Born-Again Boards

06/10/2018

Here's a table I built for a customer who wanted a narrow display board and table in a hallway. A Christmas present to himself! He also wanted something using live-edged wood and a curly board, not being worried about how "busy" such wood can be. Doesn't work for all people but for those who love old growth redwood in its many forms, such furniture pieces are welcome additions to their homes. My supplies of such wood are limited, but I still have enough for a few more projects. Contact me with ideas if you are interested.

02/26/2018

Cutting Board Finishes

The cutting boards I make have a combination of mineral oil and organic bees’ wax as a finish. I melt the wax with the oil and then hand rub the material into the wood. The result is a satin shine that lasts awhile, depending on how you take care of the boards. So the surfaces are non-toxic and easy to refinish. Remember to clean and oil your board occasionally to insure good health and long life for the board. To do that, note the information below about cleaning.

Cutting Board Cleaning

(Information below taken shamelessly from the Food Network)
Got a stinky board? Keep a spray bottle filled with white vinegar and spritz your cutting board whenever it needs to be refreshed (a squeeze of lemon works well here too). The vinegar neutralizes odors and works as an all-natural disinfectant.
Dry the board completely and sprinkle it with a good bit of salt or baking soda. Scrub out the stain using a sponge or a brush dipped into hot water. Or, for extra stain-lifting power, use a half of a lemon to do the scrubbing — the acid gives the abrasive baking soda or salt extra oomph.
Pour the hydrogen peroxide over the board and distribute it all over the board with a clean sponge. Let it stand for a few minutes as it fizzes and kills germs, and then wipe it off with the clean sponge.
Studies show that a prewash rinse eliminates enough bacteria so that levels are generally safe — but be sure your other dishes aren't in the splash zone (especially if you've been working with raw meat), or you might contaminate them. And resist the urge to plunge the board into your basin of soapy water. Pathogens will transfer to the water, so you won't be able to use it to clean anything else. Plus, since wood is porous, dunking a board could cause it to split and warp.
An occasional extra-deep cleaning is a good idea, particularly after working with raw meat, fish or poultry. Add 1 teaspoon bleach to 1 quart water and spread the solution over the board (you don't want to fully submerge the board, but you might place it in a basin to help contain the liquid). Let stand for a few minutes before rinsing with hot water.

02/05/2018

Here are a few examples of the cutting boards I have made. I use as many local hardwoods as I can, adding a few exotics for contrast and color. I save up scraps from larger jobs and re-use as much of the material as I can. Prices vary according to size and thickness. If you have a special person or project in mind, let me know. These make lasting and useful gifts. Thanks for looking.

01/14/2018

Thanks to everyone who responded to my new page. I am trying to increase my business just a bit to use up my stores of old growth redwood before I get too old!

Born-Again Boards prides itself in preserving and building surfboards from the 20s, 30s, and 40s, along with other hand-crafted wood products.