cutting boards

[Ajcoholic]

I have been fooling with some different design cutting boards, that have become very easy to do now that I have a cnc router.

The first of course was one of the first things I cut, the circular board with tilted surface.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0795.jpg

On the same lines, I did these up in Aspire, hope to cut this week. 16" square boards, one has the surface sloped from one side to the other. The other version has the slope from one corner to the opposite.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/squaretiltboard.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/45tiltboard.jpg

And finally, some friends of mine were in California, at a winery last year. The wine and cheese was served on these neat boards, where the board also acted as a holder for your wine glass, as well as a small cheese tray. So one can walk a round, eat, and not have to put your glass down.

I did this up last night on Aspire, and will cut it this week. The board is 12" by 9", 3/4" thick with the recessed portion 3/8" deep. There is a rounded recess for the glass 3" diameter which goes down to 1/4" and a 3/4" wide slot for the glass stem.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/wineandcheesetray.jpg

AJC

[myxpykalix]

Andrew,
I like the idea of the wine glass holder with the cheese tray but getting the tape measure out and trying to visualize that, especially compared to the size of a hand, my thought was that a tray 12"x8"X3/4" would be way too large and heavy.
You say you cut one out, have you tried putting a wine glass in and cheese and crackers to see preportionally if that is a good size, weight for this?
I had a woodworker friend who made something similar (just a round tray) about 6", i think he called them "Trivits"? I do recall that they were wood and either 1/4" or 3/8" thickness:confused:

My thought was that it would be better at maybe 6"or 7" and maybe about 3/8" thick? I do confess i don't drink, know nothing about wine glasses but do think this is a great idea and a real neat design:D

[knight_toolworks]

the rim can be much thinner and the bottom thinner too and it will still hold up.

[Ajcoholic]

The size is based on their opinions, and a close up photo they took (with their hands in it for reference).

I have not yet cut one (said in my original post I hope to later this week) but it will be easy to change the size if it is indeed too heavy/big etc.

The nice thing about this type of thing is the drawing took me about 15 minutes to do, and it will be faster to change if need be. If I had to make this the traditional way, with jigs/patterns etc it would mean a totally new one every time.

On the above file, the outer rim is only 1/2" wide, and most of the board will be down to 3/8" thick - that will be very light weight. The overall size might be big, but, I will leave that for the customer to decide. They seem to think it will be like the one they saw on their trip.

Here is the original... I think it should be more like 10" by 7" (2" smaller each axis).

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/tastingplatter.jpg

[Ajcoholic]

I redid the file tonight for a 10" by 7" size, and also put three together so I could cut three at a time (one tool change from .5 ball nose to .5 end mill)

I am currently having a small renovation on my shop to add another room, which will house my new Buddy. Should be done later this week (or early next week by the time the lighting is put up, etc).

I am also waiting for some new end mills.

As soon as I get something cut, will be back to post pics! :)

AJC

[myxpykalix]

Based on this picture that looks like a good size for the wine glass holder. I like your cutting boards. You might want to look at "Cutting Board Designer" at http://www.1024studios.com/ and incorporate some of those designs into your unique shapes.:)
Btw...what price do you think something like that wine glass holder should be sold for?

[Ajcoholic]

Based on this picture that looks like a good size for the wine glass holder. I like your cutting boards. You might want to look at "Cutting Board Designer" at http://www.1024studios.com/ and incorporate some of those designs into your unique shapes.:)
Btw...what price do you think something like that wine glass holder should be sold for?

Based upon cutting three at a time, in hard maple (which I will prepare from rough lumber) and sanding the outer edge after I trim the tabs, and probably put a 1/8" R on the top and bottom edges, and put a food safe oil on... about $15 to $20 per unit, based again upon quantity. For my friends who want 12 to 14 units, I would think I could do them for $15/pc. If someone wanted, say 4 - would be closer to $20.

My shop rate is $60/hr. I am also trying to charge out the cnc time at $60/hr.

Stuff like this I would run while I am working on other projects - so it really doesnt take a lot of time. Just to initiate the program, and swap tools, etc. I am already thinking of ways to fixture the workpieces, to swap out many blanks using one tool, then reposition the workpieces to use tool #2, etc. I am pretty good at working out the most efficient way to do things... thankfully based on my experience working in the shop.

