Tips for Making an End Grain Cutting Board
Building an End Grain Cutting Board
End grain cutting boards use the lumber’s top and bottom edges as the cutting surface. This differs from traditional face grain cutting boards, which have these edges on the sides. End grain cutting boards are often preferred due to their durability and visually appealing style. Compared to their face grain cousins, end grain cutting boards do not show as many cut marks and can be created in a variety of complex patterns.
How do you make your own cutting board?
End grain cutting boards can be as simple or as complex as you want. Start by determining the size cutting board you want, specifically the thickness. The cutting board’s thickness has a big impact on the amount of materials you’ll need. The cutting board is essentially mini pieces of wood standing upright. How short do you want those pieces? The taller they stand up, the thicker the cutting board and the more material you’ll need to build it. To create a straight forward cutting board, consider one with a thickness between 1 to 1-1/2” thick. Anything thicker can look too chunky unless it’s a pretty large cutting board.
How much lumber do you need?
If you are making a face grain cutting board and want it 18” long, you simply use 18” long boards. However, this doesn’t work for end grain cutting boards because you have to cut multiple short pieces of wood and stand them on end. To determine how much material it will take and how many of wood pieces are needed, you have to do a little simple math. Here's the formula for calculating how much material you’ll need to make an end grain cutting board:
Desired cutting board length ÷ Thickness of the material = Total pieces needed
Total pieces needed x Desired cutting board thickness + (Saw blade kerf x Total pieces) = Total length of lumber needed
Desired cutting board width ÷ Width of the material = Total number of boards
Here’s an example. You want to make a 12” wide x 18” long end grain cutting board. Your lumber is 3/4” thick and 4” wide. You’ve decided your cutting board should be 1-1/4” thick. Your table saw blade is 1/8” wide so you will lose this much material every time you cut (also called the “kerf”). Here is the how much lumber you need:
18” long cutting board ÷ 3/4” thick material = 24 pieces standing upright and glued together
24 pieces x 1-1/4” thick cutting board = 30” long boards + (1/8” wide kerf x 24 pieces) = 33” long lumber
12” wide cutting board ÷ 4” wide boards = 3 pieces of 33” long lumber
The below pictures show the lumber necessary to make an 18” long end grain board. When using 3/4” thick lumber, It takes a 33” long board, cut into 24 slices, to make an 18” long end grain cutting board. This is the bare minimum material length needed, but I always recommend using a little extra wood just in case. Adjusting some of the dimensions plays a big factor. Let’s say you decide to use 1” thick boards instead of 3/4”. An 18” long cutting only needs 18 pieces, not 24. This then impacts the rest of the math.
Upgrade Your Cutting Board Design
A plain cutting board can be beautiful, but many woodworkers want to make something with a little more style. That’s why I designed my classic cutting board. As it’s name suggests, it has a classic pattern that isn’t plain, yet isn’t over the top. It makes the best use of two wood species and doesn’t require a lot of different, exotic types of wood. This cutting board is what chefs wish they could use! It is stunning and really not that difficult to make.
You can build this beautiful cutting board by following the project build video above. If you want more details on how to make your own version of this cutting board, my project guide walks you through each step and measurement. I show how to create the pattern, make each part, glue methods, and ultimately how to build a professional looking cutting board that will be the perfect woodworking gift for anyone with a kitchen. Follow this guide and you’ll be able to make this cutting board in no time!
What tools do you need?
When it comes to woodworking, there’s almost always multiple ways to do something. This is great because woodworkers have a wide range of skills and tools. Below are some tools and materials that can help you to make an end grain cutting board. Don’t feel like you have to use a specific tool. You can get creative with your build process based on the tools and skills you possess. There are other things you may need to make your project, but I find these important to highlight. For transparency, no brand or company is sponsoring this article. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Table Saw
A table saw is the linchpin to making a cutting board. You don’t need the largest, most powerful saw on the market. Every day woodworkers make beautiful projects using a variety of table saws. Regardless of the price, the table saw needs to be stable, safe, and accurate.
Saw Blade
End grain cutting boards often require cutting a lot of lumber. I recommend using a good quality saw blade. Pick one that gives you clean cuts. Burn marks are a sign of a dull or dirty saw blade. If you plan to use fairly thick lumber, look for a saw blade with less teeth. This gives plenty of room for saw dust to escape.
Thickness Planer
As with anything you build, you want flat lumber when making a cutting board. I find a thickness planer indispensable in the workshop. It allows you to buy rough lumber, which is cheaper than lumber already flattened. It also lets you mill wood to the thickness you want instead of being stuck with what is sold at the store or lumber yard.
Wood Glue
There are a lot of wood glues on the market, but don’t overlook the importance of picking one with the right features. Cutting boards will need to be washed. That means water. Pick a waterproof glue. There are water resistant glues out there. Skip those and just go for waterproof. Plus, these sometimes have a longer open time so you don’t have to rush as much during glue-up.
Clamps
The old saying is true, “You can’t have enough clamps.” You’ll need clamps with the capacity for holding the size cutting board you’re making. I have a whole article on different types of clamps. That may help you to pick out the right ones based on your workshop needs and budget.
Drum Sander
End grain cutting boards are more difficult to sand smooth than face grain boards. It takes more time and effort to sand end grain. Once you’ve created the cutting board, it will need to be flattened. Some people use a router and specially made jig. Others spend literally hours upon hours with an orbital sander. I opt for a drum sander. This tool is fantastic and I firmly believe I would not enjoy building some of the projects I make without a drum sander.
Cutting Board Finish
Since your cutting board will touch food, pick a food safe finish. A popular fad online is a “mineral oil bath.” Please don’t do this. Yes, it’s an option. Yes, mineral oil is food safe. It also doesn’t dry. Soaking a cutting board is entirely unnecessary and it could weep mineral oil for a long time. I tested some a few years ago and they still leave oily marks on a table top. Grab a finish with a mix of food safe wax and a little mineral oil. Rub it over the board and wipe off the excess. Simple and effective.
This information should help to get you started making an end grain cutting board. There are a lot of design aspects to choose from, but the information in this article is the foundation to making a cutting board, regardless of the pattern. If you really want to test your skills, here are some pretty cool end grain cutting board ideas that may inspire you to get in the workshop.
