Handmade End Grain Cutting Board
$130.00
Custom end grain cutting board for everyday kitchen use, built from hardwood blocks turned on end. An end grain board is built from hundreds of small hardwood blocks turned on end, so your knife slips between the wood fibers instead of slicing across them. That is easier on your knife edges, and the board hides knife marks. Each board is thick and heavy, with a routed juice groove and non-slip rubber feet, and we can engrave a name or message in the corner.
- True end grain construction: easy on knives and self-healing
- Choose a bold striped pattern or a one-of-a-kind mosaic
- Routed juice groove and non-slip rubber feet
- Optional laser-engraved name, monogram, or message
Custom End Grain Cutting Board
End grain boards take far more work than a standard cutting board, and you can see why the moment you pick one up. The wood is cut into strips, glued, cut again across the grain, turned on end, and glued a second time. The result is a checkerboard of end grain blocks that is beautiful, durable, and kind to knives.
We make two styles. The striped board alternates bands of dark walnut with lighter hardwoods like cherry and maple, for a clean, modern look. The mosaic board is built from offcuts of many boards in a random pattern, so every square has its own grain and color, and no two are alike.
Both styles are surfaced flat, given a routed juice groove to catch drippings from a roast or fresh fruit, and set on rubber feet so the board stays put on the counter and air can circulate underneath.
Features
- End grain construction: gentle on knife edges; the fibers close back up after each cut.
- Juice groove: routed around the face to catch liquid.
- Non-slip feet: rubber feet keep it steady and lift it off a wet counter.
- Food-safe finish: Walrus Oil Cutting Board Oil and Wood Wax.
- Optional engraving: a name, monogram, or message in the corner.
Make It Yours
- Style: striped (walnut, cherry, and maple) or mosaic (mixed hardwoods).
- Engraving: a family name, monogram, “Mom’s Cutting Board,” or a short message.
- Juice groove: included by default; ask for a plain face if you prefer.
- Feet: included by default; leave them off for a reversible board.
Materials and Construction
We start with rough hardwood boards, mill them flat and square, and rip them into strips. The strips are glued into a panel, then crosscut into new strips across the grain. Those are turned on end and glued again, turning the panel into a grid of end grain blocks.
End grain is hard to plane, so we flatten each board on our CNC machine, which also cuts the juice groove. Then comes a lot of sanding, working up through the grits until the surface is glassy smooth. The board is soaked in Walrus Oil Cutting Board Oil and Wood Wax until the end grain will not take any more, any engraving is added, and the feet go on last.
Specifications
- Grain: End grain
- Edge: Routed juice groove; eased edges
- Feet: Non-slip rubber feet
- Finish: Walrus Oil Cutting Board Oil and Wood Wax
The Story Behind This Piece
Cutting boards go straight into daily use, which is what makes them so satisfying to build. The mosaic board in our photos was engraved “Mom’s Cutting Board” as a gift, and the striped boards were built several at a time. Cared for properly, a board like this can outlast the kitchen it is in.
Care and Keeping
Hand wash with warm, soapy water, rinse, and dry the board standing on edge so air reaches both faces. Never put it in the dishwasher and never leave it soaking in the sink; standing water is what warps and cracks a wooden board.
When the wood starts to look pale or dry, usually every few weeks with regular use, rub on a coat of Walrus Oil Cutting Board Oil and Wood Wax, let it soak in overnight, and wipe off the extra. A well-oiled board resists stains and odors and will last for decades.
Knife marks are normal on any cutting board and are a sign it is being used. End grain hides them especially well, because the knife slips between the wood fibers instead of slicing across them.
Build Time, Shipping, and Delivery
Every piece is made to order. If you would like a digital proof of the layout and lettering before we build, ask for one in your order notes. Shipping time is in addition to the build time.
If you have a firm date, such as a retirement, birthday, or holiday, tell us when you order. We will tell you honestly whether we can meet it. We do not guarantee rush work.
We pack every piece carefully for the trip. The shipping cost is shown at checkout. For orders of $75 or more within 25 miles of Charleston, West Virginia, free local delivery is available. We are a private shop, so we do not offer pickup or workshop visits.
Good to Know
- No two are alike: wood grain, color, knots, and figure vary from board to board, so your piece will not match these photos exactly. That variation is the mark of a handmade piece, not a defect.
- These photos show a piece we made earlier: yours is built new, to your details.
- Personalized pieces are final sale: because they are built to your details, custom and personalized items cannot be returned. If anything arrives damaged, contact us with photos of the piece and packaging and we will make it right.
- Sales tax: West Virginia sales tax applies to orders delivered in West Virginia.
Have something else in mind?
Tell us about the piece you are picturing and we will tell you honestly whether we can build it.