I am always thinking of how to add smaller, but profitable items to my work. Although my main source of income is custom furniture, cabinets and millwork - anything made from wood, that can bring me $60/hr is fair game. Keeps my days very fun and interesting!

ALso, I have a summer helper starting at the end of April (university student home for the summer) and I am keen to have things he can work on, such as these types of things. WHen I dont have him sanding, etc.

AJC

[gundog]

Those look great!! If you get creative with the shapes you can separate yourself from other stuff that is available if you are going to sell them for example a fish, rooster, football, maybe a golf theme Etc. A catchers mit with baseball and a couple crossed bats might be cool.

[kern]

Andrew,

Last summer at AWFS, one of the CNC companies gave away free samples of a wine / cheese holder that they were cutting on site. It had a thumb hole in it to help hold it. My kids have them now and if you would like, I get one of my kids to take a picture of it.

I like your your circular cutting board with the tilt. What is the thickness of the cutting board? Kern

[Ajcoholic]

Andrew,

Last summer at AWFS, one of the CNC companies gave away free samples of a wine / cheese holder that they were cutting on site. It had a thumb hole in it to help hold it. My kids have them now and if you would like, I get one of my kids to take a picture of it.

I like your your circular cutting board with the tilt. What is the thickness of the cutting board? Kern

Sure I'd love to see a photo. Always interested in other's ideas!

I generally make these from whatever I can clear from 8/4 stock, which is generally 1 3/4". Makes a nice, heavy board.

WHen I do larger boards without a carve I generally use 6/4 stock and end up with 1 1/4" thickness.

AJC

[Ajcoholic]

Andrew,

Last summer at AWFS,...

Hey, I was there! Just for one afternoon though. My wife and I went to Las Vegas to use up some flight points we had to use before August. Since my time was tight, I spent most of it at the Shopbot display talking to the guy there, and seeing how the software was... Then took a quick run through the rest of the show. Wish I could have went for at least a whole day, but we had our baby son with us and the baby sitting service at the 4 seasons was $40/hr.... half a day was all I was going to get!

AJC

[michael_schwartz]

They sell a similar wine and cheese holder made by JK Adams at Bed Bath and Beyond. From what I recall they were not expensive. I have had one for a couple of months that I have been meaning to study, but I have been too busy.

[Ajcoholic]

They sell a similar wine and cheese holder made by JK Adams at Bed Bath and Beyond. From what I recall they were not expensive. I have had one for a couple of months that I have been meaning to study, but I have been too busy.

A search on yahoo indeed showed the JK Adams tray just like the one my friends took a photo of!

http://www.dinnerwaredepot.com/shop/catalog/handler~event~familySelected~pf_id~10304.htm

The sell for $52 US for a set of 4. So, my price of $15 (Canadian) each would be in line, once postage is factored in (and probably a lot less when you figure exchange, brokerage fee, etc). At least here for any local buyers.

AJC

PS they list the sixe as 9" by 6"... so my 10" by 7" should be as big as you'd want to go...

[michael_schwartz]

The relief of the tray portion showed tool marks from a 100% step over and a spindle that was possibly not square to the table, or at least that was my first impression when I first looked at them. Otherwise they are reasonably well made, but it wouldn't be hard to make them nicer.

$15.00 CDN is reasonable. They should sell at that price.

If I get around to playing with the idea, I want to redesign them and make my own version.

[Ajcoholic]

Before the end of the day today, I managed a few minuted to test cut the cheese & wine platter.

It cut really well, unfortunately I wanted to test cut the 10" by 7" version, but I ran the 12" by 9" one. Surprisingly, it wasn't as big and bulky as expected. Would be good for a BBQ or other function where you might need a little more space on the plate, so to speak :)

Tomorrow I will run the smaller one, and post pics.

Also, I got in today my Onsrud spiral ball end bits. The 1/2" cuts really well. I also got a 5/8" diam extended length to run the larger boards. That is a serious chunk of carbide!

