4.2: Milling and Layout
- Page ID
- 67180
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4.2 Milling and Layout
Before you can shape the cutting board, the rough lumber must be prepared.
The milling skills from Chapter 3 are used to turn rough hardwood into a flat, straight blank that is ready for design and shaping.
Learning Outcomes
After completing this section, you should be able to:
- Inspect a rough board before milling.
- Determine grain direction.
- Mill a board to a usable cutting-board blank.
- Select the best face and orientation for the project.
- Transfer a cutting-board design accurately to the wood.
Select the Board Carefully
Before milling, examine the entire board.
Look for:
- bow, cup, crook, or twist;
- knots;
- checks or splits;
- wane;
- unusual grain;
- color variation; and
- enough usable material for your design.
Also consider the appearance of the board.
A cutting board made from one piece of hardwood gives you an opportunity to use the grain as part of the design. Look at both faces before deciding which side should become the top.
Determine Grain Direction
Before jointing and planing, examine the face grain and end grain.
Use the grain-reading method from Chapter 3 to determine a good starting direction for machining.
Mark the grain direction if that helps you remember how the board should be fed through the jointer and planer.
Mill the Blank
Use the standard lumber-milling sequence as appropriate for your stock.
Your goal is to produce a blank that is:
- flat;
- parallel in thickness;
- straight;
- square enough for accurate layout; and
- within the required finished-thickness range.
Do not remove more material than necessary.
Remember that your final board must finish between 1/2 inch and 7/8 inch thick.
Plan for the Final Shape
The cutting board may be smaller than the rectangular blank you initially mill.
Leave enough material for:
- the outside curves;
- the handle;
- design adjustments; and
- final shaping.
Do not cut away useful material before you are confident about the design.
Choose the Best Face
Once the blank is milled, examine both faces again.
Consider:
- color;
- figure;
- grain pattern;
- small defects;
- sapwood and heartwood;
- and how the grain works with your proposed design.
Mark the face you want to feature.
Develop the Layout
Draw the design directly on the wood only after you have worked through the basic shape.
You may find it useful to:
- Sketch the design on paper.
- Refine the major curves.
- Test the handle size and location.
- Transfer the design to the board.
- Step back and look at the whole form before cutting.
Use light pencil lines so changes can be made easily.
Use Centerlines and Reference Marks
Simple reference marks can make freeform designs more controlled.
A centerline can help you judge:
- balance;
- handle placement;
- curve relationships; and
- overall proportion.
The finished board does not need to be symmetrical, but reference lines can still help you make deliberate decisions.
Lay Out the Handle Opening
The handle should be large enough to use comfortably while leaving enough wood around it for strength.
Before cutting, check:
- its distance from the end of the board;
- the thickness of the material around the opening;
- whether your hand fits comfortably;
- and whether the shape works visually with the outside profile.
Avoid creating thin points or weak areas around the opening.
Check the Design Before Cutting
Before turning on a machine, ask yourself:
- Is this the final shape I want?
- Have I identified which side of the line is waste?
- Is there enough material around the handle?
- Can the shape be cut safely?
- Are the curves smooth and intentional?
- Do I know which machine or tool will make each part of the cut?
When in doubt, ask your instructor before removing material.
Check Yourself
- Why should both faces of the board be examined after milling?
- Why should you leave extra material while developing the design?
- What can a centerline help you evaluate?
- What should you consider when sizing the handle opening?
- Why should the waste side of a layout line be identified before cutting?