This project was built and designed by Caleb from YouCanMakeThisToo. It features a custom cutting board and matching cheese knife made entirely from offcuts—showing how small scraps can become a beautiful and functional kitchen set.
Using a mix of curly maple, purple heart, and walnut, Caleb demonstrates how to combine aesthetics with practicality. The build covers everything from surface prep to fine finishing and even turning a knife handle on the lathe.
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Choosing and Preparing the Wood
Caleb begins the project by selecting hardwood offcuts with strong visual contrast and tight grain. Maple, purple heart, and walnut are ideal for this kind of build because they offer both beauty and strength.
Getting a clean edge on each board is the first task. While a jointer is helpful, Caleb also shares workarounds—like using a long level as a straightedge or building sleds for the table saw. The main objective is to get straight, smooth edges that will glue up tightly.
Once the boards are squared, they’re ripped into uniform strips. Attention is paid to the grain direction to prevent tear-out and ensure a cleaner surface when planing later.
Laminating the Cutting Board
The wood strips are arranged in a visually appealing pattern before glue-up. A good adhesive spread and steady clamping pressure are essential to form a strong bond.
Once clamped, the board is left to dry thoroughly. Caleb stresses the importance of letting the glue cure fully before any further shaping or planing to avoid movement or separation during later stages.
Flattening and Finishing the Board
After the glue-up is dry, the cutting board is jointed and planed to achieve a smooth, even surface. Caleb advises caution when running uneven pieces through a jointer—only one flat face should be used to avoid shifting or catching.
Once the surface is planed, a block plane is used to chamfer the edges. This small detail adds a clean, comfortable feel to the finished board.
Sanding is done in stages, starting with a coarse grit and progressing to finer levels. Each pass helps refine the surface and eliminate scratches, with a final grit chosen based on feel and desired sheen.
Surface Prep and Food-Safe Finish
To prepare the surface for finishing, the board is lightly misted with water to raise the grain. After it dries, a final sanding pass removes the raised fibers, creating a smooth surface that stays that way even after washing.
Caleb uses mineral oil as the finish, rubbing it into the surface and letting it absorb before wiping off the excess. This enhances the color and grain while offering easy maintenance later on. Mineral oil is especially good for cutting boards since it’s food-safe and can be reapplied regularly.
Building the Knife Handle
Using more offcuts from the board, Caleb creates a blank for the cheese knife handle. The goal is to keep the color and material consistent between the board and knife for a cohesive look.
The offcuts are glued together to form a turning blank. Because the handle will be shaped on the lathe, precise alignment isn’t necessary at this point. Once dry, a hole is drilled through the center to accept the knife kit’s brass tube.
Turning the Handle on the Lathe
The blank is mounted on a mandrel, and the shaping process begins with a roughing gouge. As the handle takes shape, a spindle gouge is used to refine the curves and taper the profile to fit comfortably in the hand.
Sanding is done on the lathe to smooth the surface and achieve final sizing. Caleb carefully blends the curves for both comfort and visual appeal, checking against the kit hardware to ensure proper fit.
Polishing the Handle
A friction polish is used to finish the handle. This type of finish requires light pressure to generate heat during application, which helps set and cure each layer quickly.
Multiple thin coats are applied in sequence. The result is a smooth, glossy surface that protects the wood while showing off the grain and color depth.
Final Assembly
With the handle complete, the brass tube is pressed into the blank. Often, the fit is snug enough to skip additional glue, but a clamp ensures everything stays tight as it sets.
The knife blade is then attached to the handle, completing the build. The end result is a beautiful pairing that looks and feels like a high-end store-bought set—yet it’s made entirely from shop scraps.
A Functional Gift or Personal Shop Project
This matching board and knife set is ideal as a handmade gift or a satisfying addition to your own kitchen. Caleb’s methodical approach makes the process clear and achievable for anyone with basic tools and some time.
Beyond aesthetics, the project also highlights efficient use of materials. Turning scrap into something useful is always rewarding, especially when the result is something you’ll reach for again and again.
Please support Caleb by visiting his website: https://www.ycmt2.com/.