Butcher's Block Project...

By Dave Williams of Dolls House Paintings...

 SPAME

Make your own chopping block for the cost of a few pence... 

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Tools needed:

• A strong clamp or vice,
• A rough file or a dremel,
• Craft knife or fine craft saw,
• Wood glue

Method:

For this project I have used off cuts of pine stripwood.The main block being 40mm long, 35mm tall and about 15mm thick, plus two pieces of 35mm long, 15mm tall and 5mm thick, you can use any piece of wood, or buy a length from a DIY store, for a couple of pounds you could make a few and still have enough for some other projects. (See photo 1)

Picture shows the wood for a 1/24^th block as well, I have used the larger size as it is easier to photograph. Use plenty of wood glue on the ends of the block and place the two thinner pieces onto the glue and clamp very tight, would recommend you leave for 24 hours to give a very strong bond. (See photo 2)

Next step is to rough down the block, a file or a Dremel with a sander fitted, just do this till you feel it looks right. Please note if using a Dremel or similar, be sure to wear a mask and safety glasses, or use outdoors, micro dust will get everywhere, including your lungs.(See photo 3)

Next move is the scoring, be very careful here, a craft knife takes no prisoners! I would recommend you keep one hand in your pocket whilst doing this operation; it can’t get in the way of the blade this way. I would recommend you clamp the block in a vice, then with the saw or knife score many times in different directions, keep doing this till you feel it looks right, then lightly sand just to take off the rough edges, don’t sand too much or you will  not see the results of the scoring. (See photo 4) 

Now it’s down to your choice, leave it as it is in photo 4, or to get a more realistic look, add a bit of paint. I used a piece of kitchen roll and just dipped the tiniest blob of acrylic paint onto it, almost so little that you can hardly see it, just touch the block and rub fast into the wood, too much paint will spoil the effect, little and often is the best method here. (See photo 5) 

Photo 6 shows a 1/24^th version as well, just halve the sizes of the wood, the size is not hard and fast, whatever you think looks right, will be right.

 

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© Dave Williams 2008

www.dollshousepaintings.co.uk