It is unlikely that the working space of a kitchen can be imagined as complete without the availability of such a handy accessory as a cutting board, which is used for cutting vegetables and cutting meat. Certain types are made for serving, in order to more conveniently serve hot dishes and dishes to the table.
Species variety of cutting boards
There are many souvenir cutting boards on the market, designed to decorate the walls in the kitchen and dining room. Although the decorative option with the possibility of further use of the accessory is more practical. At the same time, one side of the board is decorated with carving or ornament, the other is left in its original form. This version of a cutting board made of wood with your own hands is easy to do, with minimal carpentry skills.
According to the classic, a cutting board can be square and rectangular, but today on the market there are oval, round, resembling an apple, a fish or other shapes of a board.
For meat boards, it is recommended to take boards made of thick and heavy wood, and for cutting greens and vegetables - small, mobile, characterized by multifunctionality.
Short classification of cutting boards
It is better to complement the kitchen equipment with a complete set of accessories for cutting products. According to the classification, there are such types of boards:
- chopping;
- decorative;
- decoupage;
- carved.
DIY raw materials for making a cutting board from wood
Before you start manufacturing boards, you should decide on the option and choose the raw materials for home production of the product. Wood is not the only option. In addition, silicone, plastic, stone, glass-ceramic products are actively used for their intended purposes.
In order not to look in stores or in the market and save yourself from the additional waste of time, try to make a cutting board out of wood with your own hands and to your taste. Although not all of these options are easy to reproduce on their own, without the presence of special equipment or tools.
Wooden products and their features
Most often, oak, beech or pine cutting surfaces appear on sale. Please note that on such boards it is worth slicing only bread and dry vegetables, as the above wood species are quickly destroyed by exposure to moisture. How to choose the right material for the board, depending on the purpose, read on.
End boards
For cutting meat, endboards are most often used, they are the most popular. On such a board, chops or entrecote are successfully obtained. The board withstands blows with a chop hammer. Oak endboards are particularly durable, and the wood structure dulls the edge of the knives much less, unlike ordinary boards. Below, in the photo, a handmade cutting board made of wood.
Pine, beech birch
Pine, beech, birch planks are a great alternative. The most budget option is a pine board, characterized by ease of processing, but characterized by low hardness. The option made of birch or beech is much better, but this tree species is characterized by excessive hygroscopicity, which negatively affects the structure, and the boards soon deteriorate, becoming unsuitable for further use. You can make a wooden cutting board with your own hands the shape of a circle, a rectangle or cut out the product that you imagine in your imagination.
Bamboo board
Compared to oak or birch, bamboo boards are much cheaper, although they are less popular. In addition to these facts, products differ:
- strength;
- resistance to pressure;
- moisture resistance;
- do not absorb food odors.
With the availability of raw materials, such a kitchen attribute is not difficult to do on your own at home.
Product Care Rules
Such products must not be washed in a dishwasher. It is better to rinse them under the tap, but it is not recommended to soak in the sink. It is recommended to wipe the surface of the board with vinegar essence once every seven days to get rid of germs.
Stone chopping boards
Agree that a stone, granite or marble surface looks spectacular. The marble surface is characterized by bactericidal properties, but does not tolerate too hot objects and exposure to acidic substances on its surface.
A stone kitchen board is indispensable for rolling dough, which is evenly thin.
Product Care Rules
Such products need periodic cleaning from clogging, since stone is the material that should “breathe”. Observing the rules of operation, you will extend the life of a cutting board made of stone, which will already last for a long time.
Plastic kitchen boards
In this case, choose only high-quality plastic products characterized by heat-resistant and moisture-resistant properties. High-quality boards are hygienic and durable.
When planning to make a kitchen board yourself, give preference to a transparent plastic material that does not contain toxic substances.
Product Care Rules
This material is dishwasher safe. After each use, butchering fish or meat, the surface is washed with a liquid dishwashing liquid. In order to disinfect, the board is placed in the microwave for 2 minutes, additionally putting a glass of water in it.
How to make a wooden kitchen board with your own hands
Consider the option of making boards from birch plywood, characterized by practicality and ease of use in the kitchen. Get familiar with home manufacturing technology.
For work, you will need to prepare materials and tools. Before you start manufacturing, prepare a drawing of a cutting board made of wood with your own hands, even if it is simple in form and design.
In the course of work, one cannot do without:
- a pencil;
- template;
- workbench and hacksaw;
- drill;
- drills;
- file;
- vise.
DIY wooden cutting board option:
- Take a 12 mm thick birch board.
- Taking a pencil, carefully mark the contours of the future product on the workpiece using a template.
- Having taken a hacksaw, cut the board along the contour.
- On the surface with an awl, mark a place for the hole and drill it with a drill.
- Clamp the product in a vice and, using a file, clean the surface. Round off the edges a little.
- If desired, the outer surface of the board can be decorated with watercolor paint and varnished.
To protect a wooden board made by yourself from absorbing unpleasant odors, lubricate the tree with half a lemon, then rinse with hot water.
It is not recommended to cut all the products on the same board, therefore, if you succeed, stock up on several chopping boards from a saw cut with your own hands.
Using a short instruction and the recommendations given, you can make a wooden board without putting a lot of effort into it.