Cutting boards for kitchens are made of different materials. The most used are made of plastic material, and those of wood that are the most classic.
You have to be very careful in the manufacture, especially of the latter. The reason is that they will be in direct contact with food.
For this reason, we cannot leave them unprotected, since, over time, bacteria of all kinds, harmful to health, would accumulate.
And neither can we apply a varnish, or similar product, normal and current, since it would be just as harmful to our health.
For this reason, throughout this article I will show you how to protect wood and our health at the same time.
In addition, I will also teach you, step by step, how to make a unique, personalized and design cutting board.
Cutting board protection
As I was saying, we cannot apply a treatment with any protective product.
Cedria has a specific product, which is specially formulated for use in direct contact with food. I am referring to the Naturmatt varnish, which meets the requirements of RD 847/2011 and European Regulation No. 10/2011 according to report No. AR-17-JR-021300-01 from EUROFINS.
Naturmatt is a water-based polyurethane resin compound that, once set, offers a vitrified finish.
If you want to have all the information about this innovative product, you can visit the technical sheet at the following link Naturmatt technical sheet.
Some features
However, below I highlight some of its characteristics and virtues.
- As I said before, it is suitable for food contact.
- It has an extra matte finish and does not yellow.
- It reaches an extraordinary chemical resistance, against cleaning products; such as rubbing and abrasion, against cutting with knives and cleaning with a scourer.
- And another characteristic that we must not forget is that it is respectful with the environment.
Throughout this tutorial, we will see the application possibilities, and how they should be carried out.
Video Tutorial to make cutting board
In addition to reading this article, I advise you to watch the video tutorial that I include below, since it can answer many questions.
Materials and tools needed
As in any other DIY project, before starting we must have everything necessary to carry it out. Therefore, we will need:
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Where can I buy any of these items?
All or part of the indicated material can be purchased at hardware stores, large specialized stores, on DIY online pages or, if it is easier and faster, on the Amazon Marketplace.
Whether you want to buy, or just want to take a look at the products, I leave the links below.
Procedure to make cutting board
Well, once we have all the indicated material at hand, let’s start.
1st Step – Making the template
Previously we have to have prepared the cardboard template. In our case, we have made it in the shape of a nice little pig. However, the chosen form is a matter of taste.
If you like ours, you can download it by clicking the download icon above.
The first step will be to transport this template on the plasterboard, which will be the template with which we will work later.
Once outlined with a marker or pencil, we will cut it with the jigsaw to which we will have mounted a blade for wood cuts.
Why do we use this material instead of another? Because plaster is a soft material that is very easy to work with.
Once cut, we go over the entire contour with the sandpaper. The more perfect the template, the more impeccable the wooden board will be. So, we will take as long as it takes to do so.
2nd Step – Trimming the wood
Well, once the template is finished, we put it on the wood and mark with a pencil. But the marking cannot be flush with the template, but leaving a couple of millimeters all around.
Next we will cut out the figure with the jigsaw.
In this step it is not necessary to take much care, since we have left a small margin.
3rd Step – Perfecting the outline
For our cutting board to be perfect and look like it was bought, we have to go over the entire contour with the router.
This is where the drywall template, copy router bit, and of course our Ryobi 18V Cordless Router comes into play.
In order for the pieces to move during routing, we will put three or four pieces of double-sided tape between the cutting board and the plasterboard template. We place them in their place, carefully, and join them.
We fix the assembly with clamps to the workbench and, with the milling machine, we outline the entire figure.
We are making repeated passes, until the copying bearing rolls along the edge of the template.
Comparison before and after.
To make the small hole in the tail, we have to change the cutter. For this, we will use a straight cutter but without a bearing and with a much smaller diameter than the previous one.
We are going to do this hollowing out “freehand”, so we must go very slowly and with great tact.
4th Step – Preparing the cutting board for treatment
Ok, now we have the impeccably contoured cutting board, now we’re going to give it a light sanding.
For this, it is very important not to use steel wool, since it can leave metal residues, which cannot come into contact with food.
Instead we will use abrasive pads. First with medium grain, and then with fine grain.
To finish, we remove the dust generated by sanding with a cloth.
5th Step – Making the blind holes
Before giving the Naturmatt protective product, we have to make three holes. One in front, and two behind. All three will be blind, that is, they will not cross our cutting board from side to side.
The eye
The hole in the front part corresponds to the pig’s eye, and we will do it with a corkscrew bit.
As this type of drill bit does not have a centering point, so that it does not move, we are going to use a piece of previously drilled wood.
As I anticipated before, we will only drill halfway through the wood.
The supports
So that our cutting board is not always in the way, we are going to turn it into a magnetic one.
To do this, we will put two neodymium magnets on its back. In this way, when it is not necessary, we can have it attached to the door or to the side of the refrigerator or any metal appliance.
To do this, we make the two holes. To make the magnets flush, the depth of the holes will have to be equal to the thickness of the magnets.
Next we apply mounting adhesive. We introduce the magnets. And we let it set.
Once the adhesive is dry, we will easily and cleanly remove the excess with a chisel. In this way, we will avoid spreading the adhesive on part of the table.
6th Step – How to apply Naturmatt protection
Well, now we only have to protect our kitchen cutting board. To do this, we will use Naturmatt, an innovative product from Cedria, formulated and approved to come into contact with food.
Product Preparation
Naturmatt is a two component product. However, it can be used in two ways.
Only component A, which is the varnish itself.
Or mixing the two components, if we want extra hardness.
We have done it the latter way.
The percentage of the mixture is 10 parts of component A, for 1 of component B. In order for the mixture to be correct, we have used a kitchen weight.
I remind you that…
The varnishes are never shaken, they are always stirred.
Product Application
Once the components are well mixed, we pour into the tray and apply.
All the edge, which is the most vulnerable part of the wood, we have done with a round brush, so that it soaks well.
For the rest we have used a foam roller.
In case of giving more than one layer, which is advisable, we must take into account some aspects:
- Between layer and layer a soft sanding should be given but, as I told you before, without using steel wool or similar products.
- The minimum time between coats is 2 hours.
- Although after 24 hours it is already dry and could be used, it is advisable to wait a week, since this is the moment when it reaches its maximum hardness.
Finished project
Well, now we have our original cutting board for the kitchen ready to use.
How about?
I would like to know your opinion. So you can leave me a comment if you feel like it.
See you soon!
