Building your own cutting board is one of the most satisfying beginner woodworking projects — it's practical, makes a great gift, and lets you work with beautiful hardwoods. This guide walks you through the full process from lumber selection to final finish.
What You'll Need
- Hardwood lumber (see species recommendations below)
- Table saw or circular saw
- Jointer and planer (or ask your lumber yard to surface the boards)
- Wood glue (Titebond III is food-safe and waterproof)
- Clamps (at least 4–6)
- Random orbital sander + sandpaper (80, 120, 180, 220 grit)
- Food-safe finish: mineral oil, beeswax, or cutting board oil
Step 1: Choose Your Wood
For a face-grain or edge-grain cutting board, you want a closed-grain hardwood that won't harbor bacteria. Our top picks:
- Walnut — dark, rich, and stunning. Great for charcuterie boards. Shop 4/4 Walnut →
- Cherry — warm reddish tones that deepen over time. Shop 4/4 Cherry →
- White Oak — durable and water-resistant with beautiful figure. Shop 4/4 White Oak →
- Soft Maple — light-colored, tight-grained, and budget-friendly. Shop 4/4 Soft Maple →
For a standard 12" × 18" face-grain board at 4/4 thickness, you'll need about 1.5–2 board feet per species strip.
Step 2: Mill Your Lumber
Start with rough or S2S (surfaced two sides) lumber. Joint one face flat, then plane to your target thickness (typically ¾" to 1¼" for a cutting board). Joint one edge straight, then rip strips to your desired width on the table saw.
Step 3: Arrange and Glue Up
Lay out your strips and alternate the grain direction to minimize warping. Apply a thin, even coat of Titebond III to each mating surface, clamp firmly, and let cure for at least 1 hour (24 hours for full strength). Wipe off squeeze-out with a damp cloth before it dries.
Step 4: Flatten and Sand
Once the glue is cured, run the panel through the planer to flatten both faces (or use a router sled if you don't have a wide planer). Sand through the grits: 80 → 120 → 180 → 220. Always sand with the grain on the final passes.
Step 5: Shape the Edges
Trim the board square on the table saw. Round over the top edges with a ¼" or ¾" roundover bit on a router table, or soften them by hand with sandpaper. Sand the edges through the grits to match the faces.
Step 6: Apply a Food-Safe Finish
Apply 3–5 coats of food-grade mineral oil, letting each coat soak in for 20–30 minutes before wiping off the excess. Finish with a coat of beeswax or a mineral oil/beeswax blend for extra protection. Let cure overnight before use.
Care Tips
- Hand wash only — never put in the dishwasher.
- Re-oil when the wood looks dry (every few months).
- Sand out knife marks and re-oil to refresh the surface.
Get Your Lumber
All the hardwood species mentioned above are available at AVEL Woodworking, sold by the board foot and available for local pickup.