I recently made a cutting board for my wife out of walnut, maple, and cherry wood, measuring 12x24 inches. It initially looked fantastic, but while trying to add finger pockets and a juice groove, things went a bit sideways. I'm managing the finger pockets, but the juice groove is turning out to be a challenge and could make the board significantly smaller than I wanted. What size and style of bit do you guys typically use for juice grooves? I'm feeling pretty frustrated about it!
2 Answers
It sounds like you might not have the right approach with your bit. Instead of trying to carve the whole groove in one go, consider taking it in four passes, gradually increasing the depth each time. That way, you're less likely to end up with an overly deep cut and can maintain better control. If you could share more about your process and what specifically went wrong, we might be able to help even more!
For juice grooves, I typically use a 1/2" cove box bit with my trim router. It gives me a nice, rounded edge and a smooth finish. Just take your time with it, and don’t hesitate to adjust your setup if it doesn't look right after the first pass!