An end-grain cutting board is truly a worthy investment, as is picking up the skill of making one. There are lots of popular types of wood in woodworking, but which will be best for an end-grain cutting board?
Let’s take a look at how an end-grain cutting board is different from other types, what types of wood are good for this product, and which of those is best.
What Is an End-Grain Cutting Board?
End-grain cutting boards are created by gluing several cross-cut strips of wood with the end of the grain (the top and bottom edges of the board) face-up.
By orienting the fibers of the wood vertically, the material is able to move and part to accommodate knives and cutting blades when they scrape the surface. This design is the least damaging on your blades and is gentle on the wood itself, showing fewer knife marks in general than face and edge grain boards.
Of the three designs–edge grain, end-grain, and face grain—end-grain is the most susceptible to warping and cracking. This is because contact with moisture makes the end fibers of the wood stand up. Especially if soaked or if water stands for a long time, the fibers can swell, causing warping, and potentially cracking when the wood dries. It’s especially important to keep end-grain cutting boards well-maintained and sealed.
During the assembly process, end-grain cutting boards take an especially long time to sand. The cutting board’s surface must be saturated with water (never submerged, just sprayed wet) and allowed to dry before the final sanding. This allows the end fibers to swell and feather, which will then be knocked down on the next pass with the sander. Without this step, even if it seems like you have a smooth surface, the finish will be ruined the first time the board gets wet.
How Do End-Grain Boards Compare to Face and Edge-Grain?
Edge-grain boards are made by gluing several strips of wood together with the sides of the boards face-up. They are very sturdy but will dull knives over time because the fibers do not part easily to accommodate the knife blades. This means that marks from the knife blades will show more easily than with end-grain boards.
Face-grain cutting boards are made from wood that has the face side facing up. These boards can be the most striking boards to create, as they show the grain far more than edge and end-grain boards. They can be made from a single piece of wood or from several strips glued together. Face-grain boards are the easiest to make, but they show knife marks very easily and dull knives over time.
6 Types of Wood Suitable for Making End-Grain Cutting Boards
The type of wood that’s best for end-grain cutting boards should be between 850 – 1,600 lbf on the Janka hardness scale, and it should have a relatively straight grain and medium to fine texture with a closed grain. Here is a list of six kinds of wood that meet these criteria.
Maple
Hard maple, or sugar maple, will always be at the top of the list for suggested cutting board materials. It is a domestic hardwood with a hardness of 1,450 lbf. The grain is generally straight, though sometimes wavy, with an even, fine texture and closed pores.
The color of maple wood ranges from white to creamy off-white in color. This wood is the most popular choice for cutting boards in North America as it is beautiful and easy to find, though it falls in the moderate to high price range.
Maple offers excellent moisture resistance and durability. It is a sustainable option, and widely available. This wood’s closed grain gives it natural bacterial and moisture resistance, and it requires no special maintenance. Maple should, however, be cleaned with warm, soapy water. A finishing oil is required to avoid warping and cracking, which should be reapplied at least once a quarter.
Walnut
Chosen for its naturally rich, brown tone, walnut is another popular decorative choice for cutting boards. Most often, black walnut is used, which rates at 1,010 lbf on the Janka scale. With a mostly straight grain, this wood also features appealing wavy, spiral, and crotch patterns. It has a closed grain with a medium texture and is moderately priced.
Walnut is chosen for its hardness and moisture resistance, beauty, and workability. This is another board that is resistant to bacterial growth and requires minimal care. Periodic oiling is needed, and it can be cleaned regularly with warm, soapy water.
Beech
Beech, most often American beech, has a light creamy tone that’s very similar to maple. Its grain is straight with closed pores and is rated at 1,300 lbf on the Janka scale. Beech is easy to find and is low to moderate in price.
Often, beech is used as a maple alternative because of its similarity in hardness, coloration, and lower price point. This wood typically has less of a visible grain than maple, so that should be noted prior to choosing it as a substitute. It is durable, moisture-resistant, and easy to find. Care is very much the same as other closed-grain hardwoods; wash in warm soapy water and periodically recoat with finishing oil.
Learn more about using beech for cutting boards
Cherry
Often used for ornamental designs, domestic cherry wood ages from a pink to a dark reddish-brown over time. It has a mostly straight grain, but sometimes curly patterns can be seen. Chery wood is one of the softer materials used for cutting boards, coming in at 950 lbf. The texture is fine with a closed grain. The cost is moderate, and it is also easy to find.
Sometimes this material may be used as a less expensive substitute for mahogany, though it does lean redder in tone. Because cherry is softer, it is better suited for end-grain boards to mask knife marks (that could easily be seen on face and edge-grain boards). Cherry cutting boards need only be cleaned with soap and water, with regular finishing oil recoating.
Teak
Teak is a golden to medium brown exotic hardwood native to Asia. It can have a straight, wavy, or interlocked grain. It has a coarse, uneven texture and an open grain. Rated at 1,070 lbf on the Janka scale, this wood is very durable. It is moderately to highly-priced.
Though open grain isn’t recommended for cutting boards, teak makes the list because of its naturally mold-resistant, and antibacterial properties. It retains its natural oils after being cut, so it also needs no additional maintenance aside from gentle cleanings. It’s incredibly durable, though its high silica content can dull knives faster than any other wood on this list.
Birch
Ranging from a light reddish-brown to nearly white in appearance, birch has a slightly wavy grain with a fine and even texture. Its grain is closed with a uniform, plain appearance. Like beech, its grain marks are on the lighter side, though it has more interesting patterns and mineral streaking. It is very sturdy with a hardness of 1,470 lbf.
The key feature of birch is its strength, though it has a tendency to crack when it becomes too dry. Care for birch cutting boards involves gentle cleaning with soap and water followed by regular generous reapplications of protective oils.
Learn more about using birch for cutting boards
What Is the Best Type of Wood for an End-Grain Cutting Board?
The most popular and reliable cutting board choice by far is maple. Preferred by professional chefs and home cooks, maple is an excellent choice. It is very sturdy, lasts for years, and is beautiful in its simplicity.
In the world of cutting boards, maple is considered a premier wood. Its fine texture can be sanded to a smooth, shiny finish, showing off its gorgeous natural luster. This, combined with its durability and versatility, makes it the best choice overall.
If maple is too light in color for your tastes, the next best option for an end-grain cutting board is walnut. It offers excellent hardness, moisture resistance, and a medium texture for good workability. Walnut will also save you a bit of money, as it’s a bit less expensive than maple, and the finished result can be just as effective.
Summary
Whether you’re planning out a simple, top-of-the-line end-grain cutting board or a highly ornamental design with varying colors and tones, this article should have served as a guide to provide you with different types of wood to get started.
Not only do you have a short list of woods to start with, but you now know the criteria for suitable materials, and that knowledge will help carry you forward into your next design.