DIY Cutting Board | Purple Heart with Canarywood Diamond Cutting Board

This is how I made a cutting board for my wife out of purple heart and canarywood. She's always wanted a board and I finally made her one with a special twist.
Working with wood and power tools is inherently dangerous. Anyone using any of the tools or supplies used in these videos are personally responsible for learning the proper techniques involved, and he or she assumes all risks and accepts complete responsibility for any and all damages and injury of any kind.
Before using any hand or power tool with which you are unfamiliar, consult its operating instructions, and if necessary, seek instruction by a qualified person well versed in its operation and appropriate safety techniques.
Pleasant Woodworks is intended for entertainment purposes only. There are no warranties implied and your results may differ from ours. You should NOT rely solely upon the information and techniques discussed and displayed in these videos. Rather, you should fully research each technique and decide for yourself what is the safest possible work method for you.

[@TheJMBon]

The board looks great. It's so refreshing finding your videos. You're just like me in that we don't have a huge fancy shop (I work out of my garage) and we have to make due with the space we have. Showing your mistakes is as important, if not more so, that your successes as that helps teach others. We learn more from failures than wedo successes. Also, it's absolutely amazing that your wife is right there with you, spending time with you and supporting you. My wife would never do that and if by some miracle she did, she'd be complaining about the dust. One thing I would like to share though is when gluing your boards, sprinkle table salt on the glue. Just old fashioned table salt. Sounds wierd but when you do that and apply even small pressure, the salt grains dig into the wood and prevent you glue joint from sliding while the glue is drying. The fact that it has imperfections isn't a drawback, its a strength. It gives the board character and shows that the board was handmade and not mass produced in some cheap factory somewhere. It has heart and soul.

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

I greatly appreciate your comment. I’ll be sure to show my wife. And I e been getting suggestions about the salt. I’ll have to try that out. Just not sure how much is needed/necessary. Thank you again.

[@newklear2k]

I'm gonna come out and say it: creators under a few thousand subs are making easily the best content on the platform.

[@newklear2k]

That said, I know it's boring but I've gotta implore you to not wear your rings while you work (nice as they are), especially seeings you're doing other PPE practices. Seeing people degloved is not fun, especially knowing how easy it happens.

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

I appreciate your comment thank you. I’ve never considered the ring thing until recently. lol I’ll have to explain it to the wife.

[@aaronblackford981]

Your wife deserved that cutting board and more if you took over her parking space in that double size garage. At least imo. And beautiful cutting board. First time watching. So don’t know any story.

[@theocdogg]

The Woodworker's Shuffle. The dance you do when you dont remember where you left that tool.

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

lol exactly. Thanks for commenting.

[@steaminbeeman9]

what a cool idea using the unique patterns in the wood to create a pattern. first ive seen where someone does this. awesome idea!!! love the finish product.

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Thank you. I appreciate it. Solid walnut looks great like that too. I may do a video of it.

[@steveownby8056]

Great Job! Good to see someone who is down to earth.

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Thank you.

[@WoodShopStop]

Nice job, I really like the choice of lumber. Nice shop!

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Thank you for the compliment. I’ve since renovated the shop and decluttered a bit. Still more to do. I’ll show the progress in my next video.

[@cesuich]

Wow! It's one of the prettiest boards I've seen. Terrific outcome! I love how you show the Oops moments and how you overcame them so beautifully.

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Thank you for the compliment. I try my best.

[@moldyzucchinis3251]

you’re incredible man glad I found the channel

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

I appreciate that and welcome!

[@chuckfalgout9596]

Great looking board! Glad to see you back, too. More than once I thought about riding over to Ocean Springs to check on you.

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Yea. Life’s been busy. About to start another video this week.

[@collegeguy14]

You killed it man! Looks awesome. Cool to make a great gift for those you love.

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

I appreciate it.

[@findthecourage]

Dude, you are definitely at that next level. Looks amazing.

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Thank you for the compliment. I appreciate it.

[@michaelbaer6517]

Great looking board. I have made many boards that you need to be very aware of the pattern. I agree that you are using way too much glue. I have found that if the are gluing a pattern board start with a small number of the middle rows glue them up wait a couple hours and the add boards to each side. Yes, this will add more time but the pattern will be spot on correct.

