Sasha wrote:
After having a doizen or so comercial cutting boards split and thrown
into trash I want to make my own. Can someone give me guidance how to
make it so it won't split, how to finish it, if it at all, etc. Most
important for me is it shoiuld be very durable as I don't want to make
it every month. I plan using maple to make it.

Cutting board or chopping board (block)?

I have each. One cutting board of maple no more than 3/4" thick (maybe
less) about 12" x 18"; one of hickory that is bigger and about 1" thick; one
chopping board/block of hickory about 1 1/2" thick by 7" x 7". Chopping
boards are meant for whacking as well as slicing, cutting boards for
slicing.

All are glued up with type 2 yellow glue. All are finished with boiled
linseed oil.

The smaller maple board is made of three boards edge glued. One side has a
"blood groove" routed out near the perimeter with a 1/2" core box bit, other
side is smooth. It stays on a counter standing up where it is handy for
slicing bread, etc. It was made at least 16 years ago.

The hickory board is made from numerous 1" x 1" strips. It lives on a slide
under the counter top over the trash bag so trimmings can just be pushed off
into the trash. It can easily be lifted out and put on the counter. It was
made 8-9 years ago. Double sided just like the smaller maple one.

The hickory block has end grain as the cutting surface. It was made by
gluing up seven or eight 1" x1" strips of hickory, each 24" long. I made
three of those then cross cut them into 1 1/2" pieces and glued those pieces
together. Extra was used to turn four small feet so it stands maybe 1-2"
above the counter where it lives...handy for slicing an onion or tomato,
whacking or trimming a chop. It too was made 8-9 years ago; in fact, I made
15 of them as gifts. Mine is still in first rate shape, presume the others
are as well.

Someone mentioned using polyethelene...not a bad choice at all but the
consensus is that wood harbors the least bacteria. Its prettier too

The wood boards really don't need a finish but I use BLO anyway just to make
them pretty. Yes, it wears off. Food safe? Yes when dry. Type 2 glue
food safe? Don't know but I sure wouldn't worry about it being so...neither
the glue nor the BLO are going to be sucked into whatever you cut.

As far as splitting goes, if the wood is seasoned when you use it and the
glue surfaces are straight and smooth it isn't going to split. To clean,
rinse and dry. Use a bit of soap THEN rinse and dry if need be. No
dishwasher though.


dadiOH