Butcher Block Plans

This step by step diy woodworking project is about butcher block plans. This article features detailed instructions for building a basic cutting board for the kitchen. This is the ideal project for a beginner, as it requires common tools and basic carpentry skills. In addition, this butcher block makes for a great gift, as it is pretty handy. Make sure you check the rest of plans to see alternatives and more projects for your garden.

When buying the lumber, you should select the planks with great care, making sure they are straight and without any visible flaws (cracks, knots, twists, decay). Investing in cedar or other weather resistant lumber is a good idea, as it will pay off on the long run. Use a spirit level to plumb and align the components, before inserting the galvanized screws, otherwise the project won’t have a symmetrical look. If you have all the materials and tools required for the project, you could get the job done in about a day. See all my Premium Plans HERE.

Projects made from these plans

Butcher Block Plans

Building a butcher cutting block

Cut & Shopping Lists

• A – 8 pieces of 1×2 lumber – 14″ long SLATS
• B – 7 pieces of 1×2 lumber – 14″ long SLATS

• 2 pieces of 1×2 lumber – 8′ (hard wood)
• 2 piece of 1×2 lumber – 8′ (hard wood)
• wood glue, cutting board oil

Time

 Hammer, Tape measure, Framing square, Level

 Miter saw, Drill machinery, Screwdriver, Sander

 Safety Gloves, Safety Glasses

Tools

 One day

Related

• Indoor bench plans
• Kitchen island plans

Build a butcher cutting board

Clamping the wood block

Cut the slats at the right size (in this example the cutting block will be 14″ long and 12″ wide). As you can see in the plans, you need to alternate the wood type so that you can get a nice pattern. Add glue to the joints and clamp them tightly, after aligning the edges.

You need to use hard wood, as it will need to survive the test of time and knifes. Therefore, choose hard maple, mahogany, hickory, cherry or walnut.

More clamping

To prevent the block from bowing, you need to camp the components from top to bottom. Therefore attach strips of wood to the top and to the bottom of the block and clamp them together tightly. Leave the glue to dry out for several hours.

Butcher block plans

Smooth the surface with 100-220 grit sandpaper to even out the wood and to remove the glue excess. Remove the residues with a damp cloth. Afterwards, you can use a router to round the edges of the butcher block.

Top Tip: Apply a few coats of cutting block oil or mineral oil over the components. Don’t use regular vegetable oil for the cut block. Needless to say that you can adjust the size of the butcher block to suit your needs.

This woodworking project was about butcher cutting block plans free. If you want to see more outdoor plans, check out the rest of our step by step projects and follow the instructions to obtain a professional result.

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