Charcuterie Board and Dip Bowl

I made a Charcuterie Board and Dip Bowl for the holidays or when people are over, and they want food. I made it because I realized we are putting food on a glass plate and its boring I decided to make this because it has a bowl to come with it and it has more of a look instead of a glass plate.

Tools and Equipment

1. Silicone Mold 18in-14in
2. Air Compressor
3. 0.50in dia. Straight Bit
4. 0.25in dia. Straight Bit
5. Power Miter Saw
6. Sawhorses
7. Lathe
8. Laser Cutter Engraver
9. Router
10. Table Saw
11. Belt Sander
12. Scroll Saw
13. Spindle Sander
14. Assorted Clamps
15. (Optional) Surface Planer, Finish Sander

Materials

1. Sandpaper
2. Mold Release Spray
3. Spalted Maple
4. Bar Coating Epoxy
5. Salad Bowl Finish
6. Total Boat Epoxy Resin and Hardener
7. Blue Mica Pigment (Powder)
8. Maple Wood for Bowl

Take two pieces of spalted maple (or any other beautiful) and make sure it's bigger than the mold. Our mold was 18in by 14in. Mark where you're going to cut the wood so it can fit in the mold tightly.

Round the corners of the wood so it can fit in the mold better. Take two sawhorses or any level surface to put the mold on and make sure it's perfectly level for an even pour.

Make sure there's no dust or foreign materials in the mold before you pour. Use mold release spray so the board will come out easier. Find the area to fill in cubic inches which is Length times width times height. The formula to convert cubic inches to ounces is; divide cubic inches/1.805 then add 10%. Then mix thoroughly and pour into your mold with the wood.

We used total boat epoxy and hardener at ratio of 2 parts resin one part hardener. NOTE: make sure to use a casting epoxy otherwise it will get tot hot when curing.

We had to machine plane, and sand due to air bubbles and unevenness on the surface. This step is only necessary if you have complications with the surface.

We Laser cut shape of lake George a tourist attraction in upstate New York out of a piece of Laun. We then centered and clamped it on top of our Charcuterie Board. Using a router and a guide bushing we then mill out the shape. We used a quarter of an inch bit.

We used a casting epoxy that has a ratio of 2:1. The total boat resin has a 2-pump ratio 1 pump of the smaller pump is half of the big pump. Use whatever color you would like. We chose a blue powdered mica to make a similar look of the lake, adding more or less to deepen the color or make it lighter.

We used a piece of maple wood for our bowl. We used carbine tips for are laid tools and sanded and used steel wool at the end.

Take a half of inch router bit. Take a piece of wood and cut a hole that will guide the router around the hole.

We poured 2 fluid ounces of epoxy on the top of ours. Being sure it is level and tape along edge of the back side, so the drips are easier to remove.

Put salad bowl finish on the bowl so it gives a nice look and is safe for food. It becomes waterproof and makes it usable.