I had a request to build several noodle boards as Christmas gifts, so it was off to Lowe’s for materials. Since time was short and all my work happens outdoors, I started with 24×36×¾‑inch appearance boards. I cut them to size and sanded everything smooth with 220‑grit paper. The side pieces—serving as the handles—were made from SYP planed down to ¾ inch.
I ordered the decals from Amazon and used Minwax stains for the finish. One board was stained in Espresso and the other in Dark Walnut. For the base finish, I applied four coats of Minwax oil‑based polyurethane, sanding lightly between each coat once dry. After that, I applied the decals and sealed everything with three coats of Minwax water‑based poly. Each layer was sanded smooth, and the final coat cured to a high‑gloss finish that should protect the decals for years.
The finished boards made their way to family: one went to my daughter from her husband, and the other became a Christmas gift for my granddaughter. She had originally asked me to build her a noodle board, so surprising her with it as her present felt like the perfect way to wrap up the project.
Decals: Elite Vinyls
