The construction type is the biggest decision to make when creating a cutting board as part of National Woodworking Month. There are three ways to build them: face-grain, edge-grain and end-grain. Each way gives a result in terms of how long it lasts, how kind it is to knives, how it looks and how hard it is to make. Face-grain boards are fast and easy to make, good for beginners.. They wear out faster. Edge-grain boards are a mix of lasting long and being easy to make for most people who work with wood. End-grain boards are the best for kitchens but they take more time, careful gluing and high-quality wood. The species you choose matters just as much as the construction method and that is where exotic hardwood lumber from Exotic Wood Zone gives your project a serious edge. This guide breaks down all three construction types so you can choose the right one for your skills, your shop time, and the best cutting boards you have ever made.
Understanding the Three Cutting Board Constructions
Before picking up your table saw, it helps to understand what each construction actually means and what it asks of your materials. All three types start from the same wooden cutting board stock; the difference is which face of the board meets the knife.
Face-Grain Cutting Boards: Fast, Beautiful, and Best for Display
A face-grain board uses the flat part of the wood plank as the cutting surface. This is the most natural-looking construction and the easiest to build. You are essentially surfacing and finishing a single board or gluing a few side-by-side for width. The beautiful patterns in hardwoods like Walnut or Cherry look great on a face-grain board. For example Walnut has streaked caramel tones and Cherry has a russet color.
The downside is that face-grain surfaces can get scratched easily over time. When you cut on it the knife goes across the wood fibers, which means scratches show up quickly. As a result the board may need frequent oiling to keep it from absorbing moisture. That being said, for a project, like a board or a gift, face-grain looks amazing and doesn't require much material or work.
Best for: display boards, gifts, quick weekend builds, beginners.
Edge-Grain Cutting Boards : The Everyday Workhorse
The edge-grain cutting boards have been turned 90 degrees so that they have their edges up. This gives you that wonderful look where all the grains run parallel, as seen in many professional-quality butcher blocks. The Edge-Grain Cutting Boards have the wood lines going in the direction of your knife so when you cut on them the knife just separates the fibers instead of cutting across them.
Edge-grain is a favorite of many craftsmen and woodworkers. It is hard enough to be used in any kitchen setting, flat enough to easily be sanded with a planer or drum sander than the difficult end-grain construction, and looks amazing with exotic lumber woods. Hard maple and walnut alternating boards are classics. Spice things up even further by adding an exotic species like padauk or purple heart to create the beautiful contrast you need, all done with just mineral oil to finish.
Best for: everyday kitchen use, intermediate builders, multi-species color designs.
End-Grain Cutting Boards: The Professional Standard
The end-grain structure means that the cut surface shows the cross-section of the fibers of the wood. It’s similar to cutting through a bunch of straws; the blade moves in between the fibers and closes back, creating a board that heals itself. That is why professionals and enthusiasts look for end-grain cutting boards for their unique properties. Also, they are considered the softest type of wood for your knives out of the three constructions.
But there are some difficulties with construction: end-grain means that the board is double-glued. Firstly, one glues the strips to get the panels, just like in edge-grain. Then they are cut into parts, rearranged, and glued to create the board. Flattening may be difficult because end-grain reacts differently to planing and sanding. Also, more wood is needed in such a construction. But it’s the best choice when your wood has to stand out and show its beauty. For example, figured Walnut and Hard Maple from a trusted source like Exotic Wood Zone.
Best for: serious kitchen use, experienced woodworkers, heirloom-quality projects.
Which Cutting Board Construction Is Right for Your Project?
It really depends on things: how good you are at making things, how much time you have to work on it this month and what you will use the cutting board for. Here is a simple way to decide:
-
If you are new to making cutting boards or do not have a lot of time you should make a face-grain cutting board. Just get a piece of nice Walnut or Cherry wood to make the surface smooth round the edges and put some mineral oil on it. You can finish your cutting board in one afternoon.
-
Comfortable with glue-ups and own a drum sander or thickness planer? Edge-grain is your best cutting board for this season. Plan a multi-species design using exotic thin lumber Maple, Walnut, and a single Purpleheart or Padauk accent strip deliver a professional result.
-
Experienced woodworker who wants a showpiece? Commit to end-grain. Use premium best wood cutting board species Hard Maple and Black Walnut are the proven combination. Source your stock from Exotic Wood Zone's 3/4" cutting board lumber collection, which is pre-dimensioned and ready for glue-up.
What Wood Species Should You Use for Cutting Boards This Month?
Species selection is where the best cutting boards separate themselves from ordinary ones. The ideal wood needs a tight, closed grain structure (to resist bacteria and moisture), a Janka hardness rating that is tough but not knife-destroying, and food-safe natural chemistry.
Hard Maple is the industry benchmark for wooden cutting board builds dense, pale, and antibacterial. Black Walnut offers slightly softer hardness for knife-friendly use with its distinctive chocolate color. The cherry wood brightens with age and works well with machinery. For people who prefer using exotic woods for projects, the Sapele can offer great stability and a warm interlocking grain that is tough enough to withstand use in kitchens, and the Teak wood features natural oil properties that keep it resistant to water.
In the Exotic Wood Zone catalog, there are a range of pre-dimensioned boards in different types of lumber including but not limited to Maple, Walnut, Cherry, Padauk, and Purpleheart among others that are already surfaced and ready for your use, which will save on preparation time.
Finishing and Maintaining Your Cutting Board
All wooden cutting boards (regardless of the material) are treated the same with regards to finishing. Sanding is done progressively from 80 Grit to 220 Grit. End grain should be sanded with 320 Grit to close the pores tightly. Apply 100% Food Grade Mineral Oil generously and soak overnight if possible. Buff the board using a mixture of beeswax and mineral oil for a protective satin finish.
Board maintenance requires re-oiling every one to two months for boards in regular use. A wooden cutting board should never enter the dishwasher because people should not leave it in standing water. A hardwood board constructed from premium wood cutting board materials like Maple and Walnut will last for multiple decades if people treat it properly.
Start Your Cutting Board Project with the Right Wood
National Woodworking Month is the ideal opportunity for making that cutting board that you've always wanted to make. Be it face grain, edge grain, or end grain, what separates an ordinary cutting board from an outstanding one can very well be attributed to the lumber that you use.
Exotic Wood Zone offers a selection of exotic lumber, exotic thin lumber, and 3/4" cutting board ready hardwood in some of the best species available to woodworkers. Browse the cutting board wood collection, pick your species combination, and have project-ready boards shipped directly to your shop. Your best cutting board is one good glue-up away.
Ready to build?
Shop Exotic Wood Zone's Cutting Board Lumber pre-surfaced hardwood in Maple, Walnut, Padauk, Purpleheart, and more. Shipped from Missouri, USA.