Wood Cutting Boards and Chopping Blocks: The Topic

[Paul Bacino]

We had to cut down a walnut tree,  i salvaged a 8" thick by 14 " circular pc and wonder how i can do it?

 

i'm thinking of drying outside , then remove the bark

 

Thoughts  and TIA

 

Doc B

 

[Maison Rustique]

@blue_dolphin Thanks! I hadn't thought of Wayfair either. I've never shopped them, but I am pretty sure I got a discount card in the mail from them at the new place. I'll look to see if I kept it when I get over there today.

 

 

[Rickbern]

On 7/28/2025 at 12:24 PM, Maison Rustique said:

I am looking for a small rolling kitchen island for the new house in order to expand my storage/prep space. It needs to be small and fairly inexpensive. I find no stores in the area that have more than one style in the store to see, so I need to order online. I am going to show my ignorance here. I kept rejecting many that looked good because it said the cutting board top was rubber wood. I thought they meant it was some sort of manufactured fake wood-look thing. I finally Googled it and discovered that it actually is wood and is supposed to be sustainable, etc.

 

My question is, do any of you have experience with a rubber wood cutting board? I don't want to buy it thinking I can use it as a cutting board, only to find that it isn't really a good choice for that purpose.

This one doesn’t roll but it’s pretty sturdy. Also available in a four foot size

 

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/vadholma-kitchen-island-black-oak-40366115/

[Maison Rustique]

I ordered a rolling island yesterday and it will be here next week. Then I have to figure out how I'll wrangle the package 100+ lbs. into the garage until my sis and BIL are here and can put it together for me. I did have a 15% off coupon from Wayfair and used that which paid for their 5 year protection package which will cover replacing various things that might go wrong. So, if the rubber wood top splits or warps, they will replace it free.

[Smithy]

1 hour ago, Maison Rustique said:

I ordered a rolling island yesterday and it will be here next week. Then I have to figure out how I'll wrangle the package 100+ lbs. into the garage until my sis and BIL are here and can put it together for me. I did have a 15% off coupon from Wayfair and used that which paid for their 5 year protection package which will cover replacing various things that might go wrong. So, if the rubber wood top splits or warps, they will replace it free.

 

Post pictures when it's set up! If you have your sense of humor about you, you can also show in-process photos. 😀 (That's probably a bridge too far, I realize.)

[KennethT]

2 hours ago, Maison Rustique said:

I ordered a rolling island yesterday and it will be here next week. Then I have to figure out how I'll wrangle the package 100+ lbs. into the garage until my sis and BIL are here and can put it together for me. I did have a 15% off coupon from Wayfair and used that which paid for their 5 year protection package which will cover replacing various things that might go wrong. So, if the rubber wood top splits or warps, they will replace it free.

Worst comes to worst, you can open the box wherever it is left and take it in piece by piece.  Or if you can pick up one edge, try to get an old towel under there and then you should be able to drag it.

[dscheidt]

On 7/31/2025 at 10:22 AM, Paul Bacino said:

We had to cut down a walnut tree,  i salvaged a 8" thick by 14 " circular pc and wonder how i can do it?

 

i'm thinking of drying outside , then remove the bark

 

Thoughts  and TIA

 

Doc B

 

 

 

wood shrinks along the rings, so the outside will shrink more than the inside, which is why rounds like this are likely to split.   commercially prepared rounds are usually cut from logs that have been dried whole, so there isn't as much stress on them, but they still often check.  There are things people soak them in that are supposed to keep it from happening.  polyethylene glycol is one thing, there's also a commercial product called  pentacryl that is something else.  No experience, but I've heard good things. 

 

 

[Paul Bacino]

5 minutes ago, dscheidt said:

 

 

wood shrinks along the rings, so the outside will shrink more than the inside, which is why rounds like this are likely to split.   commercially prepared rounds are usually cut from logs that have been dried whole, so there isn't as much stress on them, but they still often check.  There are things people soak them in that are supposed to keep it from happening.  polyethylene glycol is one thing, there's also a commercial product called  pentacryl that is something else.  No experience, but I've heard good things. 

 

 

That is what i noticed in my cut logs left in tact, no cracking.  So,Thanks..