In the Woodshop today

© Charles Minchew 2014

Chuck Minchew's end-grain cutting boards start something like this....

© Charles Minchew 2014

and, after much finagling, get glued-up, sanded...

© Charles Minchew 2014

and finished with a beautiful, food-safe finish. 

Chuck first cuts wood in a variety of dimensions that he has decided are optimal for these cutting board designs.  For each cutting board, he culls his blocks for ones that will compliment each other, and figures out the best design for those blocks.  He often uses 2 blocks side-by-side in a 'butterflied' match to make a striking pattern.  The woods include oak, maple, cherry, walnut, ash, elm...and maybe some others.  Most of the woods are local.

Father Son ...but not routine

© Darren Powers 2014

Darren Powers (a.k.a. Johnny Glaze) sometimes enlists the help of his son Owen for something completely different.  But even when Darren is in a non-collaborative mode, his pieces are absolutely fabulous.  I'm rather biased, though.  I have 3 pieces already!

© Darren Powers 2014

Pretty and Practical

End-Grain Cutting Board © Charles Minchew 2014

Chuck Minchew's end-grain cutting boards are so beautiful, it's hard to think of taking a knife to them.  But that's the beauty of the end-grain concept: it's nicer to your knives and food safe as well.  This one is made from local woods including elm, cherry, oak, maple and walnut.