Replies

1. 
   PlaneWood | Nov 13, 2003 11:25pm | #1

   I've made several out of walnut.  I used Titebond II and made then 12" wide so I could clean them up with my 12" planer.  Plain old mineral oil purchased at WalGreen's for the finishing.

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
   PlaneWood

2. 
   TomT226 | Nov 14, 2003 03:47pm | #2

   Rip some strips of hard maple and alternate with the walnut. Looks good. If you're gonna plan'em, be sure to get the grain going the same direction to minimize tearout. Titebond II.

1. 
   ASK | Nov 14, 2003 04:33pm | #3

   Tom

   I have some left over bubinga from a table. Do you think it would be good for a cutting board?

   ASK

1. 
   PlaneWood | Nov 14, 2003 09:32pm | #4

   ASK - any chance some people might be allergic to bubinga?   Isn't it one of the waxy exotics??

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)PlaneWood

1. 
   ASK | Nov 14, 2003 09:47pm | #5

   PlaneWood,

   I, don't know. I've been working with it on weekends for about a month and I haven't had any reaction. Unless you think that the basketball growing out of the top of my head might have something to do with it?

   I didn't realize that bubinga had any toxic substances in it. Are you sure?

   Thanks for the heads up!!!

   ASK

1. 
   PlaneWood | Nov 14, 2003 10:29pm | #6

   ASK -

   No, I really don't know.  Doesn't it come from South America??  Lot of the tropical stuff is oily and waxy.

   About 10% of the population is allergic to the Rosewoods (and I'm one of them).

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)PlaneWood

2. 
   ASK | Nov 14, 2003 11:21pm | #7

   I just checked. It appears to come from Western Africa

   ASK

2. 
   TomT226 | Nov 15, 2003 03:20pm | #8

   Don't really know. I tend to use exotics sparingly in boards, like small contrasting strips.

   'Course, you might make one up out of bubinga, give it to your MIL, and see what happens.... :-)

3. 
   jonsherryl | Nov 16, 2003 03:25pm | #10

   Ask, because the food and cutting board come in contact for only a very short period of time and usually at low temperatures, the transfer of toxin isn't as big an issue as it would be if you were to use a poisonous wood for making food storage containers or utensils (stirring spoons, etc.)...You still run the slight risk of transferring an allergen to someone who might be extremely sensitive to something in the wood's chemistry.

   The odds of this occurring aren't high, but the agony it might inflict begs the question of whether it's worth it just to have a pretty cutting board. Both bubinga and walnut contain some extractives that some people have trouble with...and walnut might be the worst of the two in the sense that reaction to one of its extractives (juglone) is not all that uncommon.

   I love to experiment with different woods, but not when it comes to making food related items (or toys.) It's the one area of woodworking where it's best to stow your creativity and play it safe. Unless you are using a wood purposely for something in it's chemistry (white oak for wine barrels, mesquite or hickory chips for smoking meats, etc...AND you know what you're doing), it's best to stick with woods that are traditionally used in these roles. My personal favorite for cutting boards is maple.    

3. 
   hammer1 | Nov 16, 2003 10:12am | #9

   You don't have to worry. Your cutting boards will most likely be considered art and will never actually get used.