Hello!

My name is Andrei. I live in Russia and run my small business. I am the only woodworker in the shop.

I make only end grain cutting boards. I've been making end grain cutting boards for years.

You can check my YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/user/mtmwood?feature=mhee

Sometimes I make 3D end grain cutting boards. I want to show you how to make simple and good looking 3D end grain cutting board. I called it a 3D end grain cutting board #1, because I have about fifteen 3D boards and it is not easy to give name to each board.

You can download FREE PDF-plans and SketchUp model - http://eepurl.com/brzIxf

Let's start!

Step 1: The Drawings

This pattern is based on old well-known optical illusion. The diminishing black and white rectangles create the illusion of curving lines.

I made the drawings of the board with the use of SketchUp. All dimensions are in mm.

First you should make two initial wooden panels. Each panel consists of maple and walnut strips. The 2nd panel is a "colour negative" of the 1st panel.

Step 2: Making Wooden Panels

I used maple and walnut for this project. You may use other contrasting wood species. You need two types of wood: light wood (maple, hornbeam, birch) and dark wood (makore, padauk, walnut, sapele, purpleheart).

Saw off the maple and the walnut strips at the table saw for both panels at once. Make them 1.5 mm thicker than at the drawings.

Make the needed thickness of the strips at the planer. It is very important to plane all strips of the same thickness from both panels at one time at the same level of the planer.

Assemble two panels.

Glue the panel and wait a night.

Step 3: Preparing Wooden Strips to Make 3D Pattern

Next day plane the panels. Don't worry about the same thickness of the panels.

Saw off 42-43 mm wide end grain strips. Usually 4-5 strips are enough to make one board.

Rotate each strip 90 degree end grain up.

Make the thinner end grain strips at the table saw or band saw according to the drawings.

Make the strip thicker 1 mm than at the drawings. You will remove the excess at the drum sander later.

Step 4: Assembling and Gluing the Cutting Board

Use the drum sander to sand the strips. Check the thickness.

Assemble the cutting board.

Glue the board. Use Titebond III glue. Wait 24 hours.

Step 5: Planing and Sanding the Board

Next day plane or sand the board.

Make the finger grips at the shaper or by the router.

Sand the edges of the board along the grain and slightly round the corners.

Sand the board at the drum sander.

Sand the board with the rotary sander.

Step 6: Finishing

Treat the board with the mineral oil. You should firmly close the pores of the wood and prevent the ingress of moisture into the grains. I use mineral oil bath for 10-15 seconds. Then I dry the board during 6 hours and repeat the oiling.

Apply the hot mineral oil/beeswax mixture (4:1 ratio). Dry the board during 24 hours. Remove the excessive oil/wax mixture with the rag.

Also it is possible to use linseed or pure tung oil. Sunflower, olive, and other food grade oils cannot be used for treatment, because after a while they become bitter and will transmit this taste to foodstuff.

Screw the rubber or silicon feet with the stainless steel screws.