DIY Network

Vegetable Cutting Board From "Ask DIY Anything" episode DADA-213

Standard cutting boards are pretty common, but if you have spent much time in the kitchen, you know that one of the problems using them is getting your cut-up vegetables from the cutting board into your bowl. You need a raised cutting board that is custom-designed to fit snugly around your favorite bowl.

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Vegetable Cutting Board

1. The first step in this project is selecting the bowl which you will use with your new cutting board. Measure the height and diameter of the bowl. These measurements are critical to determine both the height of your cutting board and the diameter of your cut out.

2. For the surface of the cutting board, you can adjust the measurements according to the size of your bowl and perhaps even to the size of your work area. You can also select a variety of woods for the cutting board, including such hardwoods as oak, maple or cherry. Its a good idea to select a board or boards for your top which are at least an inch thick to reduce the possibility of them warping when they are wet.

3. When you are gluing them together be sure to use a waterproof adhesive.

4. After the top has dried and you have sanded it smooth, draw a semicircle on the underside at one end of the cutting board, using the bowl as a guide. Draw a smaller semicircle running parallel to the first. There should be a space of 3/8 inch between the two lines.

5. Saw the wood along the smaller curve using a band saw or saber saw.

6. Using a router, cut a recess into the underside of the cutting board parallel to the saw-out curve.

7. Use a dado blade (or regular blade and chisel) on your table saw to cut a slot for each support in the underside of the cutting board.

8. Glue the supports (precut) into the slots. Clamp and let dry.

9. After it has dried, give it a final sanding with 220 sandpaper, then seal with natural mineral oil.