CUTTING BOARD INSTALL IDEAS ANYONE?

[joey2cool]

I've been chewing on this one for a while and decided the forum would be a good place to ask for some out-of-the-box thinking.

The standard SMB cabinet install includes a 2.5" sheet metal vent cover above the microwave. I think this piece comes in the microwave package from GE for install. There's a 2" cabinet piece above that for countertop attachment and support. Widths match microwave.

Please share specs (dimensions, parts, and possible purchase points) for install of a pull-out cutting board above the microwave. Concerns that need to be addressed are: (1) sufficient ventilation for the microwave, (2) methods for securing cutting board so that it doesn't fly out while driving, (3) hardware attachments methods, and (4) countertop structural support.

Pics of the area for install will be posted shortly. Thoughts and ideas much appreciated!

[jage]

I used 100lb drawer sliders- the heaviest available at Lowe's to make bolt drawers out of wood for my garage. Without any special consideration, a bit of inaccuracy in the exact width, they provide a very stiff but not unmanageable slide for most drawers. I would think a butcher block top, perhaps a thin version with deeper sides, on similar sliders would provide most of what you need.

[Edie]

Sounds like a very good place for a cutting board. I'm assuming you're talking about a wooden one?? I have a thin, flexible one that I use all the time for all three meals....cutting up fruit for breakfast, salad makings for lunch, etc....( no meat or fish ). I keep it on a little hanging rack that I made, just under a cabinet shelf. They are cheap, very light, easy to clean, and very durable. There are a lot of different kinds of "boards" to chose from these days, other than the wooden ones, as you may know.

This is just an idea...maybe you could use that space for something else, or......??

Bon Appetit!

Edie

[Skywagon]

I have a bamboo cutting board, approximately 12"X14" to the bottom of which I glued 4 round feet that I cut out of some thick rubber belting. The feet were spaced to just fit inside the four corners of the sink. When I'm moving, the cutting board lives over the sink with the 4 feet holding it from wiggling around. The worst that the roughest trail could throw at it won't displace it, but when I'm ready to use it I just lift it out of it's resting place and set it anywhere I like. And it won't slide around, because it has those nifty rubber feet.
If you don't have anything to make the feet out of, I'll bet you could find something appropriate if you cruise the aisles of your friendly hardware store or Home Despot.
Bill

[joey2cool]

Glad to have the conversation starting up. Turns out there is a propane line about 1.5" from the back cabinet wall, going straight up from the floor and doing a 90 degree elbow turn into the adjoining cabinet. That cuts out about 2" of the 21" counter depth I want to use.

The idea is to have a pull-out eating surface within close reach of the goucho across the aisle from the galley (floor layout includes middle aisle from front to rear of van). That way two could sit one on each side of the cutting board and use it like a table - better than bending over to eat from a plate on the galley counter.

Light but strong material would be good. Need to find a way to secure it in the galley slide-away slot for driving safety. For added safety, thinking of a tether at the back of it along with a front end rotating open/closed clip of some sort. Not a lot of space to work with. Cutting board slider hardware may need to be much tighter than a drawer slider, but I'll check out the local hardware store for more options.

Photo of planned location for cutting board install (maybe)...
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