Cutting Board Live Edge - Black Walnut - How I make it - Black Walnut - Custom Request

This is how I make a live edge cutting board. This was a custom request from a customer who was moving away from plastics in their kitchen and wanted a statement piece in the form of a large wood cutting board.
They selected this black walnut slab and wanted me to form it into their live edge cutting board. They wanted smooth, rounded corners, a juice groove, rubber feet and a natural look. They also wanted to apply their own finish to the board.
Steps:
1) Created the jig required to meet the size requirements of the cutting board for the router sled.
2) Shim the slab of wood to make it stable.
3) Flatten the slab using a router sled. Both sides.
4) Sand with 80 grit and 120 grit
5) Use a router to create the juice grooves. Shallow passes x2.
6) Square up the sides to 90 degrees using table saw.
7) Round over the edges of the cutting board using sandpaper.
8) Sand the juice groove.
9) Sand 220 grit
10) Spray water on the board to pop the grain.
11) Sand 220 grit.
12) Install rubber feet.
13) -Not Shown - finish in cutting board oil - food grade mineral oil, beeswax or natural tung oil.
You can browse my work at my website: www.leafandknot.com
or on Facebook at: www.facebook/leafandknot
I'll upload videos showing my projects and progression through my side-gig of woodworking and running my website/business.

[@nitrousblast1]

Bravo, you’re the first person I’ve seen freehand a juice groove. I don’t think I’m that steady. Nice work. 👏 👏

[@leaf_and_knot]

Appreciate it! Admittedly, this wasn't my finest or smoothest groove. However, customer was happy. I guess the "flaws" add to the natural design, ha!

[@ebell6317]

What finish would you normally do on this? The food grade mineral oil?

[@leaf_and_knot]

Yep, that's what I use. Although I had someone order a board with no finish and they applied tung oil (the 100% natural one). Several tung oils have non-food safe additives. Word of caution there.

[@nitrousblast1]

Great video. Did you have issues with the epoxy staining the wood? Seems like every time I try it the epoxy stains the wood

[@leaf_and_knot]

Hey Brian, I did not. I used no dyes or coloring. I used a very small amount and kept it contained around the cracks in the wood. When I sanded it smooth after drying, there was no staining on the wood.

[@chad534]

Instead of a router why didn't you use a planer?

[@leaf_and_knot]

I would love to use a planer, sadly, I don't own one. It's on my soon to get list.