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

I’ll look into that. Thank you for the comment.

[@GTWoodshop]

Beautiful board Vincent. 👍

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[@tharemyhopkins5873]

The board is fantastic, Vincent! Very classy and unique. A few observations; It seems like you may be using far more glue than needed, which is contributing to the slipping. Just enough to lightly coat the surface and only squeeze out to thin/moderate lines after light clamping will work great. That should help with slippage and save ya some money on TB3! When lining up patterns, I've found I'm less stressed gluing half the strips at a time, then gluing the two halves together to the full board once they've tacked up (often just 30 min or so so they don't slip anymore). I can concentrate more on getting good alignment without racing the glue set-up clock. The router sled is faster than the drum sander, but not when you add up the clean-up time. The DC on that DS is fantastic, and I've found a few extra passes is worth it for the clean air (and floor) vs the router. For end-grain boards on the DS, I've found slowing the belt speed to less than half, and only rotating the depth handle a 1/4 turn at a pass really helps reduce burning. Every 3-4 passes, a quick 5 second pass on the drum with sandpaper cleaning stick also does wonders. Congrats on the amazing board - thank you for sharing.

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Hey I appreciate the comment. On my latest video I changed a little on the glue up and found when I push the pieces together after turning them up that the pieces didn’t move much at all. I’m considering using the paint roller method but not sure which nap to use. I’m still getting used to the drum sander. Trying to figure out what speed to run the belt at. Thanks a lot though.

[@michaelcoslop3171]

Yes that brought a tear to my eye. Love the love. Keep going.

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Thank you. Will do.

[@Vid_Master]

Really cool looking cutting board! 🔥That router sled is great, I need to build one of those. I put a purpleheart endgrain cutting board through my planer yesterday, the planer was not happy about it 😂 The lowest amount of up / down adjustment that the planer is capable of was still making it scream haha!

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Oh yea. End grain through a planer can be dangerous for your machine and the board. I bought my sled from Crafted Elements. It works great.

[@bg2608ret]

Beautiful board & family, well done 👍🏻

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[@gopackgo69]

Nice looking board, one thing that may help in a glue up would be to use some salt in the glue joints which provide some grip.

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

I haven’t heard of that before. I’ll look into it. Thanks for watching.

[@Gabriel-lo6dt]

Amazing piece!

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Thank you!

[@jklevenalin3819]

Another awesome project and video.

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Thank you

[@newworldcarpentry]

That board looks amazing I'm in the process of setting up a shop on my channel and working full-time 😅 definitely got my subscribe

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

I appreciate the comment. Yea working full time and doing this is rough.

[@musickislife1]

Great video

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Thank you

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

More coming soon.

[@mikeseitz2792]

Great job, lots of work.

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Thank you for the comment. She loves it.

[@sniperremington700]

Purple from Brasil!

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Yes sir.

[@johnwall1634]

First time watching one of your vids. Loved it, its so refreshing seeing someone working in a shop that doesnt require a second mortgage and a small loan of a million dollars. The end product was great! I rather enjoyed how you used the natural lines in the sapwood to create a diamond rather than elaborate sawing. My only advice (albeit unsolicited) is that we dont need to see every cut or stroke you make. As an example, when you were cutting the end grain pieces to glue together. Loved the vid otherwise!

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Got it. I try to balance showing everything for the beginner and not being thorough enough. I’m still learning the KZbin side of things. Thank you for the comment. All are welcome.

[@johnwall1634]

@@Pleasant_Woodworks thanks for the reply! There's definitely a balancing act there. But I subbed and look forward to your next vid 👍

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

I appreciate the support.

[@alan-px5td]

Very cool board that thing would look good with a lil maple threw in there

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Thank you for the comment. My wife picked the wood and got what she wanted lol.

[@alan-px5td]

@@Pleasant_Woodworks if momma is happy everybody is happy

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Yep

[@aaronblackford981]

I got super interested in you clamps. Looks like some standard clamps. And then you added wood to top ones. Is that correct?

[@sakaj]

Cut down on so much glue and draw a pencil ✏️ line across the board to make a reference line to keep the panels aligned

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

I do that sometimes. I should do it all the time. Thanks for commenting.

