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End Grain Chopping Boards

PostPosted: 03 Dec 2019, 16:53
by 9fingers
Firstly I am claiming no originality in this post.
Not sure what got me started on chopping board videos on You tube but I decided to give one a try.
This one gives the illusion of being basket woven using a mix of light and dark wood.

A mix of limited quantities of timber and a couple of visits from the naughty mischevious fairy gave me enough pieces to make these two boards.

IMG_2414[1].JPG
(302.17 KiB)


IMG_2415[1].JPG
(276.71 KiB)


I used ash and American black walnut doused with food safe mineral oil.
I felt the ash grain was a little too dominating so if I do any more end grain decorative stuff I'll look out for some sycamore or maple

They will make a couple of Christmas pressies.

Details on how to do it are here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RfA--IzZ9E

The drum sander was very useful when end-grain sanding the boards although if you only have access to a thicknesser then glue sacrificial scrap battens to the leading and trailing edge of each completed block and when thicknessed down to size, cut them off with the table saw..

Hope you like

Bob

Re: End Grain Chopping Boards

PostPosted: 03 Dec 2019, 17:13
by Mike G
Very nice Bob, I do like those. I did some end-grain ash chopping boards many years ago, and agree, the grain is very prominent. Yours is nicely moderated by the black bits, though.

Re: End Grain Chopping Boards

PostPosted: 03 Dec 2019, 18:52
by Malc2098
Nice.

Re: End Grain Chopping Boards

PostPosted: 03 Dec 2019, 20:21
by Andyp
Those are gorgeous Bob, and will have most people stumped as to how they are made.

Not sure I would have the patience nor the required accuracy levels to achieve but one for the tuit list.

Re: End Grain Chopping Boards

PostPosted: 03 Dec 2019, 20:29
by 9fingers
Andyp wrote:Those are gorgeous Bob, and will have most people stumped as to how they are made.


The knack is getting the wood soft enough to be able to weave it and then to clamp it flat quickly before it cools down.

Bob

Re: End Grain Chopping Boards

PostPosted: 03 Dec 2019, 21:21
by Mike G
9fingers wrote:The knack is getting the wood soft enough to be able to weave it and then to clamp it flat quickly before it cools down.

Bob


:lol: :lol:

Did you consider leaving the black "shadow" off the outside edges of the board?

Re: End Grain Chopping Boards

PostPosted: 03 Dec 2019, 22:25
by 9fingers
Mike G wrote:
Did you consider leaving the black "shadow" off the outside edges of the board?


I might well do if there is a next time. It would have the advantage of stopping the finger grips breaking through the ABW into the ash.
You can just see the problem on the edge of the larger board seen in the photo of the smaller one.

I'm not sure whether to refine the basket weave design next time or move on to some 3D patterned ones.

I need to collect some more contrasting woods first.

Bob

Re: End Grain Chopping Boards

PostPosted: 04 Dec 2019, 08:24
by Woodbloke
Nice job Bob. I've tried a couple in the past but they've always de-laminated :evil: so I haven't bothered since, but yes, the drum sander is heaven sent for this sort of work -Rob

Re: End Grain Chopping Boards

PostPosted: 04 Dec 2019, 09:27
by RogerM
Nice work Bob. There's something quite satisfying about building these. The 3D ones use a humungous amount of wood though. These are not cheap presents. There are a lot of interesting ideas here. I've just finished building #16.

Re: End Grain Chopping Boards

PostPosted: 04 Dec 2019, 09:41
by Jimmy Mack
Love that Bob. Mrs Mack keeps asking for new chopping boards....Oooo, I did cringe when video chappie, in the line-of-fire, was cross cutting the finished board to the right of the saw; no crown guard, no riving knife and a face full of dust

Looks neat, tidy job

Sent from my moto g(7) plus using Tapatalk

Re: End Grain Chopping Boards

PostPosted: 04 Dec 2019, 10:31
by 9fingers
RogerM wrote:Nice work Bob. There's something quite satisfying about building these. The 3D ones use a humungous amount of wood though. These are not cheap presents. There are a lot of interesting ideas here. I've just finished building #16.

Quite agree, the MTM site is an excellent source of ideas. The wood consumption can be reduced a bit by making batches of the same/similar design.
I quite fancy doing a # 15 looks like a bar of chocolate.
However it must be a bit like turning projects - just how many pens/bowls and indeed chopping boards does one need? :lol:

Bob

Re: End Grain Chopping Boards

PostPosted: 04 Dec 2019, 10:38
by 9fingers
Thanks for all the compliments gents.

@Rob - I intend to keep the small one more for use as a serving board so should get a gentle life with just a wipe over.
The larger one will be a gift for a friend and I'll encourage her to be careful with it.

Bob

Re: End Grain Chopping Boards

PostPosted: 04 Dec 2019, 14:41
by Andyp
RogerM wrote:There are a lot of interesting ideas here.


One or two of those would give me a migraine if I were to try and cut or slice anything on them.