This project was built and designed by Caleb from YouCanMakeThisToo. It’s a functional, good-looking kitchen tool made entirely from hardwood offcuts—a great way to use up scrap material while sharpening your skills.
The design is simple but thoughtful, with strong joinery, smooth shaping, and food-safe finishing techniques. Whether you’re planning to sell your work or just want a useful piece for your kitchen, this build shows how much value can be pulled from leftover wood.
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Selecting the Right Materials
Caleb begins the project by digging through a collection of offcuts from local millwork shops. This not only keeps the cost down but gives each project a unique look thanks to the varied hardwood species.
For this build, he chooses cherry, maple, and purpleheart. Each of these woods is known for its durability and contrasting color, making the final product both strong and visually appealing.
Preparing the Stock
The first step is cutting the raw lumber into shorter, manageable lengths. A miter saw helps make these cuts clean and consistent, which is important for getting a seamless glue-up later.
Each board is then flattened on a jointer and brought to consistent thickness using a planer. This ensures that all the pieces line up during assembly and that the pizza peel will be flat and stable once complete.
To keep track of squareness throughout the milling process, Caleb marks the reference edges. These pencil marks are a small detail that saves time during layout and glue-up.
Designing the Layout
Before gluing anything together, Caleb experiments with different wood arrangements. The goal is to create a balanced and attractive layout using the contrasting tones of cherry, maple, and purpleheart.
This time around, he glues the full blank before resawing it down to thickness. In the past, he had glued thin boards after resawing, but this approach proves more efficient and results in better alignment.
Once the pieces are laid out, he tapes them together edge-to-edge before adding glue. This helps keep everything in place as pressure is applied, preventing gaps or uneven seams.
Assembling the Panel
After glue is applied, the panel is clamped with even pressure across the entire surface. Caleb is careful not to over-tighten the clamps, which could cause bowing—especially since the blank will be resawn later.
Once dry, the panel is flattened again, and then resawn into thinner sheets. These slices will be the two faces of the final pizza peel. A final round of planing and sanding ensures each side is smooth and consistent.
Shaping the Peel
Using a template, Caleb traces the outline of the peel onto the laminated panel. A bandsaw makes quick work of cutting out the shape, with the blade following the curves and angles around the handle.
To refine the curves, an oscillating spindle sander is used to smooth out the edges and give the peel its final profile. A hole is also drilled in the handle for easy hanging—a simple touch that adds real convenience.
The edges are then rounded over using a trim router with a round-over bit. This step enhances comfort during use and gives the peel a polished, finished appearance.
Sanding and Finishing
Before applying finish, the peel is sanded through multiple grits up to 220. Caleb wets the surface between sanding steps to raise the grain, then sands it back down for a smooth, food-safe result.
For the finish, he chooses mineral oil. This penetrating oil is ideal for kitchen tools because it won’t form a brittle surface film or react poorly to heat or moisture. It brings out the natural tones in the wood and adds a soft sheen without making the surface slippery.
Multiple coats are applied and allowed to soak in, resulting in a durable, attractive finish that enhances both beauty and function.
Preparing for a Craft Show
Caleb is producing a batch of these pizza peels for an upcoming craft show, where he’ll also be selling clipboards and other small hardwood goods. This batch process lets him dial in his workflow and see how each variation in wood grain and layout gives the peels a unique look.
He plans to share follow-up details on pricing, time investment, and profit margin after the event. For woodworkers thinking about selling their work, this kind of behind-the-scenes breakdown is especially helpful.
A Useful Shop Project with Sales Potential
Making a pizza peel is a great way to use up scrap wood while creating a product people want and will use. Caleb’s approach blends creativity, efficiency, and attention to detail—all with tools that many woodworkers already have.
The result is a high-quality kitchen tool with a personal touch. Whether you plan to sell them or keep one for yourself, this project is a fun and practical way to spend time in the shop.
Please support Caleb by visiting his website: https://www.ycmt2.com/.