[@WhatsNextWoodworking]

Vincent, something I learned the hard way that I noticed and will pass on to you. Put painters tape or tyvek tape on the rails of your parallel clamps that are getting covered in glue during your glue ups. When the glue dries you can just peel it off instead of chipping it away for hours. Hope this helps out a little. Beautiful board by the way. Nicely done.

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Hey Don. I actually treat my clamps with paste wax. It does the same thing. When I’m done with the clamps, I turn the end to the ground and the sliding part slides towards the end and the glue pops off as it slides towards the end. I use to use tape but got tired of it lol. Thanks for the tip though.

[@WhatsNextWoodworking]

@Pleasant_Woodworks that's a new one on me. I'll have to give that a try. Thanks for sharing. What specific paste wax do you use?

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Minwax paste finishing wax

[@benjewell7443]

Beautiful

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Thank you.

[@AcrylicMemories]

beautifull

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Thank you.

[@kandiecandelaria3134]

Beautiful board. Can you share your dimensions starting? Ie how many 2” strips and carnaty wood strips. I kinda calculated 2x2” purplehear, plus 2x1”, 2x5/8 of each Purple Heart and canary wood. We’re the diamonds about 3”? How long were your strips? Want and try and make one. Thanks for sharing

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Thanks for the comment. The first thing to start you need to plane the canary wood and the Purple Heart to the same thickness. The size of the diamonds depends on the amount of sapwood on the slab. I cut a little past 1/4 inch from where the sap wood ends using the table saw. From there just cut strips of canary wood and Purple Heart and glue them together. If you need further help feel free to message me on my Facebook page. Pleasant Woodworks LLC.

[@2WildRazn]

Table salt will stop that side to side movement

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

I’ve heard of this trick. I haven’t tried it yet though.

[@ejd53]

Use less glue and sprinkle some salt on it; it will stop the slipping.

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

I will try the salt technique soon.

[@faithwalk2cor578]

Salt is the answer to the shifting.

[@JasonSaeler]

Did you do anything after the oil soak? Just wipe it off, buff it in?

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

I applied board conditioner that I make. I let it sit then buff. It’s in the jar in my hands after I put the feet on.

[@aaronblackford981]

Any tricks of juice grooves sanding?

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Thank you for the comments. I use Jorgensen parallel clamps for clamping the boards. I use scrap wood with tuck tape on them to use as cauls. To keep the boards from slipping up and down.

[@ching574]

where do you get your purple heart from?

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

I go to a specialty wood store near me in Alabama. They don’t offer shipping unfortunately.

[@superme63]

If you want to stop slipping during glue-up...table salt.

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Thank you for the comment. I’ve heard of that before but afraid to try it.

[@arthurglickmanWoodturner]

How do you keep the purpleheart purple. When I cut purpleheart it turns brown. Thanks

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

When I buy my wood it’s rough cut. I look for the deepest color I can find. Lol it can take time to find the right piece. Sometimes it can come out of nowhere when milling though. But generally the deeper the color I won’t have issues. Took me a while to figure that out. I’m editing a video now where the Purple Heart has some discoloration but it still looks good.

[@arthurglickmanWoodturner]

I learned recently on a video that applying heat from a heat gun restores the purple. I tried it and it works great. Best,

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Good deal. I’ll keep that in mind.

[@Zippy1776]

Careful with the heat trick. Done that several times with the heat gun and tried a torch and letting it come to color naturally after cutting looks way better. Some guys put it in the oven though which may give a more consistent natural look. My pieces are too long usually to do that. Very nice board. Someday I’ll get me one of those router sleds. That thing is awesome. Nice work.

[@zefirvirginia]

I take it that your wife bought you all the equipment in the workshop...

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

lol no that’s all me. However I did have to get approval for a couple things.

[@garyross8522]

I appreciate you trying to clarify, but dude, you talk way too much. Also, you need more close up viewing as you do the builds. Nice board though. Congrats.

[@Pleasant_Woodworks]

Hey I appreciate the comment and compliment. I try to convey what I’m thinking and why and do talk a lot at times. I’m a work in progress lol.