This cutting board was developed by OKA Factory, a manufacturer specializing in leather craft tools.

We have long been concerned that the cutting boards offered by other companies are too hard for leather crafting tools.
This product was born out of our desire to create a cutting board that would not damage the blades of our tools or the
leather itself.

Previous cutting boards had three drawbacks:
① Because they are so hard, they damage the blade of the chisel.
② The holes made by the chisel bulge out, and this bulge leaves marks on the leather.
③ Because they are so hard, they bounce back when struck, making the impact noise extremely loud.

In the old days, leather craftsmen would sit cross-legged with a log in their arms and use a chisel to punch holes in the leather.
We drew inspiration from that history and Japanese tradition for our development.
We completely reimagined the cutting board from scratch and created a wood-grain cutting board that is gentle on blades.
We determined the optimal hardness of the cutting board to match the hardness of various tools, such as chisels, round hole punches, and skiving knives.
Just like the combination of a Japanese kitchen knife and a wooden cutting board, it won’t damage the blade.
It can be used on both sides and is designed for repeated use. (See Maintenance section.)
The fine, textured grain pattern helps the leather conform to the cutting board and also acts as a non-slip surface.



【Characteristics】
—Leather-friendly—
We’ve carefully selected the cutting board material to reduce the bulging that occurs when holes are punched.
Even when tapping the leather with the grain side facing down, scratches from the cutting board are barely noticeable.


—Improving Chisel Penetration—
We designed this cutting board to have a hardness that allows the chisel to penetrate easily with minimal effort.
If the cutting board is too hard, it will push back, making it difficult for the chisel to penetrate.
We developed this product with the goal of achieving a balance—neither too hard nor too soft.


—Gentle on Chisel Blades—
If you use a hard cutting board, the blade tip will snap when you pull the chisel out.
This is because it’s the same as clamping the blade tip in a vise and shaking it back and forth and side to side.
A cutting board must have just the right amount of softness.
We set out to create a cutting board that prevents the blade tip from snapping.


—About the Hardness of Our Cutting Boards—
We’ve paid special attention to the hardness of our cutting boards.
Our chisels are manufactured after measuring the metal’s hardness during the hardening process.
We select the metal hardness (HRC) best suited for leather crafting and perform the hardening accordingly.
From the perspective of a factory specializing in leather crafting tools, we’ve created cutting boards with the exact hardness we want our customers to experience.


—About Thickness—
We’ve designed this product with a thickness of 30mm, a specification not found in conventional models.
This increased thickness offers several advantages:
① It reduces the noise of impact.
② When struck, it does not bounce back.
③ It can be used with cutting dies such as clickers.
④ With proper maintenance, it can be used for a long time.
(*Note: The S size is 20mm thick.)


—About the Sticker—
This sticker indicates that the product is an OKA Factory original.
It certifies that the product is suitable for chisels and leathercraft.


—About the Country of Manufacture—
All products are made in Japan.


—About Sizes—
(Height × Width × Thickness)
S 100mm × 150mm × 20mm
M 150mm × 200mm × 30mm
L 200mm × 300mm × 30mm
XL 300mm × 350mm × 30mm
XXL 300mm × 450mm × 30mm
3XL 300mm × 650mm × 30mm


—Maintenance—
① You can easily flatten it with a roller.
② You can restore a well-used cutting board with an iron.


—About Pricing—
Since cutting boards, like vinyl boards and cutting boards for Japanese knives, are consumable items, we’ve kept the price reasonable and affordable.
You can use both the top and bottom sides, making it a cost-effective choice.



[Caution]
Do not press the chisel too deeply into the cutting board.
This can cause the blade tip to break.
(This is the same principle as clamping the chisel blade in a vise and wiggling it back and forth or side to side.)
Whether you press the chisel deeply or lightly into the leather, the stitching will not change.