Archive for June, 2011

You want to make your own bamboo cutting board? I made a cutting board in high school shop class. One word of caution, bamboo cutting boards made at real manufacturing plants are generally safer than homemade cutting boards. They have access to special glues and chemical-free materials that are harder to find by the do-it-yourselfer.

First, you’ll need to get long strips of bamboo boards that can be cut into strips. We could make an edge grain or end grain board but if this is your first time, it’s best to keep things simple and make a plank cutting board. Make sure you have the following tools

Tools & Materials

• Bamboo strips, food grade
• Saw
• Clamp
• Glue, food grade
• Ruler
• Sandpaper
• Rags

Next, organize some space in your garage or outside to begin the work. The work will get dusty because we’re going sawing and sanding the board to cut them to size.

1. Cut 12 planks to 9 inch lengths. Length does not have to be exact because we’re going to cut again after the planks are glued together.
2. Line up the boards on a flat surface edge-to-edge with an approximate half-inch gap between each board
3. Put wood glue between each board in the gap.
4. Clamp the boards together tightly.
5. Wipe off the glue with a damp cloth.
6. Let the glue dry 24 hours.
7. Unclamp the boards.
8. Cut the edges to a smooth edge.
9. Sand the sides and front & back surface.

Enjoy your new cutting board. Be certain to wash your board thoroughly. Food may get stuck between the planks if the glue has not made it to the edge.