I have a customer requesting a bread board that measures 30″x22″. I’ve made several in the past, including myself, but have always used hard maple(flat sawn).
Shape is classic, with 2″ lip on each end, creating a stop against a counter top as well as a back to catch flour and the like.
My concern is that the customer is requesting a ‘dark wood’, i.e. Walnut. This I feel will create a ‘white patina’ over time. My flat sawn hard maple has evidence of flour impregnated in it’s surface, I can only imagine what Walnut might look like after some use.
She wants it dark so as to match her cabinets, when plans to use it to cover her cooktop area, which when not being used as a bread board: i.e. acts as an additional ‘counter’ space and/or cooktop protector.
Needs to be food safe so I’m not sure grain filler is appropriate, but perhaps just loading it up with Walnut oil, or equivalent might be best option?
I’d appreciate any inputs.
BTW: I don’t think I can convince her that Maple is best option 🙂
Replies
If the lips are up & down she can always put the bread side down when covering up the grates. Give her your reasoning and caution her to only use one side for bread. After that, take her money.
If you wanted to get fancy you could carve the word "Bread" or some baker-ish image into the backer that faces her when making dough. It will probably infill with flour over time and look pretty good.
good call. I think it will be evident over time, but giving a heads-up couldn't hurt.
I would warn her of the concern for sure.
Also, double or triple-time maintenance should be suggested with the board oil/cream.
Could you offer a darker wood that's not walnut but dense and hard with the tight pores of hard maple?
Granadillo comes to mind; although not the same color, it is darker and warm like walnut and should still match her aesthetic.
Basically, any Rosewood or Ebony species would fit the bill. I like E. Indian rosewood a lot, too.
Of course, you'd have to charge more—just another option for her.
If its not going to be used to cut it could perfectly match her cabinets that are likely varnished. Low maintenance, just wipe it with a damp cloth and immune to spills and watermarks.
Are you suggesting to finish one side? I could use waterlox on one side to seal it. She could use that as her cook-top cover-up, while the other side I'd use walnut oil, and/or mineral oil/beeswax.