Raw Macrocarpa Chopping Board | Unsealed & Untreated | Axe & Co
A New Zealand Classic. Pure, Safe, and Built to Last.
Bring a piece of authentic Kiwi heritage into your kitchen with the Axe & Raw Macrocarpa Chopping Board. Handcrafted to order here in New Zealand, this board is designed to provide the ultimate, food-safe preparation surface for your family without the use of toxic varnishes, synthetic resins, or mineral oils.
We leave our boards completely bare because when it comes to food safety, nature knows best. 🌿 The Magic of Solid Macrocarpa Timber
Macrocarpa is a deeply loved New Zealand timber, and for good reason. It is the perfect balance of beauty, function, and natural protection:
Naturally Antibacterial: Macrocarpa is renowned for its exceptionally high natural resistance to bacteria and decay, making it one of the absolute best timbers for food preparation.
Aesthetic & Aroma: Featuring a beautiful, warm golden-honey tone and a very faint, pleasant aromatic scent, it brings an earthy, rustic elegance to your benchtop.
Knife-Friendly Density: It has the perfect density—hard enough to withstand daily chopping, yet yielding enough to protect the delicate edge of your expensive chef's knives from dulling. 🔬 The Science of Raw Wood: Why Unsealed is Safer
Recent food safety science shows that untreated wood naturally fights bacteria better than plastic or sealed wood.
Natural Bacteria Trapping: Because we don't seal our boards, the wood remains naturally porous. Through capillary action, the raw wood pulls moisture and surface bacteria deep beneath the surface where it is trapped and quickly dies off. Sealing the wood blocks this incredible natural defense mechanism!
Zero Microplastics: Every time you chop on a plastic board, microscopic plastic shards end up in your food. With our raw Macrocarpa board, you guarantee that nothing but pure, natural timber touches your meals. 🧽 Care Instructions: Keep It Raw, Keep It Upright
Your Macrocarpa board is a natural, breathing piece of timber. Follow these simple steps to keep it perfect for a lifetime:
Hand Wash Only: Wash with hot, soapy water immediately after use. Never soak the board, and never put it in the dishwasher.
The Golden Rule – Dry Upright: Always stand your board on its edge to dry. Laying a wet board flat on your benchtop causes uneven drying, which is the leading cause of warped wood.
Skip the Oil: Let your board dry fully between uses and leave it unsealed so its natural antibacterial properties can continue to work. 🛠️ What to Do If Your Board Warps
Because it is 100% natural and untreated, your board may slightly bow or "cup" if it absorbs moisture unevenly. This is easily fixable using the Water & Weight Method:
Identify the "concave" (shrunken/bowed inward) side and lightly dampen it with a wet cloth.
Lay the board flat on your counter with the bulging (convex) side facing up.
Place a heavy, flat object (like a heavy pan or stack of books) on top.
Leave it for 24–48 hours. As the moisture equalizes, the board will press perfectly flat again! 📏 Product Specifications
Timber: 100% Solid New Zealand Macrocarpa
Finish: Completely raw, unsealed, and untreated
Origin: Handcrafted to order at Axe & HQ, New Zealand
Sizing: We strive to supply a 'standard' size which we deem optimal for a multipurpose chopping board. Boards will be within our tolerances to the specified dimensions listed. Any boards produced that are outside this tolerance will be listed separately with alternate sizing specified.
Please Note: Although we strive to produce our boards as naturally as possible, some boards may include a very small amount of food safe, water resistant glue. This is only used when necessary to stabilize any small cracks or imperfections that may have occurred in the timber, during the initial drying and preparation process.