We build every cutting board in our shop, one glue-up at a time, using hardwoods we hand select rather than whatever showed up on a container ship. No factory line, no overseas contract manufacturer, no shortcuts. Just a board built to earn a spot on your counter for the next twenty years.
Artisan Boards Built to Work as Hard as You Do
Every board and block that leaves this shop is milled up to 2 inches thick, which is thicker than what you will find at almost any retailer. Thickness is not just for looks. It is what keeps a board flat through years of hot pans, wet cleanup, and daily knife work. We hand pick every blend of hardwood that goes into a board, because a board is only as good as the lumber it started as.
Most cutting boards on store shelves come off a production line by the thousands, then get finished to look like something a person made by hand. That is not how we do it. Every board here starts as rough lumber in our shop, Mahogany House Woodworks, in Nampa, Idaho. We build with hand picked cherry, walnut, and maple, and we choose each board of lumber for grain, color, and stability before it ever touches a saw.
That attention is what gives our boards real character and real heft instead of a uniform, mass produced look. We have been building cutting boards and butcher blocks for over 20 years, and every board that leaves this shop still gets a final look from someone who cares whether it is right.
Take a look at our most requested chopping blocks below. Every one is handmade in the USA from locally sourced hardwood, ships free within the lower 48, and is backed by our 30 day craftsman guarantee.
Step 1. You Place Your Order
Every order starts on our website and becomes a made to order project, not a box pulled off a warehouse shelf.
Step 2. Wood Selection
A great cutting board starts with the right lumber. We only work with hardwoods proven for durability, stability, and food safety, and we hand select our lumber from local suppliers we trust.
Step 3. Milling & Assembly
We never rush this part. Each board goes through progressive sanding to remove tool marks, soften every edge, and leave a surface that feels as good as it looks.
Step 4. Sanding and Detailing
We never rush this part. Each board goes through progressive sanding to remove tool marks, soften every edge, and leave a surface that feels as good as it looks.
Step 5. Custom Engraving
If your board includes engraving, we double check every design before the laser ever touches wood, then lightly sand afterward to clean up raised fibers without losing detail.
Step 6. Sealing & Conditioning
We condition every board multiple times with food safe finish before it ships, no shortcuts and no surface only coatings. For ongoing care, we recommend our board butter.
Step 7. Inspection and Packaging
Every board gets a final hands on inspection before we pack it specifically for safe transit.
Step 8. Shipped To You
Your finished board ships free via UPS or FedEx ground to any address in the lower 48.
A Free Jar of Board Butter With Every Order
Protect your new board from day one. Use code FREEBUTTER at checkout and we will include a jar of our food safe board butter, an $18 dollar value, at no cost. It keeps the wood conditioned, looking good, and resistant to cracking for years to come.
See what sets our boards apart, starting with a process built around laser precision, hand picked hardwood, and build technique you will not find at a big box retailer.
Every board and block we build is backed by our 30 day guarantee, so you can order with confidence.
Why Choose Our Handmade Cutting Boards?
Every board is built from locally and ethically sourced domestic hardwood, never imported filler wood We mill close to 2 inches thick, well beyond what most competitors offer Solid construction means less warping and cracking over the life of the board We use waterproof glue on every glue up Every product is built in the USA by real craftsmen, not overseas on a factory line Boards ship ready to use, finished with food safe mineral oil
Every board is precision milled, assembled, and glued using proven shop technique engraving is done with a precision laser for crisp, accurate detail Our 30 day guarantee protects your investment Every order is wrapped and packaged for secure transit via FedEx or UPS Ground shipping is free to all lower 48 states
No Two Boards Are Alike.
Looking for a beautifully handcrafted custom wood carving board or butcher block that goes beyond what you can grab off a store shelf? Once you have worked with a board built to your specifications, it is hard to look at a generic one the same way again.
Custom Cutting Boards Compared to the Alternatives
Whether you are just getting into cooking or you have been at it for years, good equipment matters. That means quality pots, pans, and knives, and it also means a cutting board that can actually keep up.
A custom built board lets you choose the wood species and the thickness instead of settling for whatever happens to be in stock. Generic store bought boards look convenient and cheap, and often they are, but that convenience comes with tradeoffs worth knowing before you buy.
