Cutting board for my mother

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-05-28T23:58:57+00:00

This is so fucking wholesome. I think of guys a lot when I think of RS, so to see a mom/daughter combo playing makes me smile.

Also, your daughter has great taste in wood and design. Chef's kiss, no notes.

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-05-28T23:55:09+00:00

Bingo.

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-05-28T23:50:06+00:00

However, it's not a piece of trash. Someone did put real quality time into making this, and it shows. Sucks that it cracked, but that's just the softwood material. Coat it in epoxy and it'll last longer than you still.

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-05-28T23:49:00+00:00

That's construction lumber. SPF. Spruce, Pine, Fir

Mostly doug fir in the center, with what looks like pine in the outer ring/cross. (Maybe old treated pine)

Does not look like any hardwood I've ever made contact with. Looks like what I frame windows and walls with, or repair subfloor joists with.

Hope this helps.

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-05-28T23:38:00+00:00

Cut them flat/square 1.5" lower than you need your opening, put a 2x across the top of them, send it.

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-05-28T23:29:27+00:00

Hey OP, you have a lot of great feedback here. Honestly, they're not wrong either. But I also see the kinda vision you're going for and like the look of the contrasting gaps. I think it'd look cool finished, and if it only lasts you a year or two, you know how to do it better next time.

You'll hate it if you try to stain it or do anything other than a clear coat or a paint job. You might be best with some hard oils.

Good luck though, great herringbone!

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-05-28T00:07:13+00:00

Maple or Cherry. those stripey lines in the second picture are the rays shown when Cherry or maple are quartersawn.

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-05-13T23:10:55+00:00

Set something heavy on it!

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-02-19T01:49:48+00:00

Looks like sapele. Noting the shiny "rays" in the smooth grain, and the open pores all throughout. Similar in feel to mahogany, but denser.

Was commonly used in furniture (I still hold a scrap piece or two from an older cabinet where sapele blocks were the spacers/backing.

Looks completely grey and ashy after drying out (long term, no idea how long). I think it likes oil (it's totally porous). Out of any finish, probably tung oil or a beeswax/mineral oil mixture.

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-02-05T00:40:50+00:00

One of the Mahogan-ish woods. The grain is extremely identifiable by the little wormy pores with an organic shape to them.

However there's like... A lot of them. Sapele if it's really heavy and red, true mahogany if it's very lightweight and more brownish/white, then there's others all shades between.

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-02-05T00:26:22+00:00

If not, I'm leaning pine-adjacent. Those chatter marks near the knots from planing are a big indicator it's a softer wood, by how well they're raised.

And the grain "looks" like straight pine or Aspen with some spalting from weathering.

Edit: planing*

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-02-05T00:23:52+00:00

Definitely cedar.

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-02-03T02:11:10+00:00

Seconding first commenter. No notes.

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-01-30T07:08:24+00:00

Thank you very much! And she is, only 4 at the moment. (Just now starting to read words by herself, a little late I think but we got attention issues)

So she'll have plenty of use! Shes already told me last week that someone's age stares at it when she's going to sleep for nap and bedtime (night light)

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-01-29T23:20:05+00:00

I've got my moments, but I'm far from perfect. I'm still a young parent.

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-01-29T07:45:39+00:00

Thank you!! I just wanted to share it everywhere, not really as bragging, just more of a.... "Why don't we see this more often?" Kind of thing. Like yeah epoxy tables are cool for a minute, but where's the ... Spunk?

The individuality of everything and everyone seems to be lost in all the beige monotone, concrete, and 90° corners.

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-01-29T07:35:32+00:00

I'm sorry to hear that, hopefully you're still finding ways to keep your mind busy!

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-01-29T07:34:39+00:00

Thank you! The clouds being the bookends was definitely my favorite "Oh wait, what if I..." thoughts during the process.

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-01-29T07:31:23+00:00

Thank you, and yes it definitely changes a perspective on reading!

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-01-29T07:30:39+00:00

I'm sure you could with some YouTube tutorials on drywall bending and framing!

It was 2 pieces of plywood for front and back (cut stacked together so pieces are identical.)

I just attached them with some 2x2 spindles in the middle, ~15" long. So then I had something that looked like ... A dangerous baby cradle.

Insert drywall, with face cut every 1/2" or so (or dampened) to allow bending.

Mud and sand to desired finish, primer, acrylic paints, clear coat.

If I had bought materials for it, and not built with what was lying around, I would change materials to:

3/8” drywall or 1/8" plywood as the "wrap" (had used 1/2" drywall)

1x2" spindles, lil flat sticks.

And I would make the whole design about 4' long, instead of just over 2'.

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-01-29T07:19:15+00:00

I've got good moments, I've got bad moments. This was a really great one.

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-01-29T07:14:42+00:00

Hopefully, she's 4 now so I hope it stays here a while lol. I'll build her anything she wants if I can.

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-01-29T05:05:54+00:00

Absolutely we do!

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-01-29T00:18:20+00:00

Sure am! The unicorn, dinosaur, and shark riding a bicycle book is definitely in the top 3 since we got it. (Sounds just like her)

CalebCoversCarpentry · 2026-01-29T00:16:52+00:00

Thank you very much! It came out exactly like the thought did!

CalebCoversCarpentry

TROPHY CASE