CNC Gift Idea - Custom Charcuterie Board

To say we’ve been having a blast with our CNC machine is an absolute understatement. The project ideas are literally endless! Today we decided to make a little CNC gift idea that would be so perfect for bringing to a Christmas party! Everybody loves a charcuterie board, but this one has a little custom twist with these cut-outs! Your host will love this gift, AND you’re bringing a snack to share. Win WIN!

We have the Shapeoko 5 Pro, and it’s amazing in so many ways!

*This post is sponsored by our friends at Carbide 3D. Thank you for supporting the fabulous brands that make Reality Daydream possible! This post contains affiliate links.*

I started out by drawing up my design in this CNC software called Carbide Create. Get the G-code to make your own here!

We had some houndstooth butcherblock countertop leftover from this build.

I cut our stock down to the size I designed the charcuterie board to and clamped it in the CNC router.

After initializing the machine, I pressed start! Let the magic begin! The CNC router came to life and started it’s roughing pass with a 1/4″ ball end mill.

I roughed out the material (taking more material out faster), then setup a final pass with the same ball end mill. The final pass is taking out a lot less material for a smooth finish product.

We cut the flourishes with a v-bit.

Aren’t those flourishes beautiful?!

I sanded all the flat surfaces of this charcuterie board with my orbital sander, and then sanded the cut-outs with a Dremel and this sanding bit. As always start with a low-number grit, and work your way incrementally to a high-number grit.

Then it came time for my favorite part… oil! Oiling down fresh charcuterie boards is one of the best things on God’s green earth. Look at that gorgeous woodgrain coming through! We always use mineral oil for charcuterie boards and wooden kitchen utensils. You definitely want something food-safe!

Time to load this baby up with goodies! I added some snacky foods, but I was also thinking it would be such a fun option to add ice cream toppings! Wouldn’t it be so fun to have chopped peanuts, mini chocolate chips, chopped Heath Bar, etc?!?!

I also realized this could be used as a traditional charcuterie board by just flipping it over if you want to go the meat and cheese route!

Wouldn’t this be such a great host gift to being to a party! Especially if it’s a ‘bring-a-snack-to-share type of party, because you’ve got both covered!!

What would you put on yours?!

~Bethany

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Be sure to check out our master list of DIY Handmade Gift Ideas!