Behind the Scenes at Makin Sawdust: Crafting Unique Wooden Boards
My husband, Brian, is continually busy making and creating new cutting boards (https://www.makinsawdustqc.com/shop) in his workshop. As his wife, I thought I could help by sharing some interesting happenings from his shop. Whenever I ask, "What are you making?" He responds, "Just makin' sawdust." That's when I have to go and investigate.
Currently, Brian is working on his wave rainbow boards. These have become one of his best sellers at craft shows. He's increasing his inventory for an upcoming event – The Peoria Fine Art Fair
in Peoria, IL, (https://www.peoriaartguild.org/fine-art-fair-event-info)
scheduled for Saturday, September 28 (10-5) and Sunday, September 29 (10-4).
To craft these unique boards (www.makinsawdustqc.com/shop/charcuterie-board) , Brian uses about seven different types of wood:
Maple
Yellow heart
Padauk
Purple heart
Cherry
Walnut
Wenge
The process begins with cutting the wood to 1/8" thickness using his bandsaw. Then comes the meticulous work of sanding and gluing. Brian ingeniously created his own jig to form or bend the thin boards, creating a soft "S" curve. He glues half of the boards first, then joins the other half. Attempting to glue all 49 pieces at once would be quite challenging!
After the gluing process, Brian continues with:
Multiple rounds of sanding (80, 150, 220, & 320 grit)
Trimming
Branding his name
Finishing with food-safe wax (this is where I lend a hand!)
The finished board measures approximately 6.5" x 23", perfect for serving and displaying.
P.S. Brian recently finished teaching another end grain cutting board class (https://www.facebook.com/events/396732426753189?ref=newsfeed) at Sound Foundation Woodworking Academy in Milan, IL. (SFWAQC.COM) We're hoping to see more classes in the future!
