This project was built and designed by Alex from Bevelish Creations. Using a mix of scrap exotic hardwoods, Alex creates a one-of-a-kind cutting board that combines rich fall colors with practical features like a juice groove.
The build includes techniques like glue-ups, beveling, and jig making, making it a great learning project for woodworkers at any level. It’s also an excellent example of how leftover materials can be turned into something functional and beautiful.
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Selecting and Preparing the Exotic Wood
Alex starts by sorting through his scrap pile of exotic hardwoods, choosing pieces with striking colors and grain. The final lineup includes canary wood, padauk, bubinga, walnut, and zebrawood—each offering a different texture and tone.
Some of the boards are warped or uneven, so the first task is flattening each one using a jointer and planer. This step is essential to ensure the pieces glue together tightly and form a flat, stable surface.
Planning the Layout
With the wood flattened, Alex lays out the pieces to find the best visual arrangement. He plays with contrast and grain orientation to create a fall-inspired look while making sure the pieces flow together naturally.
Not every piece makes the cut—lighter woods like poplar are set aside to keep the board’s color balance warm and rich. Once the layout is finalized, each strip is cut to a uniform width for the glue-up.
Creating a Strong, Seamless Glue-Up
To add visual weight and stability, some thinner boards are laminated together before the full glue-up. This trick makes smaller offcuts feel like thick, continuous pieces in the finished board.
Alex applies waterproof wood glue across each face and clamps the assembly tightly. Once the glue is dry, he uses the planer again to flatten the board and clean up any squeeze-out or unevenness from the clamping process.
Shaping with Beveled Edges
The final board shape is squared on the table saw, and the edges are beveled at 45 degrees for a sleek finish. This simple detail adds both style and comfort, making the board easier to pick up and move.
The bevel also frames the cutting surface visually, helping to draw attention to the natural color and grain variation in the exotic woods.
Making a Simple Jig for the Juice Groove
For the juice groove, Alex builds a quick routing jig using melamine scraps. The jig locks the cutting board in place and guides the router evenly around the edges.
Four strips act as fences to keep the router bit spaced consistently from the edge. Alex notes that pressing the round side of the router base against the fence is key to keeping the groove clean and uniform around corners.
Sanding and Raising the Grain
Sanding starts with coarse grits to remove planer marks and flatten any remaining glue lines. Progressing through finer grits gives the board a smooth finish, but Alex takes it a step further by raising the grain.
After a medium grit sanding, he mists the board with water to lift any loose fibers. Once dry, a final sanding knocks those fibers down, leaving a surface that won’t fuzz up after the first wash.
Applying the Finish
For finish, Alex uses a food-safe blend of mineral oil and beeswax. The oil penetrates deeply, protecting the wood from moisture and helping to bring out the natural color of each species.
Beeswax adds a final layer of protection and gives the surface a subtle sheen. The finish is buffed in and left to absorb, making the board safe and ready for kitchen use.
A Decorative and Functional Final Result
The finished board is bold, colorful, and perfectly suited for everyday kitchen tasks. Thanks to the juice groove and bevels, it’s not just beautiful—it’s practical too.
Alex mentions that the final look was so nice his wife didn’t want to use it at all, instead suggesting it be kept as a display piece. That’s a solid indicator of just how eye-catching the finished product turned out.
Why Try a Cutting Board Project?
Cutting boards like this are excellent projects for all levels of woodworking. They help refine basic techniques like planing, gluing, routing, and finishing—while also offering room for creativity.
They’re also great gift ideas and practical additions to any home. Using scraps means there’s minimal cost, and the results can easily be customized to suit personal style or kitchen decor.
Learn more about this project here: https://www.bevelishcreations.com/projects/exotic-cutting-board/.
Matt’s Take
These are my personal thoughts and tips based on my own experience in the shop. This section is not written, reviewed, or endorsed by the original creator of this project.
Working with exotic hardwoods like this is one of the most rewarding aspects of woodworking. Each species has its own personality — padauk’s vibrant orange, walnut’s rich chocolate tones, and zebrawood’s striking stripes. The key is understanding how these woods behave differently during glue-ups and finishing. Some species can be oily (like teak family woods), which affects glue adhesion, while others are more porous and soak up finish differently.
That routing jig approach is smart for juice grooves. I always recommend taking light passes rather than trying to hog out the groove in one go — exotic hardwoods can be chippy, and a gentle touch keeps the edges clean. When working around corners with a handheld router, maintaining consistent pressure against your fence is crucial for avoiding wobbles or dips in the groove depth.
The grain-raising technique Alex uses is often overlooked but makes a huge difference in the final feel of a cutting board. Water-based finishes and daily washing will raise grain fibers anyway, so addressing it during the build process prevents that fuzzy texture later. For cutting boards that’ll see heavy use, I like to do this step twice — it really locks in that smooth surface.
Food-safe finishes are non-negotiable for cutting boards. Mineral oil and beeswax is a classic combo that’s easy to maintain. Plan on reapplying every few months depending on use, and remind whoever receives the board that regular oiling keeps the wood from drying out and cracking.