workpiece
How to make a cutting board yourself? An almost ideal option would be to make it in your own carpentry workshop. In this case, all the tools will definitely be available. To successfully complete the work you will need:
- an electric jigsaw or circular saw to cut the necessary elements from wood or plywood;
- machines of planer and planer type or manual devices for the same purposes;
- milling cutter;
- in order to get a smooth surface, you can use a grinder or sandpaper;
- the last element is mineral oil, which is used to impregnate the finished board.
Work with the workpiece begins with the fact that it is necessary to transfer the selected pattern to it, if necessary. The cutting process is carried out using a saw, if the board will have straight edges. If the shape of the contour is quite complex, it is better to use an electric jigsaw. All sections must be processed in accordance with the technology. To do this, use devices such as sandpaper, file, grinder. During grinding, it is very important to remove all wood chips and fibers, which in the future can get into food or stick into the skin like a splinter.
Details
It is very important to pay attention to some details. The hole for hanging the board is cut last, and the edges need to be sanded. At this stage, you also need to deal with surface decoration, if necessary. You can use such methods of applying a pattern as burning, sawing, staining.
You should pay attention to the fact that for a cutting board a pattern means that food will clog into it. Therefore, the depth of the pattern should be minimal, and it should be located at the edges, and not in the center.
Finished product protection
In order to achieve maximum durability, and so that the board does not lose its appearance, it must be processed. Since the item will be constantly in the kitchen, where it will come in contact with food, the impregnations should be completely non-toxic and odorless. The best option in this case is mineral oil. The board is impregnated with this solution by staining or by immersion in the solution. If the coating is applied by coloring, then the procedure must be repeated until the oil is absorbed. The procedure is quite simple. A layer of oil is applied only when the previous one is completely dry. Usually this procedure is repeated 2 to 5 times. It is worth noting that after the first dive, small chips that have remained after grinding can come out of the board. They are removed with sandpaper.
How to make an end cutting board?
In this case, the manufacturing process is somewhat more complicated, since more work with wood will be required. It is necessary to use trim from fairly hard woods, for example from oak and pine. They should not be affected by such an infection as a fungus, nor should they have cracks or knots. The blanks are processed on a planer type machine, and after that, strips of 28 mm wide are cut. The number of parts made of oak and pine should be the same. When the workpieces are made, then using a jointer and sandpaper, you need to grind them to a size of 25 mm. Segments are stacked in turn.
Further, all the workpieces must be glued together to make a whole product. It is important to note here that glue that contains formaldehyde cannot be used. Apply epoxy compounds is also not worth it. The most commonly used substances are based on PVA.
The main advantage of such boards was that they are much stronger than ordinary ones made of solid wood. In addition, the end cutting boards are much less blunt knives during operation.