AJC

[Ajcoholic]

Here is one of the angled square ones. I will true up the outside on the saw vs using the cnc.

The Onsrud 5/8" carbide spiral ball end bit is awesome!

AJC

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0855.jpg

[myxpykalix]

Nice Andrew!:D What i like is on most cutting boards the crumbs just fall off the sides but this gives the crumbs a place to stop and you have a place to brace the bread against (the lip) good job:)

[Ajcoholic]

Before the end of the day today, I managed a few minuted to test cut the cheese & wine platter.

It cut really well, unfortunately I wanted to test cut the 10" by 7" version, but I ran the 12" by 9" one. Surprisingly, it wasn't as big and bulky as expected. Would be good for a BBQ or other function where you might need a little more space on the plate, so to speak :)

Tomorrow I will run the smaller one, and post pics.

Also, I got in today my Onsrud spiral ball end bits. The 1/2" cuts really well. I also got a 5/8" diam extended length to run the larger boards. That is a serious chunk of carbide!

AJC


Well, I ran some of the smaller ones, and they are perfect! Of course forgot to snap a photo before I left work...

AJC

[Ajcoholic]

Here are the three I plan to make... with some oil on them.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0326.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0325.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0327.jpg

AJC

[myxpykalix]

THAT'S SPIFFY!......now there's a word you haven't heard for a while huh?:D

[Ajcoholic]

THAT'S SPIFFY!......now there's a word you haven't heard for a while huh?:D

Aww shucks, Jack, that's swell :)

AJC

[Ajcoholic]

I have been so busy at work, I have been meaning to make a new board for my own kitchen for a while - but only today got to it.

With Aspire, it took me about 2 minutes to create the file while I was eating my lunch. Just drew a rectangle, and set the slope to 4 degrees.

Laminated the blank first thing this morning, and by mid afternoon I warmed up the spindle and cut the board. It is about 21" by 13", 1 3/8" thick.

Cut the sloped portion with my Onsrud 5/8" ball end bit set to 5% stepover, running at 400 ipm. ALmost no sanding needed after the machining.

Coat of Boos block oil and we were using it tonight to make dinner :)

You guys HAVE to try one of these sloped boards... they are the BEST thing to carve any type of meat. I grill/bbq a lot of stuff in the summer, and I use it all the time.

AJC

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0149.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/ajcoholic/IMG_0151-1.jpg

[knight_toolworks]

next time use a flat bit going shallow to deep tool path 20% stepover. much faster and much cleaner. I have done this with bits up to 1.625 as long as the cut does not start with a plunge. as long as you have a simple angle only in one direction a straight bit does a better job.

[Ajcoholic]

next time use a flat bit going shallow to deep tool path 20% stepover. much faster and much cleaner. I have done this with bits up to 1.625 as long as the cut does not start with a plunge. as long as you have a simple angle only in one direction a straight bit does a better job.

How can you cut the slope, with a large diameter flat bottom bit and such a large step over? EVery time it steps over, and drops down a bit, it will leave a step, no?

AJC

PS the cut was very clean, it barely needed to be sanded. And, it took about 20 minutes. If I sped up the Z movement it owuld have gone a lot faster yet... as after each pass it moves up and then back down again, before it started the next linear pass.

[knight_toolworks]

it works great as long as you up and down the slop and not across. you could not use a large bit on this job as you could not get it in the area. but a 1/2" or 3/4" bit would work well.
test it out in preview and see it works great.

[Ajcoholic]

it works great as long as you up and down the slop and not across. you could not use a large bit on this job as you could not get it in the area. but a 1/2" or 3/4" bit would work well.
test it out in preview and see it works great.

OH OK, you have to have the bit travel from one end of the board (in this case) to the other, while making passes up and down the slope... I get it now... Will have to try it sometime.

AJC

[knight_toolworks]

I was doing these large curved pieces for these ski molds. I only had a straight bit tried it out and it saved 3/4 the time. the stepover is so much larger and you don't get the ball nose tool marks. the bit cuts much smoother.

[Ajcoholic]

Well, I always say I learn something new, each and every day!

Thanks Steve!

AJC