MAKE AN AWESOME VINTAGE STYLE CUTTING BOARD.

 

 

 

Nothing makes a kitchen more homely than the sight of an Old Vintage Looking Cutting Board. They add warmth to a kitchen setting and double up beautifully as a cheese board. The good news is that they are really…and l mean really…easy to make.

 

 

In case you missed it, l uploaded a YouTube video last week where l made a Pallet Wood Serving Tray and l really wanted a Vintage Cutting Board/Cheese Board to compliment it. You might want to check it out before your embark on your Cutting Board Adventure. Click on the Video below.

 

Pallet Wood Serving Tray. Easy, Quick and Cheap!

 

Before we get started, make sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and Pinterest to keep up to date with all my latest builds and what’s happening in the World of DIY For Knuckleheads!

 

 

So, What Do You Need For This Cutting Board?

It’s a good idea to look for a durable timber like a species of hardwood to craft out your masterpiece. Softwoods, like pine for example, are not really suitable and will deteriorate to quickly due to the knife scoring and washing in water. Having said that, if the cutting board is for décor purposes only, then pine can be a great choice as it is easy to distress to give that authentic aged look.

 

For this project l headed down to my local recycling centre and picked up an old hardwood block for the Grand Total of $3.00…Bargain!

I love hunting through Recycling Yards. You never know what you’ll stumble upon!

 

 

The lump of hardwood was a little thick and heavy, so with the aid of my table saw and an old beaten up handsaw, l cut the piece into two. Two for the price of one!…l like it!

 

 

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Materials Required for this Vintage Cutting Board:

• One piece of Hardwood.
• Food Grade Mineral Oil.

 

PRO TIP:

Start off on the right foot if you can and find some wood that is already old and character filled. Making the cutting board out of one piece of timber is far easier than having to join two or more pieces together. One piece also requires less tools and is quicker to make.

 

Tools Required:

• Circular Saw. If you don’t have a circular saw, a handsaw will do.
• Jig Saw.
• Drill.
• Electric Sander.
• Hole saw.
• Combination Square.
• Tape Measure.
• Pencil
• Blowtorch.
• Utility Knife.
• Food Grade Mineral Oil.
• Paper Towel or a soft cloth.

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You Can Make This Cutting Board in 5 Easy Steps!

Let’s Go!

 

Step 1: Work Out Your Design.

To make your cutting board the same as mine, click on this link to get the Template . If you would like to create your own design than that’s fine as well. I did stumble across a site called TIDBITS  that has some really cool Vintage Cutting Board Templates so you may want to check them out as well. There is a plethora of Vintage Cutting Board  examples on Pinterest and Google Images if you’re still struggling with ideas and inspiration

 

 

Step 2: Cut Your Cutting Board to Desired Shape.

I simply cut out the design of the cutting board with my circular saw for the straight cuts and the curve with my jig saw. For the hole l simply used a 64mm hole saw that fits into your drill. If you find yourself not all that confident using power tools, choose a design that requires only straight cuts that way all you’ll need is a handsaw.

Cut the Chopping Board to Size using a Circular Saw.

 

Shaping the Cutting Board with a Jig Saw.

 

Using a Hole Saw to Shape the Cutting Board Handle.

 

PRO TIP:

Make sure you clamp your piece down on the workbench when sawing or drilling. We don’t want to lose any fingers do we?

 

 

Step 3: Ageing the Wood.

Time to put some age into that piece of wood. You can do this a number of ways. I chose to use my electric sander, a butane blow torch and a utility knife.

Sanding Down to Give the Impression of Age.

 

Scoring the Top of the Cutting Board.

 

Tools of the Trade for Ageing the Cutting Board.

The sander softens the edges of the cutting board, the butane blowtorch adds some colour while accentuating the imperfections and grain and scoring the top of the board with a knife simulates years of use. The trick when using a blow torch is to run the flame along the grain whilst moving it constantly.

Pro Tip:

Blow Torches need to be handled with care as you are using a tool that emits flame at a very high heat. Read the instructions prior to use.

The cutting board will change colour very quickly once you apply the flame. To achieve the best results, move the flame along the grain with nice even movements.

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Step 4: Preparing the Cutting Board for The Finish.

You are now very close to finishing…Yeaaaaaaaahhh!…The final step prior to applying the finish is to give the board a final sand.

 

Alternate between a 120-grit sandpaper and a 240-grit sandpaper to get the perfect finish. The 120 grit will take off the areas of black that you want fine-tuned from the blow torch and the 240 will produce a super smooth finish once all the 120 grit work has been done.

 

Step 5….The Final Step..Applying the Finish!

You made it! Well done and the good news is that this step couldn’t be any easier. You’ve made yourself this beautiful cutting board and now you want to protect it from moisture and food juices as well as enhancing the look of it. To achieve this, you need to apply a finish of some sort. A lot of people get a little stressed at this point as to what is suitable for a cutting board….trust me, this process need not be confusing.

 

PRO TIP:

Don’t use Olive Oil as is sometimes recommended as it can become rancid.

 

The rule is that whenever you apply a finish to a cutting board or cheese board, it needs to be Food Safe so that limits your choices down dramatically to basically Mineral Oil which can be followed up with a coat of Bees Wax for extra protection and a little more shine. Check out this really helpful video by Tool Metrix   that clearly explains all your options.

 

When applying the Mineral Oil, it’s a good idea to give the cutting board / cheese board a good couple of coats. The process couldn’t be easier. Apply the oil to the board…don’t be shy with it and then rub it in with either a paper towel or a soft cloth. Leave it 24 hours between coats to give plenty of time for the oil to soak in.

 

 

If you want to go one step further, applying a coat of Bees Wax over the top of the Mineral Oil will give an added layer of protection as well as giving the board a little more sheen.

 

Pro Tip:

If your cutting board starts to look a little dry, just apply another coat of mineral oil. The more you oil it, the longer it will last.

I have to say that l was really impressed with how these Cutting Boards turned out. Not only do they look Awesome,  but they are practical as well and are used most days in my household. Even if you don’t use them to cut on, they look great as a decor item to soften your kitchen and give it that lived in feel.

 

Watch the How to Build a Vintage Cutting Board Here!

 

Here are just a Few Photo’s of the Finished Vintage Cutting Board. You can see all the other photos at the end of the Cutting Board Video.

 

To make this project even more enjoyable is that you can make one of these cutting boards in under an hour…Easily! They make a fantastic gift and cost very little to produce.

 

 

 

Different Styles and Sizes of Cutting Board all Made From the One Old Block of Hardwood.

 

 

 

 

So that’s it Folks! I hope you enjoyed and found this Blog Post useful. As per usual you can find me on all the Socials…just scroll to the bottom of the page for all those links.

 

Alrighty, be safe, and till next time, l’m outta here!