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Want to personalize a cutting board with a special message or design? We'll guide you through the process step-by-step.
With this guide, you'll be able to make amazing gifts for loved ones, like:
- A decorative board engraved with a family member's favorite recipe
- A wedding keepsake featuring a new couple's name and wedding date
- A housewarming gift for a friend
We'll show you how to engrave a cutting board using a laser engraver, which is our personal favorite, plus three other methods that can create a different effect.
Looking for cutting boards to engrave? Check out our affordable line-up of cutting and serving boards here!
What's Inside:
- How to Engrave a Cutting Board With a Laser Engraver
- Other Methods to Try
- Are Engraved Cutting Boards Food Safe?
- How to Maintain an Engraved Cutting Board
- Turn Your Engraved Products Into a Profitable Business With These Free Resources
How to Engrave a Cutting Board With a Laser Engraver
Engraving with a laser cutter is the easiest way to get pixel-perfect designs with the least amount of effort. It's as easy as saving a design, uploading it to your laser engraving program, and pressing the start button.
Of course, getting started with laser engraving requires a learning curve and an initial investment, but if you're planning to engrave cutting boards as a long-term hobby or business, this is your best option. You'll get super-sharp and accurate engravings every time.
Learn more with our beginner's guide to laser engraving.
What You Need for Laser Engraving
- A laser engraver (we love xTool laser engravers)
- Eye protection and personal protective equipment
- A wooden cutting board that's ready for engraving
- A computer
- Masking tape (optional)
[product=bamboo-cutting-board-block-14-x-10]Our best-selling and ready-to-engrave bamboo cutting board.[/product]
How to Laser Engrave a Cutting Board
- Prepare your design file. Formats like SVG or DXF are best for laser engraving, but JPG and PNG can also work.
- Prepare your safety equipment. Make sure you have an air purifier or ventilation system on your laser engraving, a respirator or mask to keep smoke and fumes out of your lungs, and eye protection for your laser type.
- Plug in your machine and connect it to the computer.
- Apply masking tape to your cutting board if you're having trouble with burn marks. Some cutting boards can be engraved directly if you have the right settings.
- Place the cutting board in the laser bed, lower the safety cover, and turn on the laser engraver.
- Open the design in your engraving program (which should come with your laser engraver). Adjust the settings for laser power, speed, and number of passes depending on the effects you want. (You might need to experiment with this.)
- Use the laser engraver to position the cutting board right where you want it to engrave.
- Press start and watch the magic happen!
Watch us engrave one of our marble and wood cutting boards during a recent livestream 👇
Here's the product we customized 👇
[product=marble-serving-board-set]Pick up this marble serving board set to try this project at home![/product]
And the laser engraver we used 👇
[product=xtool-f1-fastest-portable-laser-engraver-with-ir-diode-laser]Try the fast, portable, and beginner-friendly xTool F1 laser engraver.[/product]
Other Methods to Try
Laser engraving isn't the ONLY method for engraving cutting boards! Here are two more methods to try if you're up for the challenge.
Power-Tool Engraving
You can engrave wood with a power tool called a Dremel. It's a rotating tool with a small drill bit that can chip away wood at high speeds.
To use, install the size and shape of bit you want, then touch it gently to the wood where you want to engrave. You'll probably want to trace your engraving design onto the wood with pencil or another temporary mark so you know where to engrave.
This one takes time and patience, and comes down to your drawing skill! However, it can create a rustic effect that you don't get with laser engraving.
@brandihanson17 #dremelengraved #woodworking #caligraphy ♬ So Fresh, So Clean - Outkast
Using a Wood Burning Pen
A wood burning pen is another fun way to engrave wood. It's not exactly the same as the deep etching you can get with a laser engraver or Dremel, but you can burn dark patterns into the wood easily.
To do this, you'll plug in a wood burning pen, let it heat up to the right temperature, then draw on your design! Having a penciled design already on the board will help you create a professional-looking image.
@artengrained Hand Engraved wood signs for friend #woodart #art #handmade ♬ FEEL THE GROOVE - Queens Road, Fabian Graetz
Learn more about wood engraving methods here (there are 3 more we haven't mentioned here!).
Are Engraved Cutting Boards Food Safe?
Wood is naturally resistant to bacteria, so when you're done engraving a cutting board, you can smooth off any rough edges, then wash in hot, soapy water and dry thoroughly for a clean board. Oiling the board will help it to keep out food particles and resist bacteria for the long term.
Every time someone cuts or serves food on the board, they will need to wash it again to keep it clean. Eventually, if it gets a lot of surface damage, they may need to discard the board.
That said, many engraved cutting boards are meant as a decorative item and not for actual cooking. With gentle use, you can keep an engraved cutting for years and years.
How to Maintain an Engraved Cutting Board
You can extend the life of your engraved cutting board by keeping it well-oiled and dry.
Cutting and serving food on the board will shorten its life span, so if you plan to use it as a keepsake, it's best to use it for serving only occasionally. For the rest of the time, you would use it as a decoration only.
However, with proper cleaning, you can cut and prepare foods on the board. Just keep in mind that eventually, the board will get so many cuts and damage that you may need to discard it and replace it with a new one.
Turn Your Engraved Products Into a Profitable Business With These Free Resources
Engraved cutting boards are a super popular product for couples, families, holidays, and more!
If you're interested in starting an engraved goods business, we recommend you try the following resources:
- How to Start a Profitable Laser Engraving Business
- 127 Unique Laser Engraving & Cutting Ideas Your Customers Will Love
- How to Sell at Craft Shows: 7 Tips to Make More Money
- 500+ Laser Engraving Business Name Ideas to Help You Stand Out
Awesome Deal: Save money on laser engraving blanks like cutting boards and more with our Laser Blanks Build-a-Bundle!
And before you go, join our Official MakerFlo Facebook Community where you can meet and share notes with thousands of other crafters just like you! We'll see you inside! 🥳
