The obligatory cutting board

She’s a beauty… nice work!

-- Jeff, North Andover, MA

Beautiful combination of colors !

-- Dwight - "Free legal advice available - contact Dewey, Cheetam & Howe""

Great use of colors it looks fantastic

-- Everyone calls me Ed or Eddie , mom still calls me Edward if she is mad at me.

Thanks guys, appreciate the compliments!

-- John, BC, Canada

Great job on this cutting board, I have yet to join the ranks of “boardolegist”.
I did make one of solid maple with breadboard ends once …

-- Grumpy old guy, and lookin' good Doin' it.

A good looking board and a nice pile of shavings too! Nice combination of wood as well. Are you planning on making an end grain board next?

-- Jonathan, Denver, CO "Constructive criticism is welcome and valued as it gives me new perspectives and helps me to advance as a woodworker."

Thanks gents. I am planning an end grain board, and I am thinking that without a drum sander, the best way to flatten it might be with a low angle hand plane…?

-- John, BC, Canada

I know a lot of people will build and use a router sled setup, and from what I understand, they work quite well for the task. I have not built/used a router sled, as I have a drum sander, so no personal experience with it, but I figured I’d mention it, unless you prefer to go the hand tool route.

-- Jonathan, Denver, CO "Constructive criticism is welcome and valued as it gives me new perspectives and helps me to advance as a woodworker."

John, A Very pretty board, also would have been spectacular ‘sliced and diced’ into an end-grain type.

To answer your question, I have had no luck at all using hand planes on an end grain board, and I’ve tried a few times, even with ‘scary sharp’ irons and a low-angle plane. Find someone with a drum sander, or just resign yourself to a few hours of ROS duty! (From 60 to 220 grit is about right, depending on the wood used. The router sled approach mentioned above also sounds good, but not tried it on my CB’s.)

Looking forward to your next efforts!
Dale

-- Smitty

Thanks for the comments, I’ve considered a router sled, and might go that route.

Cheers.

-- John, BC, Canada

Very good looking board, the maple sure is white compared to the other woods, at first I’d say holly as I think it’s white. Grain orientation is important on all boards, keep track of the pieces on your end grain board. It makes the difference between good and great. My boards are ok at best but still working at it.

-- If you believe you can or can not do a thing, you are correct.