How to Make an End Grain Cutting Board with Tom McLaughlin, Part 2 

Best end grain cutting board video on the internet, hands down. (I’ve watched 20+ in the past two months). Thank you so much Tom. My dad is turning 80 this month and I’m going home to see him. We’re going to make an end grain cutting board together and your video will be the one to guide us. Thanks again!

Tom: This is one of the best videos I have seen on "woodworking" on youtube. You explained every step and shared your reasoning for why you did it "that way". I have learned a lot....I almost think I might get brave enough to head down to my dad's shed/workshop and give it a try. Thank you so much for sharing your craft and expertise.

Tom, this is absolutely the most detailed and instructive lesson on this type of board. Camera work and editing is so professional. Thank you for taking the time to upload the episodes, have learned so much about end grain characteristics. Have subbed, regards from Victoria Australia.

Awesome Thank you. Wondering if I can upload images of an end grain buthcher block countertop to see why there are putty looking marks on mine.

I have watched many videos on making end grain cutting boards but none compare to your video You are the Best Thank you

Thank You Tom ,,,,what a beauty, one question why did you put it through the sander would it have been harder with the hand planer ?

Wish someone like you told me not to put end grain through a plainer a month go, that shot out of there like a bulled just below my belt, wow that smarts!

If hand planing is not an option or you don’t have hand planes, can you use a router with a spoilboard bit to level up the end grain?

If you go clockwise with the router with the 3/8 bit after the hands (which i agree with Tom O on a reversible board but that is just preference cause you do better work than me.) you should prevent the burn. Lord, I wished I had those tools....drool.

Hi Tom ! Just wanted to thanks you for sharing this with us. I really enjoyed watching you making that project. I feeled like at school learning welding with that teacher I had, you reminded me of him. I can feel the love you put into your work. Plus all the chunk of wisdom you give while working and why you do something in that particular way. Thanks Tom :)

Thank you for doing this video. I have a question about finishing - I didn't notice you cleaning the board after sanding (some people use mineral spirits soaked in a rag, some people use other methods) before applying the mineral oil. Is it not necessary then to clean off the sawdust before applying mineral oil? Thanks again.

Thank You for so generously sharing your craft and art! So well thought out in all detail, Fantastic!

Clearly, the best video around on this type of project.

Tom, really liked your video. I have a question on the end grain planing. I don’t have a low angled jack plane. I do have a 5 & 5 1/2. Would there be a different technique if I used one of those planes? Thx

Fun build! Never appreciated the work that went into one of these. I told my friends they would be getting one for Xmas…..mmmmm maybe 1 a year!

Un decided on the rubber feet. board does not rest natural, humidity and such from kitchen cooking, could cause it to bow, or warp on its own weight. but then again, sitting on the counter absorbing moisture if not cured properly could do the same...

This, and Part 1, is one of the most detailed cutting board tutorials I've ever seen. Wow.

Great video! Doylu think a stanley no62 low hand plane would work ?

Greeting my South Australia. I am a recent follower of your channel, after it 'randomly' popped up whilst watching other related videos. Your experience in teaching clearly comes across in your presentation. After many years of being rather an 'impractical' person, over the years I have increased my confidence in my own car maintenance, and after many years making a complete mess of wood projects (I look back on the shabby work and feel embarrassed), I got into it seriously early 2020, but starting out woodturning, and extended myself from there. I really got into making turning platters, and dip bowl/platters with cocentric seperate rings for meats, crackers etc, and then moved onto some cutting boards...until things stopped. Unfortunately, due to health reasons, I have done little the past 12 months, and have only just got back into doing a few things, but one of my 'issues' are times of cognitive problems or 'brain fog' whereby I get easily frustrated...or simply can't focus at all, which really 'cramps my style'. I have always watched woodwork videos, even if I had not the ability or enthusiasm to ACTUALLY do something. As such, I have a lot of 'stock' in storage which was supposed to be used to make desks, tables, bowls and platters etc. Oh, well, just keep on keeping on, I guess. I start small, like making pen blanks, or cutting up wood into smaller slabs. I do what makes me feel 'happy' at the time, and sometimes that leads me on to bigger projects. Keep up the great work Tom. 🙂. What is the best way to contact you for questions, or suggestions?

Great pair of videos, thank you. Out of interest why didn’t you joint the to be glued edges in the final step? You’d planed it no doubt pretty true, but if done properly is that enough to get nice tight edges in the final glue up? I feel that I wouldn’t get it flat enough! Thanks

Hey Tom, thanks for the lesson. I have watched many you tube videos where they were a personal testement to the instructor. You explained what you were doing and showed us how and why you were doing it. Very informative. I believe I can get into my workshop and have a couple of my grandsons doing this shortly with hopefully great results.

Thanks for the early Christmas present! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Absolutely the best video I've come across, and I have been watching many. All I wanted to do is build a cutting board, I didn't realize that there were so many important steps in production a quality cutting board! I'm so happy that I came across your channel, after watching, pausing to take notes, I feel confident that I can build a nice quality cutting board thanks to your well explained video!

