I have been reading lately about guys making end grain cutting boards. I've made cutting boards, but never an end grain. Well, today I made a practice run and I may just use it as a bread cutting board.

Then I made a bigger board and it don't look bad at all. What did I learn???? I learned that there should be a little more planning before cutting the strips of wood. There is a design, but the different colors don't overlap the opposing piece the way it should. What else did I learn???? I learned that when the whole face of what your sanding is all endgrain.................whow..............that is tough sanding. I used my

16-32 drum sander and the adjustment was less than 1/16 turn per pass............or it would kick the breaker. Whow!!!!              What did I learn?????                These things ain't as easy as I thought. But......it's done and the mineral oil is soaking in as I speak. I'll see about posting a photo tomorrow.

wonderful Gary! Can't wait to see it. Yep, seems like a pretty straight forward build doesn't it? Until you get into it! Like you alluded to, the end grain is also hard as rock, I guess that's why it makes great cutting boards.

The 16/32 does trip it's own breaker pretty easy sometimes. Light passes as your finding out is the key.

Thanks for sharing Gary, so, pics tomorrow?

Gary, I have found that I make about four passes before I turn the crank again. I might turn it an 1/8 turn but not much more. It takes a little while to sand one smooth. I start with 80 grit on my 16/32 but I go to 120 grit on my belt sander to get the sanding marks out. It is faster with my belt sander than the drum sander. I then go to 120 on the ROS and then 220 then take my finish sander and sand it to 400 grit. They will be hard and slick.

 

I have a blog on here about the way I make them.

 

 

John...........really what I learned here was.............I shouldn't attempt these things again. But..............I'm mad now, and I will try again.............and again................and probably again. There is a challenge here..........and I have some spare wood just lay'n around.

John Morris said:

wonderful Gary! Can't wait to see it. Yep, seems like a pretty straight forward build doesn't it? Until you get into it! Like you alluded to, the end grain is also hard as rock, I guess that's why it makes great cutting boards.

The 16/32 does trip it's own breaker pretty easy sometimes. Light passes as your finding out is the key.

Thanks for sharing Gary, so, pics tomorrow?

I have used the multiple passes before on things like raised panel doors that are glued up segments. I guess I didn't think of it here. Plus, I was to lazy to take the 120 grit out and go courser. I did think it was funny that after I got things smoothed out on the drum with 120 grit.................I used 80 grit on my orbital to get the 120 grit sanding streaks out. I finished with 280 grit. I figured that was fine enough..............for the girls I go with!!!!

John Moody said:

Gary, I have found that I make about four passes before I turn the crank again. I might turn it an 1/8 turn but not much more. It takes a little while to sand one smooth. I start with 80 grit on my 16/32 but I go to 120 grit on my belt sander to get the sanding marks out. It is faster with my belt sander than the drum sander. I then go to 120 on the

ROS

and then 220 then take my finish sander and sand it to 400 grit. They will be hard and slick.

 

I have a blog on here about the way I make them.

 

 

Everyone that walks by my table at the craft show wants to rub their fingers across my cutting boards. They can't believe how smooth they are. They just stand there rubbing them. I think I should start charging for rubbing the cutting boards.

Are they rubbing..........or caressing your work???? No matter............charge'm two bits a rub...........four bits to caress. You'll be a rich man.

John Moody said:

Everyone that walks by my table at the craft show wants to rub their fingers across my cutting boards. They can't believe how smooth they are. They just stand there rubbing them. I think I should start charging for rubbing the cutting boards.

Ok.......here it is. I'm sorta happy with it. I'm not planning to sell or give it away.

It is roughly 14-1/2x16x1-1/4. I used walnut, maple and cherry. The real part that I need to work on is hopefully visable in the close-up view. There is a strong 1/16"overlap when if there had been good planning, it would have been either a flush straight line or overlapped to help out in a design.

I drowned this thing with about 4 heavy coats of mineral oil yesterday afternoon and then when I quit for the day...........I really laid it on. I can't believe it..............it's all soaked in.

For some reason..........I can-not load directly. Maybe it's cuz I'm computer dumb. Anyway.......hopefully they are included and you just have to click to view

 

Gary that looks fine. You did a good job on it.

 

Here is one that I finished last week for the Craft show on Friday. It is Cherry, Maple and Walnut also.