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How to Make a Cutting Board

Lowe's Editorial Team

By Lowe's Editorial Team
Updated December 4, 2024

A cutting board is an essential tool in any kitchen. It provides a hygienic, durable surface and enhances your kitchen’s aesthetics for preparing food. It is a rewarding and practical woodworking project. In this guide, we'll walk you through how to make a cutting board from start to finish.

Tools and Materials

Tools

Materials

Choosing the Right Wood

The type of wood you pick for your homemade cutting board affects how strong it is and how long it lasts. When selecting wood, consider these factors:

  • Hardwoods like maple, beech or cherry are good choices because they're durable and have less damage.
  • Straight grain patterns are normally used for cutting boards as they are less likely to bend.
  • Choose a wood that fits your kitchen's style and aesthetics.

How to Make a Cutting Board

Making a homemade cutting board can be easily done using these steps:

Cutting the Wood

  • Mark the hardwood board using a tape measure. Draw a line with a pencil.
  • Cut wood on the line using a circular saw. Make sure to use clamps to secure the board as you cut. The final board dimensions should be dimensions of your choice.
  • Measure and mark in one of the corners, making a plus sign.
  • If you plan to hang the board, use a power drill to drill a hole through the wood plank at the mark.

Tip

If you want to give your cutting board a new shape, try shaping the edges. You can round off the corners with a router or sand them down manually for a softer look.

Caution

Make sure the saw is well-adjusted and its bolts are tight so they do not loosen while you’re working. Also, wear gloves to avoid hand injuries.

Arrange the Wood Pieces

You can give different shades to your cutting board by using different types of wood.

  • Cut the wooden board pieces of the same dimensions from different pieces of wood.
  • Arrange the cut wood pieces into a pattern.
  • Use wood glue to keep them together to get an aesthetic pattern.
  • Leave for two to three hours for glue to dry.

Tip

If you want to make sure the wooden pieces don’t fall apart after applying the glue. You can use clamps to keep the wooden pieces together using a drill and screwdriver.

Creating a DIY cutting board

If you prefer to engrave your personal design on the board, you will need a stencil or you can draw the design on the board using a pencil.

  • Use a pencil to trace the stencil design on the cutting board.
  • Clamp the cutting board in place.
  • Using a jig saw, follow the traced line of the cutting board patterns on the board.

Finishing

After giving it a nice pattern, the next step is to give it a final touch.

  • Use sandpaper on the board to make it smooth and take out the splinters.
  • Make sure to focus on edges and curves.
  • Mineral oil or beeswax can be used as a food-safe finish. Keep applying it with a brush until the wood cannot absorb it. Clean the remaining oil on the board with a terry cloth.

Maintenance

Once you are done making your DIY cutting board, it should be kept well-maintained for it to last longer.

  • Do not soak the board in water longer just enough to rinse it and then clean it with a cloth.
  • Keep applying a food-safe finish like oils to keep the board durable. This will also help it look fresh.
  • Sanitize it from time to time, whenever necessary.

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