What Makes Our Boards So Special?

Walk into any store and there is a multitude of cheap chopping boards to choose from mostly made in Asia from bamboo, which are very hard on knives.

Etsy and other online stores have thousands of boards so why choose a SAP Woodcraft board?

SAP Woodcraft is a family business located on the Mid North Coast of NSW that works with Australian hardwood timbers that have been sourced and harvested according to stringent government guidelines and environmental practices.

Firstly our boards are made from Australian hardwood timber, such as Spotted Gum, Blue Gum, Blackbutt, and Brush Box which are extremely durable and have naturally occurring anti-bacterial properties. Hardwood's tight grain and small pores are best for chopping boards and help to reduce the scoring of the chopping surface and absorption of liquid and are easy to keep hygienically clean.

A 1993 study from the University of Wisconsin found that bacteria multiples more readily on plastic, as opposed to a wood surface. When tested, their results revealed that bacteria didn’t survive on the wood board, but multiplied (and even thrived) on the plastic boards.

The secret is in our manufacturing process. Firstly we select timber that looks amazing with a beautiful grain structure and appearance.

Once we have decided on the size of the board and whether it will be face or edge grain we cut and plane the timber to the required size, taking care to orient the timber to highlight the grain and features.

Then comes the long process of sanding and finishing the boards which ultimately is what ensures our boards last are durable and aesthetically beautiful, making it the perfect centrepiece for your kitchen.

Sanding involves working through the various grits 80, 120, 150, 180, 220, and 320 up to 400 grit so the boards are as smooth as possible. Most commercial boards stop at 80 or 120 grit. Our boards are wet with water between each grit to “raise the grain” to ensure your board won’t go fury after you wash it like a commercial board

Finally, the boards are finished in a food-safe mineral oil to soak into the grain then buffed with a beeswax and oil blend to seal and protect the board and keep it looking great for a long time.

All this takes time which is why SAP Woodcraft boards are more expensive that other commercial boards but we know our boards will last and continue to look great for a very long time.

In fact, I had a lady come up to me at a recent market to tell me that she had purchased a board from me 18 months ago, uses it every day and it still looks amazing.

It’s this care to detail and professionalism that is what makes Woodcraft boards so special.