Cheeseboards

After learning how to use a rasp, most of the cheeseboards have a soft curve to the edge which I think adds to the handmade look of them. The handles are either curved with the rasp or carved with a knife and then the sanding starts. After sanding with a low number, the board is wet and left to dry which raises the grain, resulting in a fuzzy board. Next, a higher number sandpaper is used and then wet again. This process happens about five times before the final oiling. A homemade blend of beeswax and mineral oil gets soaked into the board and wiped off after a few hours. A silkie smooth finish is the result! 


Before carving cheeseboards I was only familiar with cheddar and gouda. Not a very large cheese knowledge but making the boards was a good reason to start to learn. The problem with learning about cheese and the varieties available makes it hard to go back to cheddar!