WIP: Rooster chopping board

[oges]

SWMBO has a liking for Roosters and they pretty much dominate the kitchen, dinning room and lounge in various ways. About the only thing that doesnt have a rooster theme is the chopping board, hopefully I will have that sorted out soon.

I found this pattern on a stained glass window pattern site

What I intend to do is use a pine board and cut the individual pieces from that, round over the edges and put the pieces back together. Not sure if I will leave pieces their natural colour or use the Ubeaut timber stains I have had for years but havent used yet.

I will then put a frame around the piece a bit higher than the rooster part so that I can put a piece of glass on top to protect it from cuts.

Should I leave the timber natural or stain?
Will pine take the timber dyes ok?

[RufflyRustic]

HI Oges

Pine will take UBeaut's water dyes without a problem, though naturally, try for the best piece of pine you can, ie dry, no knots or dead holes or yellow sappy bits (yes I'm thinking about some bunnies pine that ruined a project of mine once)

cheers
Wendy

[Dave50]

that would look amazing in an assortment of colored timbers, nothing spectacular or exotic but just a mix of meranti (you can get different tonings in that) maybe Jarrah, a bit of gum, that sort of thing, this started off as a "chopping board" it's all baltic pine with a little jarrah inlay! from our home renovation

[RufflyRustic]

Just remembered this thread from a while ago. You may find it just the ticket, then again, I might not be telling you anything you don't already know.

cheers
Wendy

[Buzza]

A good idea there Oges. I know very litte except that cedar is good for chopping boards and food areas, as it supposedly is a natural germ killer. The butcher shop blocks were made from this timber. The surface area must be perfectly flat with no cracks or areas that allow germs to gather. I like rooster deco meself.

[artme]

'Twill be interesting to see the finished item Oges!

[Red Gum]

Over the years I have read quite a few articles on wood V synthetic cutting boards. It seems the general feeling is that synthetic can be washed and cleaned far beter than wood.

The information I have read quite clearly states that wood is the safest material for a cutting board. (I havn't seen anything that recomends any particular type of wood.) The claims are that wood naturaly destroys bacteia. As for synthetic in it's use, small cuts occur and small fragments stick up giving a hairy apearance. These collect bacteria and unless they are cleaned very well bacteria will catch, collect and so be come a health problem.

As already stated all the butcher shops used wood as in a tree stump for their choping blocks. The chop was made down into the end grain. After the day the block would be cleaned and covered with flower ready for the next day. (Another natural product)

I don't think there has been any distasters as areasult of using wood as a cutting board or choping block. But like so many things these days man seems to think he knows best.

For me I will stick to natural materials in my life as much as possible

Red Gum ( even my code name)

[Buzza]

We have a slightly checkered surfaced glass chopping board with bananas printed onto it. I often feel that I may get ground glass in my meals. Seeing as I am now settling into my new home, I must look into a new Scroll Saw and a homespun chopping board.

[Manuka Jock]

SWMBO has a liking for Roosters and they pretty much dominate the kitchen, dinning room and lounge in various ways. About the only thing that doesnt have a rooster theme is the chopping board, hopefully I will have that sorted out soon.

Brett ,
seems like you need balance things up a bit by doing some shopping here Happy Hens , Dunedin

[oges]

Brett ,
seems like you need balance things up a bit by doing some shopping here Happy Hens , Dunedin

haha thanks Jock, she is from NZ too .. I might get in trouble if she found out I bought something from the south island though lol

[Manuka Jock]

haha thanks Jock, she is from NZ too .. I might get in trouble if she found out I bought something from the south island though lol

Ah , another Pig Islander who feels shame about not coming from the Mainland huh

[Cruzi]

..... I know very little except that cedar is good for chopping boards and food areas, as it supposedly is a natural germ killer. The butcher shop blocks were made from this timber. The surface area must be perfectly flat with no cracks or areas that allow germs to gather.

Actually Australian Red Cedar is amongst the worst timbers for cutting boards, low anti-bacterial activity and large open pores mean that it is basically the worst choice for food preparation. Butchers blocks were not made from Red Cedar but harder timbers like Spotted gum and Turpentine.
Living in one of the largest Australian Red Cedar logged areas in Australia and not one single butcher here has an ARC block, one's that have been asked have never heard of them either.

Close grained timbers are best, the US is very big on Pine and Rock Maple, here in Australia Camphor Laurel has been found to be a very, very good anti-bacteria food preparation surface.

Would suggest that the OP look at using food colouring for the timber.

[Buzza]

Cruzi, I should have been more exact. I meant the Cedars of Lebanon. Butcher blocks were from imported cedar I believe. Thanks for the info on WRC though.