Okay well you asked for it and now you will get it. Here is the way I assemble an end grain cutting board. Lots of pictures so hopefully it will make it easy for you.

First I pick out a pattern I want to use and then decide on the wood I want to use with that partciular pattern. I will be doing two board in this blog.

So I plane the lumber so everything is the same size and then cut it into the sizes needed for the cutting board pattern.

So I take these pieces and put them together in an edge glue up first.

We are using Walnut, Maple and Paduk for this one.

I put a couple of blocks under the panel to keep it up and off the pipe clamps. Keeps me from having to put clear tape or other covers on the bars and it keeps them from touching the pane. I can then just lift it up and set it aside. Here I am just laying them out and checking my edges.

Next I turn them up and edge and spread the glue on all of the edges at once.

Once I put the glue on and clamp the panel, I wait until the glue looks like it is beginning to get firm and I take a putty knife and scrape off as much of the glue as I can.

So now we set this panel aside and glue up the other one.

When I am making them, I usually try to make a couple at time, cuts down on the amount of time I have in each one since I am already setup to make them. So here is the second one in the clamps.

This one is Walnut, Purpleheart and Maple

Once I take them out of the clamps, they are run back through the planner just to make sure they are good and flat.

So they are now flat are ready to true up the ends

Now it is time to put them on the crosscut sled and true up the ends.

And then I cut them to final length of 35".

Now I put my other sled on the saw and set a stop block at 1 1/4" to cut the pieces.

And we start cutting the pieces.

Now they are ready to lay out the pattern and start the next glue up.

I usually have a few extras as I have a size I try to make them. This one is one of my large size and it will be 17 1/2" long and 11 3/4" wide.

I glue them up in about 8 to 10 piece. I have tried glueing up the whole thing, but sometimes you get joints that may have some seperation.

So here is the first one glued.

After you glue up the two sections there always seems to be some bowing. I have seen several threads on forums about what causes this and no one has a final answer. So when you go to put the two halves together there is a gap that has to be straightened.

So it is over to the jointer and a couple of passes and they will fit nicely and almost not even notice where they go together,

Now we glue up the two halves and make one cutting board.

When they are taken out of the clamps, I sand them with my belt sander starting at 40 grit, 80, 120 and then switch to the ROS and sand to 220.

I use the sander to round over the corners.

Then take a 1/4" round over bit to soften the edges.

Now it is time to apply the finish. I use Mineral Oil that can be purchased at the Drug Store. A bottle will cost about 5.00 and will coat many boards.

Pour it on and rub it in. I usually put three coats on and before the last one goes on I sand it again with 220 on the ROS.

And there you have the an End Grain Cutting Board done My Way.

I hope this helps and that you will give it a try.

John Moody