I'm really into making woven cutting boards, and my last creation featured a stunning walnut base with a weave made from gum, padauk, purpleheart, cherry, and maple. I'm curious if anyone knows of any other interesting exotic woods, either light or dark, that could complement my projects? Purpleheart is around $16 per board foot, so I'm hoping to find something equally appealing but more affordable.
1 Answer
Sapele and mango are both great options! Right now, I'm really into curly maple; when you dye and sand it, the grain gives off a holographic effect that's just beautiful. It's definitely worth checking out!
Are you using any natural food-safe dyes? I’m thinking about trying that with gum wood since it's so tight-grained and cheap, but I’m unsure if beet juice would work well.