3D End Grain Cutting Board

Think you can make a professional looking cutting board? Try making one that looks 3D!  This project shows the steps I took to create a three dimensional end grain cutting board.  The 3D effect comes from the colors of the wood species I used.  I took walnut, sapele, cherry, and maple, and mixed them together to give the illusion of a 3D weave pattern.  Since the cutting board is end grain, it’s rock solid and pretty thick.  I made my end grain cutting board about 12x15” but you can make it as big as you want.  Just add more pieces or longer strips. 

• Walnut boards
• Cherry boards
• Sapele boards
• Maple boards
• Combination square
• Drum sander
• Random Orbit Sander
• 120 grit sandpaper
• 180 grit sandpaper
• 220 grit sandpaper
• Titebond Wood Glue
• Microjig Grr-ripper
• Butcher Block Oil

I milled the sapele and maple to a bit over 1/2” thick and cut the boards into strips slightly wider than 1”. I milled the walnut to a little over 3/4” thick and cut it to around 1-1/4” wide. The reason for not milling and cutting the boards to their final dimensions is that I have a little bit of room to cut them down to final size once I’m done gluing the pieces together.

The cutting board really only has two types of blocks that, when put together, make the 3D pattern. One is plain cherry, the other is a series of boards to form a complex looking block. To make those cool complex blocks, I cut 45 degree angles on the edges of the sapele and maple boards. When put together they form a triangle. My walnut strip fits perfectly into the space. All I need to do is make one cut in the walnut to create a triangle. Once those three pieces are cut, I glued them together and used blue tape to clamp everything tight. Once dry, I cut the strips to about 1” square.

The pattern requires plain cherry strips. I took a piece of cherry and cut it into 1" square strips. These need to be the same size as the complex ones we made in the previous step. You can make them smaller, perhaps 3/4" square. You can make them bigger, like 2" square. All that truly matters is that your cherry strips and the complex strips you made are exactly the same size.

The design of this cutting board is pretty straight forward. It alternates between those complex strips and a plain cherry strip. I milled a cherry board and cut it to them to 1” square so they match the strips we made in the previous steps. At this point, it’s time for the second glue-up. I glued the strips together, alternating the pattern. The most important part is ensuring the all of the pieces are in the same direction. You don’t want to have one of the pieces accidently facing the wrong way.

After the glue dried, I flattened the panel using the drum sander. My cutting board was too wide for the thickness planer, but if it was smaller the planer would be a good option. Now it’s time to make that cool 3D pattern. I used my table saw sled to slice the panel into the strips. These strips should be the thickness you want the cutting board, plus a bit extra. That extra room allows you to flatten the board after the whole thing is built. I cut mine slightly over 1” wide.

In order to make the pattern, turn the strips on their edges and put them together. Make sure that you have one complex block next to one cherry block by staggering the pieces. Glue the whole thing together.

Then it’s time for sanding. Lots of sanding. I sanded my board from 120 to 220 grit. I'm lucky enough to have a drum sander to do the rough sanding. This is what makes the cutting board flat. If you don't have a drum sander you can use a handheld sander or use a router to flatten the board.

I used a random orbit sander to sand the board thoroughly. Then I sprayed the board with water to raise the grain. Once dry, I sanded the board again with 220 grit.

I like to have bevels on my cutting boards. I cut 45 degree bevels along the bottom edges of all four sides. After a bit more sanding of the edges of the board, I applied finish. I keep cutting board finishes simple. I used some butcher block oil, which is a mixture of wax and mineral oil. The end result is a killer looking board that has an amazing 3D pattern.

Stand back and admire your work! You will now have an incredible looking cutting board that will also be the talk of your friends and family.