Cutting Boards

How to Maintain and Care for Your Cutting Board

Learn how to maintain and care for your cutting board with a simple routine for cleaning, oiling, and protecting it. A practical guide to keeping wooden cutting boards looking good and lasting longer.

Cutting board sizes and thicknesses guide showing practical dimensions for everyday kitchen boards.

Learn how to choose the right cutting board size and thickness for your project. A practical guide to cutting board dimensions, layout tips, and what works best for everyday kitchen use.

Prep wood for cutting boards by flattening, straightening, and planing rough stock before glue-up.

Learn how to prep wood for cutting boards starting from rough boards or slabs. A practical guide to flattening, straightening, planing, and getting stock ready for a clean glue-up.

Types of cutting boards shown in different styles, patterns, and construction methods on a woodworking bench.

Discover different types of cutting boards and how to make them, from simple beginner builds to more advanced patterned designs. A practical guide to cutting board styles, ideas, and build options for woodworkers.

How to make a wooden chess board step by step — DIY beech and walnut chessboard with clean squares, frame, and finished surface.

Learn how to make a wooden chess board step by step — from milling and glue-up to cutting clean squares, sanding flat, and applying a smooth finish that makes the pattern pop.

Best wood finishes for cutting boards — food-safe oils and wax for protection, grain pop, and easy cutting board maintenance.

A good finish makes a cutting board look better, feel smoother, and handle daily use without drying out or soaking up water. In this guide I’ll cover the best food-safe finishes for cutting boards (oil, oil + wax blends, and simple mineral oil), how I apply them in my shop, and how often you actually need to reapply to keep your boards looking great.

How to add handles to a cutting board — underside finger grip and side finger groove handles routed with a router for a clean professional finish.

Handles make a cutting board much easier (and more comfortable) to pick up — especially bigger boards. In this guide, I’ll show the handle styles I use most (cutouts, finger grips, and side slots), which router bits work best, and how to route them cleanly without tear-out or burn marks.

Edge profiles for cutting boards — chamfer vs roundover, how to round edges with a router for a clean professional finish.

Roundover and chamfer are two of the best edge profiles for cutting boards — simple to make and they instantly give a board a more professional look. In this guide, I’ll compare roundover vs chamfer, show which router bits work best for each, and share practical tips for clean edges (tear-out prevention, burn mark fixes, and a quick sanding finish).