Cheese Board with Knife Holder

This project features a standard-sized ceramic tile insert to provide a surface for cutting cheeses or fruits and a handy integrated “cheese wedge” knife holder. It’s great for your own personal use at home, but it also makes a great gift or craft-show item. This project is something you can easily make at a moment’s notice!

Finished dimensions of the assembled project are about 11.5 ” W x 7.5 ” D x
3.75 ” H

ITEMS YOU WILL NEED 

• A board with the following dimensions:
  • 0.75″ x 9″ x 25.5″
  • NOTE: Do not use a board smaller than specified above unless using an appropriate jig.
• A standard 6″ x 8” ceramic tile and approx. 0.25″–0.4″ thick (the one used for the prototype sample was about 0.3″ thick.)
• Sandpaper, wood glue, epoxy, cork or silicone self-adhesive pads, clamps, wood stain and/or paint and clear finish
• A Dremel-type rotary tool with assorted sanding wheels and bits to sand small details and speed up preparation for finishing.

STEP 1 – Upload Project

Open the Designer software and open the included project file(s). You can then simply compile (upload) the project(s) to your memory card.

After the project is compiled, select “Normal or Best” for the File Quality setting. Click “OK” to upload to your memory card. 

NOTE: Carve times are as follows:

• Good – 1 hr. 37 min.
• Best – 3 hr. 22 min.

Take and insert the card into your machine and load the project board. Turn your machine on and proceed with Step 2… 

STEP 2 – Carving

You will see “Project Menu” on your LCD display. Press “1”, then scroll to the desired project and press the green ENTER button to select it. Then follow the prompts to carve the project.

Once the carving is finished, remove it from the machine and vacuum or blow off any excess sawdust.

STEP 3 – Parts Preparation

Separate all the pieces from the board with a utility knife or hobby saw. Sand off tabs and any undesirable machine marks. Do final sanding on “cheese” wedge after glue-up.

Glue the “cheese” wedge halves together. Avoid getting glue in the knife slot. Clamp and set aside to dry.

Do the final sanding of seams and “holes” after removing clamps. Test-fit the tile in the recess. Some tiles have “nubs” along the edges. Use 80-grit sandpaper wrapped around a flat wood block to remove any nubs.

The tile recess area is cut slightly bigger than a standard 6″ x 8” ceramic tile (which actually measures 6” x 7.875”) and slightly less deep than the tile is thick. This allows the tile to remain slightly raised from the

wood surface to prevent it from being marred during use. When test fitting the tile, “tilt” the tile into the recess at both the short and long lengths. Don’t allow it to fully rest into the recess, just in case it gets stuck!

STEP 4 – Apply Finish

It’s easiest to apply your finish before final assembly. Apply stain/paint and clearcoat of your choice. Here’s what I used on my Cheese Board made from Select Pine:

Base:

• Rust-Oleum Ultimate Stain – Golden Mahogany
• 3 coats Zinsser Bulls Eye Spray Shellac sanding between coats
• Several light coats of Krylon Clear acrylic (spray)

Cheese Wedge Knife Holder:

• Two coats of thinned Bullseye Sealcoat
• (50/50 mix SealCoat and Denatured alcohol)
• Sanded again with very fine sandpaper & Dremel
• Several light coats of Krylon Clear acrylic (spray)

STEP 5 – Assembly 

After the finish is dry, mix up some quick-set epoxy and glue the tile into the recess.

Glue the “cheese” onto the base. You can glue it on wherever you like…”right-hand” side, or rotate the base and glue it on the “left-hand” side. Your choice!

FINAL

Place four self-stick pads under the base to complete the project. I made my own round pads from some self-stick cork shelf sheeting.

 Happy Carving!

Additional Materials Resources

www.mcmaster.com or www.amazon.com

• 3M Radial Bristle Discs from (stack 3 discs at a time on your rotary tool mandrel)
  • 80-grit: part # 4494A19
  • 220-grit: part # 4494A18

Home Depot or Lowe’s

• Zinsser Bulls Eye Spray Shellac
• Zinsser Bulls Eye SealCoat
• Denatured Alcohol
• A standard 6″ x 8” ceramic tile approx. 0.25″ to 0.4″ thick (the white ceramic tile used for the prototype sample was about 0.3″ thick).
• Rust-Oleum Ultimate Wood Stain
• Quick-set Epoxy
• Self-Adhesive Cork Sheeting
• Disposable Brushes and Paint Rags