This week’s project, or more accurately projects, come from four young skilled craftsmen: (from left to right) Jordon, Joe, Sheldon, and Stephen. The picture was submitted by their shop teacher, Jarred. Now I get quite a few emails from shop teachers who use our videos in their classes, and each and every story warms my heart. But this is the first time someone actually sent a picture. I thought it was so cool and that these guys did such a great job, that I would post it as our Project of the Week. I know I may have presented the end grain cutting board as a “great beginners project”, but those of you who have made one will agree with me that it is by no means easy. It’s a testament to Jarred’s teaching ability and the personal skill of each one of the guys that their boards look as good as they do!
Here’s what Jarred had to say:
I teach a shop class in rural Wisconsin, and took the initiative to introduce the boys to The Wood Whisperer (someone younger and cooler than me). I walked them through the cutting board project, but showing them your videos. Every time I fired up the laptop they would in unison say, “Let’s get ready to make a cutting board!” Anyway, here’s a picture of a few of them and their cutting boards: combinations of walnut, maple, and purpleheart. The boys had fun with the project and gave the cutting boards as gifts for Mother’s Day.
nice! its always great to see kids using their hands and making things in the shop!
Thanks for choosing this as the “Project of the Week”. Many schools are cutting shop classes from their curriculum. We need to reverse the trend. And, I’m sorry Marc, but there is NO WAY you are cooler than a shop teacher:D
Cool! Looks better than the first one I made, that’s for sure. :) I wish we could have had a shop class in school where we could actually build something useful.
On a side not, I’m actually sort of relieved to hear that someone of actual skill believes that the end grain cutting board is NOT an easy project – at least to produce one of high quality. I’ve settled for my so-so results simply because they are for me or family members and they are going to get all scratched up anyway. I’d say that 1 out of 3 that I’ve made come out really good. Glue up is always tricky for me on these. I’d like to make some to sell but I have some ways to go in the the skill department first. Wouldn’t hurt to have a nice drum sander also.
Very cool.
One of my first projects was a end grain cutting board. It recently suffered a split. I always thought that i would have a problem because the first part of the glue-up i forgot to use titebond III (used II). So i am really have been waiting for this to happen. However, it didn’t end up happening along a glue line. One of the maple pieces i used split. What do you think would cause this? I had been using mineral oil on it (not religiously though). Think that was the problem?
Congrats to these guys for their work. I made three of these cutting boards for Christmas and they are not easy, at least not for me. I guess I needed a shop teacher coaching me.
What a great idea to use the WW videos to introduce these teenagers to woodworking!
A high school shop class is where I was first introduced to the craft. That was over 20 years ago now…wow! My teacher, Mr. Winters, was a huge positive influence in my life. He was in his 50′s in the 80′s, I wonder if he’s still around? I sure would like to thank him for introducing me to the craft that has been such a blessing to me!
Craig
Great work guys! Those are some really nice looking cutting boards. Thank God for great teachers and especially innovative shop teachers!!!
It’s really very unprofessional to edit the readers comments ( someone younger and cooler than me) :-) !
I have now done four of these boards. It still blows me away at how important it is to have your tools “fanatically square” in order to turn-out a good board without a lot of rube-goldberg stuff at the end. I do get good results and my tools are “fanatically square” … but they could be even more square.
That would be my one regret about this video series. I just didn’t express that the project requires absolute precision in the tool setup. Its a great exercise for basic milling, but if your tools are even slightly off, this project has a way of letting you know. :)
You’re dead-on Chester! I was shocked at how much easier it is to complete if you have your TS set-up correctly. I have made several different cuytting boards and all the recipients are shocked at how good they work and how easy to maintain. :)