Bar-B-Que chopping board

[Gofor]

Okay, all you chow hounds, I know you've seen one. Can you help me?

My SIL wants me to make her hubby a chopping board for cutting up pit-cooked hog. The problem is that I can't ask him what he wants because its to be a surprise. With that in mind to eliminate the obvious solution, I do do remember 30 years ago my BIL (different person) having one he got from my wife's Ol' Man(and I can't ask either because even tho I may Drink spirits, I can't communicate with them) that had a back, sloped "shelf" so that the meat and skin, etc could be chopped up, mixed together for the right moisture, and then raked off into a pan. This is what she is thinking of so I think that's what he wants. If anyone has dimensions or a design, I would appreciate it. With all the pit-cooking done in this state, I hope the design may be some what standard (unlike the sauce)
I'm not done, so don't go runnin' for the pork skins yet:
I also ask for your opinions on species of wood and grain orientation: I think the original was out of lighter pine, but not sure.
I am thinking oak has too large of grain and would absorb too much food product (I plan to finish it with mineral oil) SIL also wants a kitchen cutting board for herself. For hers, I am thinking the grain should go lateral, but I don't know if this is best for the chopping board as most butcher blocks are end grain oriented.
Any suggestions, or do I just make it out of MDF and tell her "Trust me" (just kiddin').
For the record, yes I can pit-cook hogs (learned from a native 35 years ago) but use the old Oak-embers method (start burning the oak at 5 PM and a 200 lb hog is ready about noon the next day) and the sauce I use is just sugar, vinegar and red pepper. Most I've cooked were mainly pig-pickins' tho, so any we chopped up was on a regular cutting board.
Hope you can help

[Monty]

I don't have any advice for you, but reading your post is making me hungry.

[michaelgarner]

insome you kill me,,no advice but look forward to hearing what others will say

[yellofins]

Gofor,
Does he cook pig often? We (and a few of our friends) have switched to a non wood cutting board. We use both cutting boxes that fit a 2 handled chopping knife as well as a larger board with a lip on the back and sides.
We are making them out of HDPE (Starboard)on the chopping surface.
Most of them are all HDPE, but some have decorative wood frames.
The HDPE is much easier to clean and maintain. We use the starboard because it is UV protected, Some of the cutting boards are attached to the cookers. We also use it because we have it available....
It is also FDA approved for food use..
You don't have to worry about the fat soaking in and turning bad.
If you decide to go with wood, the better ones are made from maple.
It doesn't seem to soak as much fat and grease after treating it with oil.
ron

[DaveO]

A buddy of mine that often cooks a pig recommended that the board be around 30" x30". I would recommend a end grain board because it will stand up to the chopping much better. Any tight pored wood will work the best, Maple is traditional but QSWO and Beech can also be used. You might consider using a core box bit and straight edge to route a juice groove around the board, and a back wall to keep everything where it should be. My .02, Dave

[Matt]

As usual, my advice is from reading FWW (and not actually knowing anything myself). Anyway, check out the April Issue #183, pg 68 for an article on cutting boards. Summing up:

Maple is safest bet. Avoid any woods that might cause an allergic reaction.

End grain is better for chopping and won't dull knives as fast as face grain.

Use water proof glue.

Finish with USP grade mineral oil or walnut oil.


Show us a picture and let us know how it works. I would love to make one of these for my BBQ!!

[Gofor]

Thank you for all the info. Based on it, I am thinking about a 30 x 30 board with 3 sides, routing a drain groove around the edge. I'll probably put a small slope in it as well. Need to check with the SIL to see if that's bigger than what will work. For materials, I'm thinking QSWO and Hard Maple for his, but will probably look at making a second one for me out of Starboard. When the whole family gets together, we have between 75 and 100 ( there were 80 at my MIL's 90th birthday last year, and that wasn't everyone), so we can use two occasionally.
TO answer yellofins question: No, he doesn't cook whole hogs very frequently, mainly Boston butts, quarters, shoulders, etc, depending on the size of crowd when the family "drops-in" on them to use the pool. However, he is getting close to retiring, so may expand in the future. X
Let me get my materials list together (along with the ones for several other projects) and then plan a day trip to get them. Can I get the starboard at a marine supply place? Guess I need to check some of the other threads to find a good source for the maple and QSWO too.
I'll take some pictures as I go, but can't promise free bar-b-que!!
Thanks again
Go

[clowman]

Can't say for species, but I have seen a design that may work for you in some way or another. Our very own DavidF made this cutting board. It may be useful for your design.

[yellofins]

Gofor,
I can get you all the Starboard you need.
the marine supply stores charge way too much.
When you get your list together send it.
I'll get a few free samples if you want to check it out.
I may have to pay a little for larger pieces, but I can get smaller ones........
ron

[Gofor]

Clay: Thank you for the pic!!. I was trying to figure out how to do the slope, and that board has the perfect design feature (and thanks to DavidF, too, if you read this, for the design idea).
Ron, Thanks for the offer. I'll PM you when I get it together (just a warning, LOML thinks I haven't had it "together" for a few years now!!) The HDPE one will probably be smaller, more like 20"w x 16"d or even a little less. I've never used it before. I have done some stuff with 1/4" polyethylene and up to 1/2" plexiglas. What thickness is it and does it work the same as either of those?
SWMBO has me doing landscaping this week, and after the last three days using a mattox pick to chop holes in the yard to plant trees, raking construction debris out of 1/4 acre of hard clay, my fingers won't hold a pencil well enough to draw out any designs. With a lot more in store this coming week, it may be a bit before I get it down on paper. Unlike Super DaveO, my projects get done over a matter of weeks, not days!
Thanx again
Go

[yellofins]

Gofor, Starboard is HDPE and works with standard wood working tools.
Ticknesses are 1/4,1/2,3/4 and 1". White, black off white and beige colors are available.

Why not just grab a big old slab or two of thick oak and a hatchet and go to town? I'm with insomniac, man you post is making me hungry...