Compare Our Boards to Cheaper Competitors
Our Boards
Cheaper Competitors
What Our Customers Are Saying
Comparing our 3 wood blends
| Wood | Janka Rating (lbf) | Relative Hardness |
|---|
The Janka hardness test measures the force required to embed a steel ball halfway into a wood sample — higher numbers mean a denser, more dent-resistant surface. Values shown are commonly cited averages (Black Walnut ~1010 lbf, Black Cherry ~950 lbf, Hard/Sugar Maple ~1450 lbf).
Quality
Quality is one of the biggest gaps between a custom board and a store bought one. Mass production keeps boards looking uniform, which sounds good until you consider what it costs. Machines drift out of calibration, and a company sourcing from multiple suppliers cannot guarantee every batch meets the same standard.
We build every board by hand, which means more attention at every step and a level of craftsmanship that is hard to replicate on a production line.
Selection
Shop a big box retailer, online or in person, and you are stuck with whatever is currently in stock. Want a specific size or wood species? You may be waiting on a restock or settling for something close enough.
Custom boards do not work that way. We build the board you actually want. It will not ship the same day, but you will not have to compromise on size, species, or grain either.
Materials
Depending on where you shop, plastic may be your only option, or the store may carry just one wood species. Different materials suit different jobs. You might want one board dedicated to meat and a separate one for produce, and having a choice of materials makes that easy.
Wood also has a food safety edge that surprises a lot of people. Research from NC State has found that wood cutting boards do not harbor bacteria the way people once assumed, and Consumer Reports has reported similar findings on wood holding up well against plastic when boards are cleaned properly. Wood takes a bit more care to clean than plastic, but it resists scratching and knife wear far better, so you are not stuck settling for a board you do not love.
Wood Grain
Grain orientation matters as much as species when you are choosing a board.
Edge grain looks great and holds up well, though it can pick up scratches over time Face grain has beautiful figure but scratches a bit more easily than other cuts End grain is the toughest option available, though it runs heavier and costs more
Store bought boards rarely let you choose the grain orientation. If you have a preference, request a custom cutting board quote and we will build to it.
Thickness
A thick cutting board won’t warp as easily as a thinner board. Changing temperatures can affect the wood, but a thicker board can withstand those changes better than a thinner wood board.
If you want to use the board with both hot and cold foods, you should get a thicker board. That way, it won’t warp when you place something really cold or warm on it.
All of our cutting boards and butcher blocks are up to 2″ thick, depending on exact materials. We will maximize the wood thicknesses and widths to produce the best board we can.Â
Size
Of course, you should also make sure you get a big enough cutting board. If you go shopping for a generic board, you may not have much selection when it comes to the size. A large cutting board is great if you want to prepare turkey or chicken.
But you may also want something smaller for fruits and vegetables. That way, you don’t need to take up as much space when chopping those foods. If you get custom cutting boards, you can make sure you get the right sizes for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
All of our cutting boards are built from locally sourced wood from several trusted suppliers in our area. We are based in Nampa, Idaho, and ship to customers across the country.
Our standard turnaround is 12 to 15 days outside of peak season, such as the holidays. Since your board is handmade to order, that short wait is what gets you a board built specifically for you instead of pulled off a shelf.
We ship via UPS or FedEx, choosing whichever option makes the most sense for the board size and your destination. Every board is carefully wrapped and packaged to prevent damage in transit.
Yes. We finish every board with food safe mineral oil, which helps repel water and bacteria and extends the life of the wood.
Most cutting boards sold in stores are mass produced, and a lot of them are made in China. Ours are handmade in the USA and built up to 2 inches thick, giving them a durability edge you will not find on most competing boards.
Yes. Every cutting board and butcher block we sell comes with a 30 day money back guarantee.
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Get A Custom Quote
Do you need a cutting board custom built to a specific size and specifications?
Custom Laser Engraving
We offer precision laser engraving on every cutting board and butcher block we build. Because the process is laser guided, detail comes out sharp and accurate, whether you are personalizing a board for a wedding gift or a Mother’s Day gift.
Browse our engraving gallery for a few examples of what is possible.
View our engraving gallery below for a few examples.Â
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