From Strips of Wood to Beautiful Cutting Boards
Our latest Laminated Wood Cutting Board class wrapped up this week, and the finished boards were too beautiful not to share!
Over two evenings, students transformed individual strips of contrasting hardwood into sturdy, one-of-a-kind cutting boards. Each student chose how to arrange the different colors and grain patterns, creating a design that was completely their own.
The first class focused on preparing the wood and building the boards. Students learned how to make accurate cuts with the table saw and chop saw, arrange their wood pieces, and properly glue and clamp everything together. Then the boards were left to cure before the second session.
When students returned, it was time to see what had been hiding beneath those rough surfaces. They used the overhead belt sander to flatten and smooth their boards, shaped the edges, worked through the finishing process, and watched the natural colors and grain of the wood come to life.
While everyone left with a beautiful finished cutting board, they also learned skills that can be applied to many future woodworking projects, including:
Safely operating several major woodshop tools
Measuring and cutting lumber accurately
Arranging contrasting woods to create a balanced design
Preparing pieces for a strong, even glue-up
Using clamps correctly
Flattening, sanding, shaping, and finishing a project
Creating straight, flat, dimensionally accurate lumber is one of the foundations of fine woodworking. A cutting board is a fun and practical way to practice those skills—and these students absolutely nailed it.
Just look at those boards! Each one is different, beautifully finished, and ready to be put to work in the kitchen. We loved watching these projects come together from the first cuts to the final finish.
Nice work, makers!
Ready to turn a collection of wood strips into something useful, durable, and uniquely yours?
View upcoming Laminated Wood Cutting Board classes and register.
