Handmade hardwood cutting and serving boards by Ben Kiger Millwork

Handmade hardwood · Williamstown, WV

Handmade Wood Cutting & Serving Boards

Q: What wood do you use for cutting boards?

Domestic hardwoods I mill myself — walnut, cherry, maple, ash, beech, and chestnut — plus exotics like purpleheart and padauk on request. Every wood I use is dense, closed-grain, and food-safe, and I hand-pick each board for grain and color.

Q: Should I get an end-grain or edge-grain cutting board?

End-grain is gentlest on your knives and lasts longest, because the blade slips between standing fibers. Edge-grain is lighter and more affordable and makes a great everyday board. I build both.

Q: How much does a custom cutting board cost?

Most boards run $45 to $105 depending on size, wood, and grain. I give an exact quote before any work begins, with no hidden fees.

Every wood cutting board I make is built one at a time, by hand, by me — milled from rough-cut hardwood I hand-pick myself, on the banks of the Ohio River in West Virginia. No machine line, no two alike, and every board guaranteed for life. A good board should take years of daily use and still be beautiful enough that you hesitate to cover it with food. Mine do both.

Commission a custom board See what's available now

What makes a good wood cutting board?

A good wood cutting board is made from a dense, closed-grain hardwood — maple, walnut, or cherry — and finished with a food-safe oil. End-grain boards are gentlest on knives and last longest; edge-grain boards are lighter for everyday use. Mine are hand-milled and guaranteed for life.

Two ways to build a board

End-grain vs edge-grain cutting boards

End-grain cutting boards stand the wood fibers on end so your knife slips between them — gentlest on the blade, longest-lived. The checkerboard pattern you see on a quality butcher block is end-grain. It self-heals light cuts over time.

Edge-grain cutting boards are lighter, lower-cost, and the everyday workhorse. The wood runs lengthwise, which makes for a strong, stable board that handles daily prep work without complaint.

I build both. The right choice comes down to how you cook and how much weight you want in your hand.

End-Grain Cutting Boards → Edge-Grain Cutting Boards →

End-grain hardwood cutting board showing checkerboard wood pattern

Edge-grain hardwood cutting board in walnut and maple

Handmade hardwood cutting board showing walnut and maple grain

Hand-picked from my own rack

The hardwoods I use for cutting boards

I work in hand-picked Black Walnut, Cherry, Hard and Curly Maple, Ash, Beech, and Chestnut, plus exotics like Purpleheart, Yellowheart, and Padauk when you want a board that turns heads.

I mill the lumber myself and choose each board for grain and color. No two boards are alike — the figure in the wood makes that guarantee easy to keep.

Black Walnut
Cherry
Hard Maple
Curly Maple
Ash
Beech
Chestnut
Purpleheart
Yellowheart
Padauk

Not sure which wood? How I'd choose →

Built to be seen

Charcuterie & serving boards

Wood charcuterie and serving boards spend as much time on the table as in the kitchen, so I pick the most striking pieces — figured maple, rich walnut, a flash of purpleheart. They hold their own as a centerpiece.

They also make the handmade gift people remember. Wedding, housewarming, anniversary — a board like this doesn't end up in a drawer.

Charcuterie & Serving Boards → Commission a serving board

Hardwood charcuterie and serving board with natural grain

Made to your spec

Custom & personalized cutting boards

Tell me the size, the wood, and how you'll use it, and I'll build it. Every board is made to order — I don't keep inventory, I keep standards.

Want initials or a date engraved for a personalized cutting board gift? I do that too. Name, a wedding date, a special message — these are the details that make a gift into an heirloom.

Commission a board

What to expect

Cutting board prices & how to order

Most boards run $45–$105 depending on size, wood, and grain. End-grain costs a bit more than edge-grain because it takes more material and time to build.

I quote you exactly before I start — no hidden fees, no surprises. Once you approve it, I build it. Then I ship nationwide; I've sent boards from Florida to Arizona.

To order: start a commission below and tell me what you're after. A day or two and I'll have a quote back to you.

Keeping it beautiful

How to care for your cutting board

Looked after, a hardwood board lasts decades. I include care instructions with every order, but the short version: rub it with food-safe board oil every few months and keep it out of the dishwasher. The wood will reward you for it.

And if anything ever goes wrong with something I made — a crack, a loose joint, anything — I'll make it right. That's what the guarantee means.

Full care guide →

Start your order

Commission a custom board

Tell me the wood, the size, and what it's for. I'll quote you exactly and build it one at a time, by hand. Ships anywhere in the country.

Tell me what you have in mind

I send an exact quote — no surprises

I build it and ship it to your door

Common questions

Cutting board FAQ

What wood do you use for cutting boards?

I use domestic hardwoods I mill myself — walnut, cherry, maple, ash, beech, and chestnut — plus exotics like purpleheart and padauk on request. Every wood I use is dense, closed-grain, and food-safe. I hand-pick each board for grain and color.

Should I get an end-grain or edge-grain cutting board?

End-grain is gentlest on your knives and lasts the longest, because the blade slips between standing fibers instead of cutting across them. Edge-grain is lighter and more affordable, and makes a great everyday board. I build both, so it comes down to how you cook.

Can you personalize a cutting board?

Yes — I can engrave initials, a name, or a date, which makes these popular as wedding, housewarming, and anniversary gifts. Tell me the occasion and I'll help you choose the right board and wood.

How much does a custom cutting board cost?

Most boards run $45 to $105 depending on size, wood, and whether it's end-grain or edge-grain. I give you an exact quote before I start any work, with no hidden fees.

Do you ship cutting boards nationwide?

Yes — I ship across the country and have customers from West Virginia to Florida, Georgia, and Arizona. If it's a gift, tell me the date and I'll time it.

Explore the collection

Shop cutting & serving boards by type

Made one at a time, in West Virginia

A board you'll use every day and keep for life

Commission a custom board See what's available now Read the care guide