February: Cutting Boards and Set Builds

Class has been working to mill wood for cutting boards.

Milling means taking big boards, and making them shorter, and square. Students should have had an opportunity to be given lessons on the jointer. Also see the jointer videos on Maucks.com .

Students also worked to assist with building the sets for Into the Woods.

Students have been given the following protocol for making a cutting board:

Cutting Board Finishes: Tuesday/ Wednesday 6/7 February

Contrary advice on finishing salad boards?

Why is there disagreement? What are the pros and cons of each?

ToolMetrix discusses finishes. How are finishes that "build" different than finishes that "penetrate"?

Charles Neil, southern woodworker, LOOOONG Time YouTube Teacher, says something different.

What advantages does Neil's "build" finish provide? Are there disadvantages he discusses?

Friday February 1 and Monday February 4

Plan for the day:

Please review the photos and links on the previous entry first. Take notes on ideas, as well as on procedures for making a cutting board.

The following links show various approaches to making a cutting board. I make a note about whether or not I know and trust the maker before each link. EXTRA CREDIT if you notice something fishy or unsafe in any video.

This Old House Makes a Cutting Board: Reliable and Trustworthy source. (9 minutes)

The Wood Whisperer Makes a Cutting Board: This guy annoys me, but he is a well known wood worker, who is careful to show you good techniques. End grain board. Does he annoy you? (18 minutes)

Wood moves? The Wood Whisperer 4 minutes.

Edge grain board. I don't know this source. Be wary. (8 minutes)

Cutting Boards

Cutting Boards can be made out of edge gain; face grain; or end grain.




This board is strips of mostly edge grain.



















This board is strips of mostly face grain.

















This is an end grain cutting board. It is harder to make and requires more material.















Please read these two pages for information on what the differences are between the type of wood grain used for cutting boards:


Face vs. Edge. Vs. End Grain Cutting Boards

Edge Grain Vs. End Grain 

Wood Moves

We started second semester with examining in more detail the way wood works (or should we save wood moves?).



We discussed the words used to describe parts of a stick of wood. We discussed how wood moving was related to how our finger jointed box is put together.

We discussed plywood. How it is made, and how this effects how we use it.

Second Semester

Second Semester will require more technical knowledge. Students should be prepared to take notes more often.

Mr. Zartler will work on selecting projects that can progress more quickly.

First project of 2nd Semester will be a cutting board.

Also it is important to note that ALL previous safety tests and demos will be carried forward into second semester. If you haven't yet passed a test or demo, you need to see Zartler immediately (flex time?) to get this taken care of.

End of Semester 1

Students had time to complete safety tests and demos.

Students worked toward completing their boxes.