$2 One-Handed Cutting Board Accessibility Prop

This is a pretty basic tool intended for disability and convenience accessibility. It lets you cut vegetables fruit etc one-handed. (I would not recommend using meat, for sanitation reasons, or else make one that ONLY is used with raw meat).

It's pretty simple and not perfect, but it only costs a few bucks to make. Most one-handed cutting boards average around $60 USD +, so this might be helpful if that's unaffordable.

Supplies:

• Thick plastic (about 1" x 2.5")
• Wide elastic (enough to be tight around the width of the cutting board when stretched)
• 18 gauge (or sim) stainless steel nails. (smooth, no threads)

Recommended:

• Plastic wrap (strongly recommended)
• A block of foam
• A mini hand-drill or awl
• Hammer
• Binder clip or similar

Cut the plastic into 3 rectangles, I left extra room so that I could clip them together later. Drill or pierce holes that are just smaller than the nails. I picked a 3-2-3 design for the nails, but you can do what suits you best! If you have a piece of foam or Styrofoam, I'd recommend putting it under the plastic. I used a binder clip to keep the holes all aligned.

Make sure all of the holes are lined up and drive the nails through all 3 layers. This is easiest to do by gently tapping a hammer on the head of the nail. I strongly recommend using a cushion layer under the nails, such as foam.

Afterwards, remove the last piece of plastic (furthest from the nail head). It may be easier to actually remove all the nails and put them back in the first 2 layers, than to just pull the last piece off.

Stretch the elastic over the nails so that it is pierced and held in place. Use a thin tool to press the elastic down into the gaps. Then repeat with the other end of the elastic from the other side, making a neat loop. Press the elastic into the gaps again.

The nails might be pretty crooked, but that's what the 3rd piece of plastic is for. Put it back onto the nails (you'll have to wiggle them around a little bit) and press it down as far as you can. Sandwich the elastic between layers of plastic. Be careful of the nail points.

I strongly recommend cutting a 3-4" wide strip of plastic wrap and wrapping it around the tool. Pierce the plastic wrap onto the nails each time it goes over them. This gives a replaceable layer between juice and the elastic, for cleanliness.

Strap it around a cutting board as shown and stab whatever you're cutting down onto the spikes.

Replacing the plastic wrap is fairly simply, but the elastic itself can also be easily replaced, since only the 3rd piece of plastic needs to be removed. No part of this is glued in place permanently.

I'd recommend using a piece of foam, styrofoam, or a layer of thick fabric over the nails for safe storage (image).