Replies

1. 
   Eef | Jun 15, 2009 11:33pm | #1

   hey t,
   if i were making that, i would not be afraid to use the whitest rock maple i could find.
   eef

2. 
   Jimma | Jun 15, 2009 11:39pm | #2

   I've made a lot of cutting boards and I would not put such a dissimilar wood into the surface. Here's the basics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B8oAJs3sik&feature=fvw

   Jim MacMahon/Orlando

1. 
   TMitchell | Jun 17, 2009 03:40am | #3

   Jim, what would you recommend for a long grain cutting board that requires contrasing wood colors?

    

1. 
   FrankDrackman | Jun 17, 2009 04:17am | #4

   Not Jim but I use cherry & maple a lot.  Walnut & Maple is also good.

2. 
   Jimma | Jun 17, 2009 04:52am | #5

   Take your pick. Domestic woods are available and practical. Some exotics are toxic and highly oily ones are hard to glue (but not out of the question). If you use color as your criterion, just go to the nearest hardwood source and make a selection of three or four species. The problem of using ebony mixed with other woods is that there is likely a hardness contrast that will become an issue in finishing and maintaining the surface in use. Is this for real culinary use or just kitchen decor? If the latter, use anything you want.

1. 
   TMitchell | Jun 17, 2009 02:17pm | #6

   For actual use, though not daily in a commercial setting.  Instead it will be used occasionally...

   I'm going to try and talk the client into a differnent species since I've done my share of cutting boards with more traditional woods and it will take the guess work out.

   Thx.

1. 
   saschafer | Jun 17, 2009 03:49pm | #7

   Allergic reactions to ebony are apparently fairly common, so it's probably a good idea to avoid it in a cutting board.

   -Steve

    

2. 
   TMitchell | Jun 18, 2009 05:10pm | #9

   Good point, thanks fo the tip.

3. 
   dkellernc | Jun 17, 2009 07:12pm | #8

   "I'm going to try and talk the client into a differnent species since I've done my share of cutting boards with more traditional woods and it will take the guess work out."

   This might be your best option.  It's fairly easy to ebonize a domestic species through-and-through with a dye.  Your client may balk when you tell her that ebony, at least high quality, black Gabon ebony, will cost $90 a b.f., and you're going to have to charge her at least 50% over that because of the inherent waste involved in cutting out a heart shape.

   That said, I've seen large inlays of ebony, boxwood, kingwood and other exotics that were simply let in to a solid wood surface on antiques that have been through 200 years of wood movement and humidity changes.

   If your customer insists, I would cut an inlay about 1/4" thick (so that multiple resurfacings can be done as the cutting board gets scarfed up) and glue it in with a heavy dose of epoxy.  So long as the person doesn't put it in the dishwasher or leave it soaking in the sink it should be intact after many years.

4. 
   TMitchell | Jun 18, 2009 05:12pm | #10

   Thanks, I'll keep that in mind for future projects.  Though cost wasn't an issue on this project, I think I'm still going to advise different woods.

    

    

3. 
   Bill_Anderson | Jun 19, 2009 05:44pm | #11

   I have made cutting boards out of cherry, with cocobolo inlays.  I actually  made one with a heart to disguise a "defect" in the wood.  The inlay was a little more than 1/4" thick and  the outside dimensions were about 1.5 inches.  After a year of use, the inlay is still tight.

1. 
   TMitchell | Jun 21, 2009 06:29am | #12

    

   Thanks.  Good to know that Coco and Cherry work well together.