I have made several cutting boards in the past and I always used biscuits to assure  strength for glue joints.  Now I am about to make another one and I am wondering if biscuits are necessary. Would good waterproof glue work satisfactorily? I know that the ones I've made for my wife get cleaned, sanded and oiled about once a year or two. Another factor is life. After a few years she wants it replaced.......weather it is worn or just "ugly"  

 

I'm thinking that a good quality waterproof glue would work well. What are your thoughts?

depends on the dimensions involved.  what's the span, the thickness?  12" span, with only 1/2" thickness - that's going to break.

 

my standard size for end grain is 11x14, and i try to keep the thickness between 1-3/4" to 2".

 

always use Titebond 3.

 

anything thinner seems like i'm flirting with disaster.

I did break our 3/4" thick end grain board. In its defense, someone- who will remain nameless- left it set in a puddle of water over night. When I found it, it was in a "U" shape. Heating it in the oven brought it back to almost flat after which I added feet. I broke it trying to pound a cleaver through frozen meat.

 

As far as I know, all the other boards of similar thickness (and had feet) are in tact. I only used TiteBond II glue.

 

 

I really don't think the biscuits are needed for joint strength, though they may help with keeping everything aligned when you clamp it together.

I’ve built and sold several and never used biscuits.  Biscuits add no structural strength but are useful in alignment. Glue of choice is TB3.

Titebond 3 is waterproof and listed as food safe.

I have a cutting board maybe 17 years old. Made with3/4. Think that one was TB II and still going strong. No biscuits, just side grain glue up. 
 

we have another we bought 50 plus years ago but not used much last 20. This one has a glue line split. 

Here is one of the reasons I asked about extra support for cutting boards. I made the cutting board pictured possibly 20 years ago. It was made of 2 hardwoods and was stripes only. (No squares.) It became beat up from all those years usage. My wife wanted to toss it. I thought I'd try to make squares out of it. When I cut it up, it was full of biscuits. No wonder it had held up so well. I cut it up into strips across the grain and selected the best of the best and made this one. Its about a foot square. It shows wear, even tho I sanded it really well. I was VERY sure my wife would NOT like it. It seems that even after 50 years of marriage, I still don't know here tastes. She loved it. 

 

Edited October 14, 20214 yr by Ron Altier

Great re-use, Ron. That really shows its character!!!

I don't  think biscuits  Dowels or Festertool dominos  make an otherwise  optimal glue joint stronger.  Cutting boards  side grain  joints are plenty strong. 

I think mortised joints in furniture are  often required because the  joinery  doesn't  provide optimal gluing  circumstances so ya gotta improve them by adding surface area.

 

I use loose tenons  in good side grain glue ups like that, not for strength, but for alignment.   For alignment they are great. 

For a bunch of wood pieces that are over 20 years old, that is one awesome board.  It does show some history so it does not look new.  

 

Don't feel bad Ron.  I have a wife like that.  Right now, she has a rather weak diaphragm and talks to lowly it is barely above a whisper, yet she contends that I can't hear.  It's true, I don't hear whispers.  

On 10/27/2021 at 4:09 PM, FlGatorwood said:

For a bunch of wood pieces that are over 20 years old, that is one awesome board.  It does show some history so it does not look new.  

 

Don't feel bad Ron.  I have a wife like that.  Right now, she has a rather weak diaphragm and talks to lowly it is barely above a whisper, yet she contends that I can't hear.  It's true, I don't hear whispers.  

Boy are you in trouble when you get that hearing aid tuned up

What'd you say?  Can't hear with all this noise.