Padauk Wood Cutting Board — Single-Slab, MCT Oil & Beeswax Finish, No Glue, No Chemicals

One slab of African padauk. Nothing else.

This board is cut from a single solid piece of African padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii) - no glue, no seams, no laminated strips. What you get is one continuous slab, edge to edge, finished only with organic MCT oil and beeswax.

Padauk grows in the tropical forests of West and Central Africa - Cameroon, Gabon, Nigeria and the Congo basin. It is the most colorful wood we work with: fresh from the mill it is a bright flame orange, and over time it deepens into a rich, vivid red. That color is the wood itself - no stain, no dye.

Made to order in Utah: every board is milled, sanded and hand-finished in my shop after you order. Please allow about one week before it ships.

Janka hardness: ~1,725 lbf. Harder than hard maple (1,450) and white oak (1,360), so it shrugs off daily knife work - yet softer than Purple Heart, which makes it easier on your knife edges.

A color that gets better. New padauk is a striking orange. With air and light it slowly matures into a deep, vivid red - every board ends up with its own shade. A light sanding and a fresh coat of oil brings back the brighter orange any time you want it.

Built for the kitchen. Padauk is dense, stable and naturally resistant to rot and decay, and it takes our MCT oil and beeswax finish beautifully - the grain comes alive the first time it is oiled.

Where it fits in the lineup: Sapele (~1,410 lbf) is our warm, classic everyday board. Purple Heart (~2,520 lbf) is the hardest. Padauk sits in between - and is the boldest color of the three.

Small - 6x8 - $85
Bar snacks, a lemon, a block of cheese. A great gift that does not take over the counter.

Medium - 10x12 - $130
The everyday board. Big enough for real prep, light enough to grab without thinking.

Large - ~12x17 - $170
The full prep surface - break down a chicken, roll out dough, or leave it out as the centerpiece of the kitchen. Length is 17"; width is at least 11" and usually 12" or more, depending on the slab.

Scalloped Charcuterie - ~19x12 - $220
Hand-cut scalloped edges in solid padauk. Made for serving - charcuterie, cheese, bread and appetizers look their best on that orange-red grain.

Bundle - Medium + Large - $270 (save $30)
One board for everyday prep and one for the big jobs.

All boards are about 1" thick (milled from 4/4 stock, typically finishing around 15/16"). Every slab is unique, so grain and exact width vary slightly.

Most cutting boards are strips of wood glued into a panel because it is cheaper to make. Every glue line is a weak point - a seam that can trap moisture and bacteria, and eventually split.

A single-slab padauk board has none of that. The surface is one continuous piece of wood, and nothing but wood, oil and beeswax touches your food.

• No glue: zero adhesives - not even "food-safe" ones
• Organic finish: MCT oil and pure beeswax - never mineral oil (a petroleum byproduct)
• Unfinished on request: want raw wood? Just send a note with your order
• Refinishable for life: sand it, re-oil it, and it is like new again

Why oil matters: wood warps mainly from moisture imbalance. The wood's natural oils wash out over time, so an occasional coat of MCT oil keeps the board healthy and beeswax helps seal it. We use MCT oil because it never goes rancid.

• Hand-wash only - no dishwasher
• Rinse with warm water, mild soap is fine
• Towel-dry immediately after washing
• Stand upright or lay flat to finish drying - do not store wet
• Apply a board conditioner made of MCT oil and beeswax periodically, or you can use our Organic MCT & Beeswax Board Butter (handcrafted with pure organic MCT oil and raw beeswax in a zero-plastic glass jar with a solid Sapele wood lid) to maintain the wood fibers and prevent cracking (never use mineral oil or rancidity-prone cooking oils).

Why MCT Oil & Beeswax Matter: Wood warps primarily due to moisture imbalance. The natural oils in the wood help prevent that, but those oils leach out over time with regular washing. Applying Organic MCT oil penetrates deep into the fibers to keep the board in great condition, and beeswax helps seal it. We use MCT oil because it never spoils and provides rich nutrients for both wood and people. Will it warp without oil? Yes, it is more likely, as untreated wood is much more susceptible to moisture imbalance.

Do not put in the microwave, freezer, or dishwasher. Avoid prolonged soaking in water.