Hey everyone! My girlfriend's mom has asked me to make a cutting board that's 12x18 inches and about an inch thick. I'm aiming to use three different types of wood for some nice contrast. While I know walnut, maple, and cherry are solid options, I'd love to incorporate an African twist into the design since that's one of her interests. If anyone has suggestions for woods that would either be African or just fit the theme, I'd really appreciate the help!
3 Answers
There are so many great options! I made a board mixing Sapele and African Mahogany with walnut and maple, and the colors looked fantastic together. Just steer clear of oily woods to avoid any gluing trouble. Check out this list of African lumber for inspiration: [Wood Options](https://www.woodworkerssource.com/lumber/exotic-lumber.html?Per_Page=48&Sort_By=disp_order®ion=Africa).
For an African flair, you can't go wrong with Padauk and Zebrawood. Padauk is bright orange and has a striking look, but just be careful of the dust it creates when you work with it—wear a mask! Zebrawood has a unique grain pattern that looks great in end grain projects too. I usually stick to walnut, cherry, and maple, but I love adding some exotic woods for a twist!
Those sound beautiful! I love the look of Zebrawood, and I see that grain pattern popping! Thanks for suggesting those!
You might want to consider Sapele, which comes from West Africa. It's a great choice for cutting boards and is a bit harder than walnut. Just a heads up, though—there are ethical concerns surrounding Sapele due to illegal logging practices. Be sure to check if the suppliers source it responsibly!
Thanks for the heads up! I really don't want to support unethical practices. I’ll definitely look into sourcing it from ethical suppliers.
Wow, that sounds gorgeous! So, just to clarify: Sapele is the redder wood, African Mahogany is darker, walnut is the squares, and maple outlines, right?