Question 1

Are wooden cutting boards safe?

Accepted Answer

YES!!
There is a widespread common misperception that wooden cutting boards harbor bacteria more than plastic boards. This is simply not true, in fact the opposite is the case. For millennia, surfaces on which meat was cut and other foods were prepared have traditionally been wooden. Various polymers did not become available until the early 1970s. Scientific studies conducted by Dean O. Cliver and Charles W. Kaspari from the Food Research Institute (Department of Food Microbiology and Toxicology) tested various pathogenic bacteria, including
E-Coli (Escherichia coli),
Listeria (Listeria monocytogenes),
Salmonella (Salmonella typhimurium),
Campylobacter (Campylobacter jejuni) and
Staph (Staphylococcus aureus)
9 wood species were tested. Woods tested included ash, basswood, beech, birch, butternut, cherry, hard maple, oak, and black walnut. Experiments showed that wood generally yielded fewer bacteria than did plastic after contamination. In these preliminary studies, we encountered unexpected difficulty in recovering inoculated bacteria from wood surfaces, regardless of wood species and whether the boards were new or used and untreated or oiled.
To read further on this case copy the below link.
http://jfoodprotection.org/doi/pdf/10.4315/0362-028X-57.1.16

Question 2

How long does it take to make a cutting board?

Accepted Answer

Unlike the large companies, our boards are actually handmade in a small workshop. We typically can make a board from start to finish in about a week depending on the size and type. There are no conveyor belts, various stations, or mass produces pieces that are just randomly glued together by a team of people here. All boards are handcrafted by a single person from start to finish.

Question 3

What kinds of wood do you use?

Accepted Answer

We use a variety of woods and always select the best quality available for the specific project. For cutting board we typically use hardwoods that are long lasting, durable, easy to keep clean, and maintain a sanitary food-safe surface.  Our cutting boards and butcher blocks are usually made from one or more of the following: Hard Maple, Curly Maple, Birsdeye Maple, Dark Walnut, Burmese Teak, Purple Heart, Red Oak, or Cherry. Custom woods can be used upon request

Question 4

How can I purchase one of your cutting boards?

Accepted Answer

We only sell our cutting boards through our website. This allows us to keep production low and quality high. We do often keep some various boards in stock so go to the "Contact Us" section of our website and send us an inquiry. We will quickyl reply and let you know what we have on hand or we can arrange the production of your very own board based on your needs. Contact us now.

Question 5

How do you finish your boards?

Accepted Answer

Many companies will mass produce cutting boards by the dozens at a time. Sanding is done quickly and not very detailed. You will be lucky to get a board sanded beyond 180 grit or, if you're lucky, maybe up to 220 grit. At Bates Woodworking we thoroughly sand every board well beyond 220 grit. But we don't stop there. First, after we sand to 220 we wipe down with hot water to raide the wood fibers. Water lifts the grain and brings out the roughness. An additional sanding at 220 to flatten out that raised grain will ensure a ultra smooth feel even after you wash your board in water later on.
 
We then take it further and at sand at 320, then to 400, then finish it off with an 800 grit before using a synthetic finishing buffing pad to bring it to the smoothest possible feel.
 
My policy is I don't stop sanding until I can see a reflection in the bare wood from just sanding alone. This leaves a flawless surface for our customers to enjoy. After the sanding is done each board is thoroughly soaked first in food grade pure mineral oil. After this initial saturation then each board is coated in our Bates Butcher Block Butter. This is a high wax content coating that seals the wood fibers and pores.

Question 6

What if there are no cutting boards showing in your "Shop"?"

Accepted Answer

Don't worry. We rarely make boards that don't already have an owner waiting. If we have an extra board we will promptly post in our Shop section. Send us a message and we will build a board for you! Go to our contact us section.

Question 7

Do you sell your boards anywhere else?

Accepted Answer

No! our website is the only place you can get a Bates Woodworking board. Our customers demand excellence and owning a Bates WoodWorking board is becoming a part of our family. Selling exclusively on our own site allows us to keep production low and quality high. You may have to wait a bit for your board but you'll see why when it arrives.

Question 8

How do I take care of my Cutting Board?

Accepted Answer

Each Bates WoodWorking boards includes a full set of care and maintenance instructions. Every board also includes an 8oz conditioner to get you started on proper care. Follow our easy to follow instructions to maintain your board in peek condition so it can serve you for a lifetime!
 
For stains use Kosher salt to help absorb the discoloration and odors. Use a lemon wedge to scrub the area with salt can also work out these stubborn stains and odors. if all else fails feel free to grab some 320 or 400 grit sand paper to gently sand away the affected area. Any questions feel free to contact us and we will help you.

Question 9

Do you restore old worn out boards?

Accepted Answer

If you have an old wood cutting board needing TLC, or even a full rebuild we can help. Contact us and we can discuss. We have turned split, cracked, even mold infested boards to good-as-new.

Question 10

Is there a guarantee on your boards?

Accepted Answer

We will always do everything in our power to make our customers happy with their experience. If your board ever has any defects of any kind please contact us. We are so confident in our craftsmanship that we will gladly accept any of our boards to fix any issues. Please note that any damage caused from improper care (extreme dry conditions or neglect, dishwasher damage, oven damage, impact damage) will not be repaired at no cost but rest assured we will still work with you to fix the problem. We can fix just about any issue with your board so contact us and let's make your board happy again. We are not happy unless you are happy. CUSTOMER SERVICE IS OUR NUMBER 1 GOAL.

Question 11

What do your boards cost?

Accepted Answer

Every board is unique and the costs vary. Wood costs vary throughout the year and this will effect the cost of your board. Most boards range between $150 up to $300 depending on the size and type of wood. Other factors such as shape and options will also effect the cost. Once we choose a board for your project you will be given a straight up front total and it will never be more than what we quote you.

Question 12

What is the difference between an "End Grain" and an "Edge Grain" cutting board?"

Accepted Answer

There are 3 difference sides of any piece of wood. The first side is the FACE. This is the flat peice that we are used to seeing in most wood construction, especially in furniture. The sides of the board that make up the long rail like side is the edge. Cutting boards that use pieces of these edges lined up against one another is an "Edge Grain". These are easily recognized as they have longitundinal stripes across the entire boards. They are basically long striped boards. The third side of any board is the end. This is the small end piece of the board that is rarely used a a focal piece in woodworking. These ends can be placed together to make up numerous square or rectangles llined up. This is a more expensive board because is requires more steps to make and needs precise construction to get all those dozens of squares to line up just right. End Grain boards are often more desirable due to the intricate patterns they create. Both are durable though and make great cutting surfaces.

Question 13

How do I add a police agency to get a badge made?

Accepted Answer

We are always adding agencies to our available lineup. We must need the graphic file for your agency to get the carve files started. These will be vector files in the format of a (SVG, AI, DXF) or similar true vector format. These files can be cumbersome to find but they do exist. Usually they can be found through the company that creates your badges or someone in the IT department.

Frequently asked questions