The swirly checkered wooden cutting board is a handmade maple-and-walnut project, not a verified retail model. Its pattern comes from cutting and reassembling glued wood segments in two directions. Make: documented Peter Brown’s version in July 2015, describing the result as a “swirly chess board.”
What the project is
Make: writer Jeremy S. Cook documented network engineer Peter Brown’s board in July 2015. Brown based his design on a cutting-board project he had seen on LumberJocks in 2009, but left out the center pieces. The article calls the design a “Drunken Cutting Board”; that is a descriptive nickname for its curved pattern, not a claim about safety or performance. Make: project description
The cited article identifies maple and walnut and describes a glued-up board with a double-thick construction, routed side handles, sanding, and a mineral-oil finish. It does not establish that Brown’s board is currently sold, or give a retail listing, price, or supply brands.
How the swirled checkerboard pattern is made
The pattern is created by laminating, cutting, alternating, and gluing the wood back together. Brown’s reported process used two wood sheets, each cut to 9 by 14 inches, attached with double-sided tape. The source does not specify exact species, lumber grade, adhesive brand, or a cutting template.
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- Attach the sheets. Brown taped the two sheets together so they could be cut as a stack.
- Make a wavy cut. The curved cut separated the pieces while keeping them sufficiently aligned to alternate and reassemble the layers.
- Alternate and glue. Repositioning the pieces created the first flowing pattern; gluing them restored the sheet.
- Repeat in the other direction. A second cut-and-reassembly sequence produced the checkerboard effect. The article reports Brown used a larger blade for this cut and encountered some gaps.
- Join and finish the board. He glued the reassembled segments into a double-thick board, routed handles into the sides, sanded it, and applied mineral oil.
Brown described the finished board as “solid as a rock,” as quoted in the Make: article. That is his qualitative description, not an independently measured strength or durability result.
What a build requires—and what the source leaves open
The documented sequence implies access to woodworking tools capable of making controlled wavy cuts and routing side handles, along with clamps or another suitable way to hold glued parts. However, Make: does not provide a complete tool list, blade specification, detailed dimensions for the finished board, or a step-by-step cutting template. Treat the 9-by-14-inch figure as the dimensions of each starting sheet, not the finished board.
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The reported gaps during the second cut are a useful planning warning: the blade choice and cut alignment affect how neatly the segments come back together. The article does not specify a fix or quantify the gaps, so it cannot support a precise tolerance or a guaranteed outcome.
Wood versus a nonporous cutting surface
USDA FSIS says consumers may choose a wooden board or a nonporous surface. Its consumer Q&A notes that nonporous surfaces are easier to clean because wood is porous. That distinction is about cleaning convenience; it does not establish measured performance differences for Brown’s particular board. USDA FSIS: cutting boards and food safety USDA: consumer questions about food safety
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Choosing wood does not remove the need for careful cleaning and food separation. FSIS recommends considering separate boards for fresh produce and bread versus raw meat, poultry, and seafood, which helps prevent cross-contamination.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Cleaning and caring for a wooden board
- After each use, wash with hot, soapy water, rinse, and air-dry or pat dry, following USDA FSIS guidance.
- For sanitizing, FSIS gives a solution of one tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water; rinse the board and dry it afterward.
- Replace a board if it is excessively worn or has grooves that are difficult to clean.
- Do not assume this glued-up board is dishwasher safe. USDA cautions that laminated boards may crack and split in dishwashers, and the Make: article does not test or approve Brown’s board for dishwasher use.
Make: reports that Brown applied mineral oil, but does not identify the product or certify its suitability for food contact. If choosing an oil for a board, check the product label and follow its directions rather than assuming every mineral-oil product is appropriate.
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Make one or buy a comparable board?
| Choice | What it offers | What to weigh |
|---|---|---|
| Build the project | A custom swirled pattern using maple and walnut, based on the documented cut-and-reassemble method. | Requires woodworking tools and control over repeated cuts and glue-ups. The source reports gaps during the second cut and gives no full template, complete tool list, or measured performance data. |
| Buy a comparable board | Convenience without carrying out the cutting and glue-up sequence. | The cited project article does not verify a current commercial version, comparable listing, or price. A search phrase such as “maple walnut checkerboard cutting board” describes the category, not a confirmed listing for Brown’s board. |
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