This DIY Wood Slice Cutting Board couldn't possibly be easier to make. Learn how to make cutting boards out of wood slices for an easy DIY project.
This blog post originally appeared on The Birch Cottage blog on August 14, 2015. I have updated the instructions to make them more clear.
Last week, I got to spend a day with our soon-to-be 23-year old daughter. We went shopping at IKEA, stopped for lunch and did a little more shopping at a local outlet mall. Did you catch the part where I went to IKEA? I came home with tons of ideas and inspiration and a new cutting board. I love wood cutting boards and when I saw these boards being used everywhere, including on Joanna Gaines' blog, Magnolia, I just knew I had to give it a try!
DIY Wood Slice Cutting Boards
As you can see, the cutting boards are just beautiful. While shopping at IKEA, I also picked up a bottle of Mineral Oil so I could treat not only my new wood cutting board, but also my existing boards. These DIY Wood Slice Cutting Boards are easy to make!
How do you cure wood?
Glad you asked! You simply allow the wood time to complete dry for a period of about 4 weeks. Don't want to wait 4 weeks? Then you can try the speed method. Simply place your slab of wood in a 200 degree oven for about an hour. But, be sure to keep a close eye on the wood if you use the speed method.
Supplies Needed
You simply need an old tree stump, sand paper, some mineral oil and a way (or someone handy) to cut the tree stump into slabs. Once you have your tree stump cut into slabs, you'll want to be sure to allow the slab to completely dry or cure first.
Once the wood is cured, you'll want to sand the slabs. First, sand with coarse (50-grit) sandpaper, then with a finer (120-grit) sandpaper. Wipe off dust with a cloth.
Use a clean cloth to rub mineral oil into the wood slab. Janna says you can wait 20 minutes and then apply another coat. I've always applied the first coat, waited 24-hours and then applied my second coat. You may need to apply three or four coats to properly season the wood. But, trust me, you don't want to skimp on this important step. Once you have applied your final coat of mineral oil, wipe off any excess and buff to a nice shine.
Don't have a tree stump?
No worries! You can purchase pre-sliced and pre-sanded wood slices at your local craft or hobby store. Then you'll just want to be sure to apply the mineral oil to condition the wood.
DIY Wood Slice Cutting Board
This DIY Wood Slice Cutting Board couldn’t possibly be easier to make. Learn how to make cutting boards out of wood slices for an easy DIY project.
Materials
- an old tree stump
- sand paper
- mineral oil
Tools
- saw
- orbital sander
Instructions
- You can use a tree stump or purchase wood slices from your favorite hardware store. Use a saw to slice the stump into a 1-½ to 2" piece.
- Once you have your tree stump cut into slabs, you'll want to be sure to allow the slab to completely dry or cure first.
- Sand your wood slice until the surface is smooth. Start with a heavy grit and move to a smooth grit sand paper.
- Once the wood slice is sanded smooth, dust off and apply mineral oil in a thin coat. Allow to dry (follow the directions on the bottle) and apply a second coat.
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Love, love, love this idea and hope you do too!
More DIY Ideas
If you liked this DIY Wood Slice Cutting Board project, you might also like these DIY projects from The Birch Cottage:
- Easy DIY Pinecone Fire Starters
- DIY Rustic Wood Framed Christmas Ornaments
- DIY Painter's Pyramid Stands
Til next time...
Be sure to pin this project to your favorite Pinterest board to save it for later or share it with family and friends.
Karen says
Hi Pam, this looks so lovely. I want to do the same thing for center pieces for my daughters wedding. Can you tell me if you seal the bark as well? Do you worry about the bark coming away as they dry out?
Pamela Bennett says
Hi, Karen. When I applied the mineral oil to the cutting board, I did not apply it to the bark. Some of the bark may inevitably break away over time, but I haven't had that happen yet. These would make lovely centerpieces. The key, I think, is to make sure you take the time to dry the wood and then be sure to use multiple coats of mineral oil. When I seal my boards, I used small amounts of oil, with at least 2-4 hours of dry time between each coat. Some pieces may be a little thirstier than others (you'll see what I mean) and may require more coats. I would say plan on about 4-6 coats.
LZ Cathcart@ The Summery Umbrella says
Oh wow, Pam! I love this idea! Plus, it's functional AND pretty. Win-win for everybody 🙂
Pamela Bennett says
Thanks! I love the idea, too. It's one of those things that makes you wonder why you hadn't thought of it sooner! A definite win-win!
Kerryanne @ Shabby Art Boutique says
This is such a fun project Pam and a great tutorial too. Thank you for sharing it at Shabbilicious Friday. I'm delighted to be featuring it at tomorrow's party. Hugs ~ Kerryanne
Pamela Bennett says
Kerryanne, thanks so much for the feature!! Big hugs back at ya!
Carolyn Dorman says
What kind of wood do you use?
Pamela Baker says
This was a slice of pine. You could use just about any kind of wood.