This project was built and designed by Drew Fisher from Fisher’s Shop. It features three distinct cutting board designs that combine woodworking precision with bold visual impact.
Each board highlights a different three-dimensional illusion, brought to life through creative wood selection and detailed craftsmanship. If you’re looking to expand your skills or take on a small but impressive project, this one is worth checking out.
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Choosing the Materials
For these builds, Drew worked with a variety of exotic and domestic hardwoods. He sourced many of the materials from Bell Forest Products, which offers a wide range of figured species and small craft packs.
Being able to choose wood based on detailed photos and cutoffs helped add variety and contrast to each design. The three projects make excellent use of small, unique pieces to create visually stunning effects.
The Tumbling Block Cutting Board
The first board in the series features a tumbling block pattern. This design creates a cube-like illusion using walnut, cherry, and maple cut into uniform strips.
The strips are turned into parallelograms using a 30-degree miter cut. Once arranged into hexagonal shapes, the pieces self-align, making the glue-up more manageable.
Drew uses rubber bands to clamp the segments during drying, which offers even pressure without shifting. After the glue sets, excess is trimmed with a chisel, and light sanding ensures clean fits between pieces.
A clamping brace holds rows in place while final glue-ups are done. The completed panel is flattened with a planer, squared up, and routed around the edges before receiving a food-safe finish.
The Lattice Cutting Board
The second board in the lineup is a lattice-style design. Cherry is resawn, planed, and ripped into strips for the main body of the board.
Maple is processed in the same way to add a contrasting grid. Purple heart is used for the center squares, giving the project a vivid pop of color.
Each square is assembled in a crisscross pattern, then glued and clamped while ensuring the layout stays square. Once dried, the pieces are cut again, and the pattern is flipped to build up the full lattice effect.
The board is trimmed and flattened after each row is completed. Final sanding and finishing bring out the layered look that makes this board stand out.
The Waffle Cutting Board
The last board Drew builds is a waffle-style layout made from bloodwood, curly maple, and walnut. Small squares are cut and halved, and thin maple strips are prepared for the borders between blocks.
The bloodwood pieces are carefully flattened and dimensioned using a jointer and planer. Each square is notched using a jig to receive walnut strip inlays.
Relief cuts are used to prevent damage while cutting notches. After gluing in the walnut strips, Drew assembles the rows, keeping everything aligned and tight.
Maple strips are added as a final border to complete the look. The entire board is planed and sanded smooth before receiving its protective finish.
Wrapping It Up
Each of these cutting boards shows how creative design can take a simple project to the next level. The visual depth created with careful cuts and wood choices makes every board a showpiece.
From the tumbling block to the waffle design, there’s something for every taste and skill level. These boards make excellent gifts, display pieces, or functional additions to your kitchen.
Want to See the Full Build?
Get Drew’s plans here: https://fishersshoponline.com/plans/p/fishers-waffle-cuttingboard