End grain vs. Edge vs. Face grain cutting boards

• End Grain Cutting Board : is made by cutting the pieces of lumber into blocks and gluing the blocks together with the end grain up, forming the top surface of the cutting board. End grain is the grain of wood seen it is cut cross the growth rings.

  • Pros : Good for knife / Less knife marks

  • Cons : Take a while to make / Split or Cracks

• Edge Grain Cutting Board ; is made from strips of hard wood. The strips are arranged side by side and grafted together. The surface of an edge grain cutting board looks like to the side of a 2 X 4.

  • Pros : Sturdy / Adjust width

  • Cons : Knife marks / Dull your knife

• Face Grain Cutting Board : Is what you’d normally see on the “outside” of the board where you see most of the grain and beauty of a piece of wood. The face grain is used often to make table tops or panels of cupboards doors.

  • Pros : Looks nice / Easy to make

  • Cons : Knife marks / Dull your knife