Step 1: Rip Wood Pieces
To create an end grain cutting board, gather butcher-block material.
Align board on a table saw and rip wood into strips of the same width as the thickness. For example, 1.5" x 1.5".
Lay out the pieces and cut the end grain facing up.
Recommended: KSB10-800 Fine Trim & Crosscut Sawblade
Step 2: Glue Parts Together
Arrange the wood parts between clamps and turn the side to be glued facing up.
Spread glue generously and evenly on the board with a piece of cardboard, a putty knife, or a brush. This ensures complete coverage.
Then, flip the pieces 1/4 turn with the end grain facing up. Stick the glued sides together and align the ends.
Once arranged, tighten the clamps evenly, a little at a time, until the glue is squeezing out between the joints, and they are tightly joined.
Carefully remove as much excess glue as possible. This can be done with a paint scraper or an old, dull chisel.
Let dry overnight. Then, remove the clamps and run through a table saw to square it up and trim the ends.
Recommended: KSB10-500 Rip & Crosscut Combination Sawblade
Step 3: Sanding Process
IMPORTANT: Excess glue must be removed before running the board through a wide-belt sander.
Flatten the board with a wide belt. Add pencil marks on the board to make it easier to follow the progress. We recommend a 60 grit CS311 Y Wide Belt, and then use 80 grit of the same material.
After the wide-belt sanding is complete, prepare the board for finishing with random orbital sanding.
Try using 80 grit PS33 Kling-On Discs (hook and loop) on a Spartan Random Orbital Sander.
Then, follow up with 100, 120, and 180 grit sanding discs.
Next, round edges with a 1/4" Roundover Router Bit (#2001).
Sand the entire piece with a 220 grit PS33 Kling-On disc.
Raise the grain by wetting the wood and letting it dry.
After that, lightly hand-sand the piece with KLINGSPOR's Fusion Foam Disc 280-380 Grit. This disc provides a light scratch that removes the ends of the raised wood fibers without exposing more.
Step 4: Finishing
Blow dust off the work piece and rub it down with a tack cloth to remove any stubborn dust particles.
Rub butcher block oil evenly on all parts of the board and wipe off any excess.
Let it dry for several hours. During this time, it will soak up most of the oil and will be ready for application #2.
After 2 to 3 coats, wipe off any excess oil that remains on the surface. Then, let it set to dry for several hours again.
Wipe board with a clean rag, and it is ready for use or display.
Recommended: General Finishes Butcher Block Oil *Exclusive at KLINGSPOR's Woodworking Shop
Did You Know?
- Both maple and walnut are hardwood, which is perfect to use with food. They are not as porous as other softer woods, yet not hard enough to dull a knife.
- Wood will not stick to the metal clamps. Glue expands wood fibers so they bond together, but it easily separates from metal.
- Because the fiber separates when you cut on an end grain board, knives are less likely to leave marks. That is why those boards are typically the most durable and long-lasting.
Featured Products
Fine Trim & Cross-Cut Saw Blade
KLINGSPOR's Fine Trim and Crosscut blade is designed for smooth crosscuts in a variety of materials like hardwoods, softwoods, and sheet stock like plywood, and chipboard.
This blade features the ATB, or alternate top bevel grind, where the alternating teeth are beveled to one side or the other at approximately 15°. This tooth configuration bears a sharp pointed tip that provides a neat clipping action for very fine finishes. Two teeth will span the entire width of the kerf and will provide a chip-free or splinter-free cut.
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Rip Cut & Combination Saw Blade
Rip & Crosscut Combination blade provides a great cross-over between ripping and cross-cutting. This blade features a tooth configuration of 4 Alternate Top Bevel teeth followed by one flat-top raker and an open gullet for chip clearance.
The ATB teeth provide a sharp clipping action that leaves a very fine cut while the rakers help to remove the material from the kerf. This is the perfect blade for a situation where 1 blade needs to serve several purposes. It is excellent at ripping and cross-cutting and also really good at cutting sheet goods like plywood and chipboard.
General Finishes Butcher Block Oil
A completely natural and safe mineral oil for butcher blocks, wood utensils, cutting boards and salad bowls. The oils in Butcher Block Oil meet all requirements for use with food.
*Sold exclusively at KLINGSPOR's Woodworking Shop.
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CS 311 Y Belt
CS311 truly shines when used for sanding various kinds of wood that have a tendency to clog up the abrasive. An open coat, superior tear resistance, a high removal rate and longevity are the main characteristics. Its antistatic properties keep dust from adhering to the belt.
PS 33 Disc
PS33 is our number one choice for universal woodworking applications. It combines a high removal rate for an unbeatable price.
You'll get efficient results, and increased longevity due to a stearate additive that prevents loading. The flexible paper backing allows for use on random orbital sander or hand sanding.
*The links below lead to the 5 inch versions.
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Spartan Sander
KLINGSPOR's Spartan Random Orbital Sander is a pneumatic Sander that runs with ease. It's comfortable to use and creates perfect sanding results with minimal effort.
It requires 90 PSI and has a variable speed option for up to 10,000 RPM. - 5" & 6" Models available. The Spartan features a male 5/16-24 thread to connect a suitable backing pad.
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Roundover Router Bit
Roundover bits are some of the most common bits found in shops. They are used for things from easing the edge of the work to more elaborate molding applications. They can also be used for creating a complete bullnose in two passes, or change the bearing and go from a roundover to a beading bit.
Roundover bits are available with or without a bearing, depending on the application and bit. Carbide tipped.
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Fusion Foam Disc
Fusion Foam possesses long-lasting & anti-loading characteristics with an incredible range of grit sizes make it one of the most diverse products on the market. The abrasive grain is directly fused to the foam leading to reduced heat build-up and loading. A very high flexibility allows for the use on flat and contoured surfaces, Fusion Foam adapts to the shape of your workpiece.
Unlike other abrasives that have a certain grit size, Fusion Foam operates within a grit range that can be reached by adjusting the RPM of your sander.
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