Unplug the wood-burning tool and allow it to cool down completely before storing it away.Īpply a few coats of mineral oil to the board to seal it.
#Burnin board free#
Even though I used only the slanted and leaf tips for this project, feel free to get creative with your designs. I varied the pressure, just to give the leaves a little more interest. Experiment with different pressures – the longer you keep the tip on the board, the darker the mark will be. I laid the leaf tip down on the board, pressing firmly to make the burnt leaf shape. I wanted to use the leaf tip here, to mimic a wreath. Caution: the tool will be very hot – you can either use pliers to switch out the tips or wait for the tool to cool down completely. If you want to change out the tips, use pliers to remove the hot tip and replace it with another. I used the slanted tip and followed the outline of the circle. You may want to practice on a scrap piece of wood before going in for the real thing. I decided to use a ramekin to trace a circle on one side of the board.Ĭarefully touch the wood-burning tool to the board, using your pencil marks as your guide. Screw on the wood-burning tip of your choice onto the wood-burning tool, plug it in, and let it heat up for at least 5 minutes.
A bit of sanding on all sides and this cutting board is ready for burning! The next day, I took the cutting board out of the clamps, then squared off the edges with a miter saw. It was actually because a new episode of The Handmaid’s Tale was on. I left the board in the clamps to dry overnight, just for kicks. And believe me, if I can cut down on any task, that task would be sanding. The flatter it is now, the less you’ll have to sand later. Try to line up the boards as best you can and make sure it’s as flat as you can get it. Glue, clamp, and let the glue dry for at least a couple of hours. Wood with a more open grain, like red oak, are not ideal because the open grain can harbor bacteria and other yucky stuff. Tight-grained, dense hardwood species like maple, walnut, or bamboo are superb choices for making cutting boards. I alternated the hard and curly maple wood and turned them on edge for a thicker board.
I had some scrap wood laying around (isn’t that always the case around here? I mean, it is The House of Wood after all!), so I whipped up a quick cutting board out of some hard and curly maple cutoffs.įirst, use a table saw to rip the boards to the same width (about an inch and a half), then lay them out in a pattern. (You know which route I chose.) I picked up a Walnut Hollow Creative Versa-Tool Kit from JOANN. You can either buy or make a cutting board. Unfinished cutting board (or you can make your own, like I did).This DIY wood-burned cutting board is not only great for Mother’s Day, but it’s the perfect gift for the hostess, new homeowner, or foodie in your life.
Mother’s Day is fast approaching, so let’s make a DIY wood-burned cutting board for your favorite lady! May has been an exciting month already with the official launch of Spruc’d and now, I have more good news to share: I’ve signed on as a Brand Ambassador for JOANN this year! Lots of fun and crafty projects to come! Speaking of projects, I have a simple but beautiful DIY to share with you today.