48-Hour Home Hacks brings you DIY projects to fit in your weekend schedule. Start your week with a boost when you complete those projects you’ve been putting on hold for a while.

DIY Cutting Board To Go With Your Crown Verity Grill

So you got your grill, but you need your cooking accessories. You can’t be a cook without your kitchen essentials. Time to think about investing on a chef’s knife. Before you go crazy buying kitchen supplies, we want to provide a simple yet elegant solution to one of your cutting needs: make your own cutting board. You can easily build one from a small drop of butcher-block material from a sink cut-out.

This project requires minimal woodworking skills and takes about half a day. It’s a fun project to do on the weekend because it won’t take all of your time, so you can finish on Saturday and have a Sunday barbecue with your new cutting board. So, let’s get to it.

First, what you will need:

Tools

Work gloves
Router with ½” cove bit and ⅜” round over bit
Orbital sander
Steel wool
Jigsaw
400-grit sandpaper
Safety glasses
Earplugs

Materials

Dust mask
Butcher block oil
Butcher block

Step 1

If you've had a previous butcher-block countertop installation, then you probably have the sink cut-out. If not, try to get it from a neighbor or friend.

Once you have your butcher-block material, smooth the perimeter with an orbital sander to remove only blade marks and high spots. Be careful not to reshape the piece.

Step 2

Secure the butcher block to the work surface with padded clamps. Use a ⅜” round over bit to run the bit along the perimeter on both the top and bottom edges. Work slowly, this is not a job for the impatient. You must have absolute care and not work hurriedly.

Now, find the top side of the butcher block so you can work on the bottom side. On the bottom side, draw a mark 4” to 6” wide along the center of each shorter edge. Use a ½” cove bit to remove the length starting at the center of each mark.

Next, use a piece of sandpaper to remove any burned or burnished spots. This is when you smooth out the surface of your cutting board, so we’re almost there.

Step 3

Use steel wool to rub down the entire board in a circular motion. You are smoothing out the wood grain for cooking use. Finally, use a clean cotton towel to apply butcher-block oil according to the label’s instructions. Apply generous amounts of oil so you can have a silky smooth cutting board surface. Once the oil dries, you are done.

Say hello to your new cutting board! Isn’t it exciting to think as you cut your ingredients that you made the cutting board below your knife? Now, fire up your Crown Verity grill and get cooking!

When you finish your cutting board, what will you cook first? Let us know in a comment below.