The backstory is we have a VW California Ocean - a campervan for those not familiar with the lingo and it's also the VW designed and factory made version, a T6 for those into the details. It has a sink on top of a cupboard and in that cupboard is a cutlery tray. One day I noticed this little gap above the cutlery tray and I had the idea that a chopping board - if made to just the right size - could fit nicely in there. And so it began...
The width and depth was easy, just measure the cutlery tray it was to sit on, but it needed a little experimentation to get the right height. I found I could fit a board 2cm thick, just about enough for a wooden board. Hurray. Any thicker and it can't fit due to the sink drain above. The dimensions actually make for a really nice size too. You can fit a pizza on it! There's nothing worse than using a tiny chopping board and have things roll off.
Happy with my personal project I went about my business but then it started nagging at me - this can't be an original idea can it? So I looked online and found you could buy exactly my idea but here's the thing - only chopping boards made of plastic resin. Those plastic boards are great for a dish washer but I'm not a big fan. I just imagine swallowing microplastics. Plus there's no dishwasher when camping anyway so why not enjoy a more naturally-made board. So I'm now giving it a go selling them. They make a lovely addition to a camping set up - a pretty wooden board / big size / space efficient. Campervans have a lot less space that motor homes or caravans so you need to make the most of the space inside.
I make the boards out of 7 strips. This is partly aesthetics to use different wood combinations but also practical. A chopping board 2cm thick could potentially cup over time - particularly if left to soak for a long time and then dry out. I use strips to counteract the cupping tendency of a solid wide board. Splitting the board into thin strips and then glueing back into a board should make it more stable. Plus its pretty! Beech and Walnut are two classic wood choices so I get to play with different versions. There's a big price differential between beech and walnut so I offer three versions - the all beech as the lowest price, all walnut the more expensive and the 50/50 mix in the middle. That seems simple enough and hopefully makes sense to buyers.
I never thought my furniture would involve making chopping boards. I don't want to sound too snooty but I had fine furniture, beautiful woods and brass fittings in mind for Okehill. So to find myself making chopping boards is a little unexpected but lets roll with it. I do also love a good product idea that solves a problem.
So I'm super excited to see if others enjoy my board as much I have. Happy Camping! Jez
