ELIZABETH BANDA
El Sol Cutting Board Process
How can I design a unique cutting board?
I knew that I wanted to create a cutting board that was highly functional while fitting my fun style, so I began researching different kinds of cutting boards
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Key Design Implications
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My cutting board should be sturdy
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My design should maximize functionality
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My cutting board should be easy to clean
Sketching Ideas
I found myself drawn towards the sun design. I grew up in a Mexican household and was always surrounded by art and sculptures of the sun and moon, such as these:
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The sun in the Mexican culture represents firmness, strength, and power, which was everything I wanted my cutting board to be. So, I decided to go with the sun form for my cutting board.
I took the form even further by adding functionality to the sun’s rays. In the times I have watched people cook, I noticed they would put chopped vegetables into separate bowls. Thus, I designed the sun's rays to act as built-in bowls for chopped ingredients.
The Building Process
I refined my design and made a template of it to trace onto my cutting board.
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To make the cutting board, I glued scrap wood together including walnut, pine, and oak into a pattern that I liked. I clamped it together and waited around 4 days for it to dry.
I then fed it to the wood planar, traced my design onto it, and cut out my sun with a bandsaw.
After I cut out the shape, I used the plunge router to create the bowls in the sun’s rays and used a drill press to create holes for the handles. I smoothed the board's sharp edges with a Dremel.
The Finished Design
To finish my cutting board, I laser etched my signature into the back of the board and applied cutting board oil.
Lessons and Opportunities
If I were to improve the design, I would make the bowls deeper and detachable to maximize functionality. But overall, I learned a lot while designing and crafting my own cutting board. I’m proud of my design and I’m glad I got to make something unique. I’ll forever hold this cutting board close to my heart and I hope that I’ll be able to pass it on as a family heirloom in the future.