This cutting board was commissioned by a family member who requested a thick, butcher-block style board made with dark wood. I primarily used offcuts and scrap wood from other projects, so I’m not entirely sure of the exact species — though I believe the thin strips are likely oak, with the darker tones being cherry, zebrawood, and black walnut. To ensure seamless joints, I squared all the pieces using a belt sander before glue-up. After the board was assembled and sanded to a smooth finish, I prepared to add a juice groove - my first time using a router. The learning curve was steep, but with the help of some DIY jigs, I was able to carve a clean and functional groove that I was really proud of.