Very nice,stan

What a pleasure it is, privilege really, to watch and learn from a master craftsman like you. Thank you for taking the time to explain and illustrate each step along the way. This project is such a great teaching tool because it incorporates nearly every skill necessary to become a more proficient woodworking craftsman, from preparing rough lumber, to squaring it up, to the use of power and hand tools, to order of process, to care and safety. Beyond all that it is just enjoyable and inspirational to follow along as a true master pliés his craft. This project is the first I’ve seen of your work and I am going to subscribe and enjoy watching all your previous and future projects. Thanks again ver much!

At the start i thought: "this is the clasical guy that only use 3 power tools" but i have to agree that surprise me that is the only guy in youtube that plane a big end grain surface(what actually was what i was looking for) so... you have my respect

Good work!

Awesome job, man! Most detailed and instructional video I have seen on end grain boards and I have seen several :)

really nice project,,, If I have one downer is it went on a bit too long and the camra was a bit too far away so couldnt see the detail, which was a bit disappoining,,, but as I said before, really nice project. One other thing or comment, you have a really good mannor about you, you come across as very gentle, relaxed and easy to listn too... Many thanks for taking the time to help all us newbies to woodworking.. Steve

That pretty, I would have done a central, or double hand hold... work from both sides... :-)

Beautiful cutting board Tom, looks like I have another project to put on my "to do" list. Just wondering, could you have gone from 80 to 100 to 150 grit on the drum sander and eliminated some of the hand-plane work? Also, would a regular angle plane work or would it tear out the end grain too much? Thanks for the videos

Great presentation and wonderful craftsmanship, thanks Tom

I’ve watched a lot of end grain cutting board videos but this was by far the best!

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Great demonstration. I make end grain cutting boards as well. On the finishing, I apply the mineral oil to one side only and when it begins to seep through the other side, I flip the board and apply the oil so that The board is saturated all the way through.

This is a school example how a good video should be done. Even a beginner will understand how its made step by step. No bullshit music, bullshit talking just a very informativ video how you make a quality produkt. Would love to have this cutting board in my collection of great tools in my kitchen.

I’m puzzled by something. At 16:30 in Part 1, you emphasize jointing the previously sawn edges to get a better glue up. You even go over alternating the orientation in relation to the jointer to cancel out any error in the jointer setup in terms of the fence being even the slightest bit away from a perfect 90 degrees. However, here at 3:30 you start gluing up edges that were hand planed and then sanded. I’m certain there’s a reason for the different treatment. I just can’t figure it out. If both sides of the board were run through a drum sander before cutting the strips and flipping them on end, I would be confident that the faces glued up now were dead flat. I don’t have that level of confidence in my ability to hand plane both sides of a big board perfectly parallel. Would it be overkill to either joint the edges of the strips once more just like at 16:30 in part 1 to ensure optimal glue up?

What a fantastic job Tom. My life ambition is now to make one just as good.

Very informative and interesting , but let down by occasional poor sound .

Hi, Thank you for the excellent video. I am thinking about doing a cutting board similar to this; however, I have very simple (cheap) tools. It is nice to see that even without thousands of dollars in equipment, I have a chance to make something like what you made. You are a true craftsman and are skilled at what you do. Thank you again!

Best video on this topic period. Wish I found you sooner !

Great video, because he gives a full tutorial. Very informative!!!

Hi Tom. I enjoyed this tutorial very much, you really created a beautiful work of art. It's actually almost offensive if the lucky recipient of this piece didn't use it as it's meant to be used after all the work and clearly so much pride was put into creating it. I do have one question... what are your thoughts on wiping down the board with a damp cloth during the sanding process?

Thanks Tom for Part 2. Again I totally agree with previous comments, that your’s are the best vids on making chopping boards on You Tube bar none ! Excellent, sincere thanks. Peter Atkin Sheffield. UK.

Anyone have the dimensions of the rubber feet used in the video.. thanks

Great videos as always. I am having a bit of difficulty with the final skim planning of the end grain using my bevel-up jack plane as you describe. My problem is the plane is not getting the standard shaving you would expect. I am getting dust with a light cut setting or plane stuttering when I increase cut depth. Likely my setup is off. Could you provide some specifics on the tuning and setup of the plane and blade you are using? Thank you!

Jeez. 90 mins of video for one board.

As I said for part 1 meticulous work ... but there is something strange: you' re concerned for safety gear, and that' s ok, but you always neglect to use some respiratory protection ... for orbital sander, again that might be ok, since you use dust suction, but afterwards, when routing the finger place, you don't again use respirator, this time you also don' t use dust suction... Respiratory protection is a must, and apart from cheap and inexpensive respirators, there are many better at affordable prices in the market...

Hi Tom, I recently discovered your channel and love it! I’m just wondering what your thoughts are on sending an end grain cutting board through a planer after the second glue up? I have seen varying opinion on this. There are some woodworkers who say it should never be done, while others say it can be done by gluing sacrificial strips to avoid tearout and taking very light passes. I would appreciate to hear your thoughts on this.

When putting the board through the drum sander with the end grain up (part 2 of the video at the 10:15 mark), can you use 120 grit or higher instead of the 80 grit to minimize the scratch marks? Great video by the way. I am going to try this (as a beginner DIY hobbyist) with cherry and see how I do. I will need to practice using a hand plane first. Thank you again for sharing this with everyone.

Very thorough and detailed video. Thank you.

Totally Awesome! Fantastic job and great video. Thank you. I will try the same soon.

Great videos thanks.

Thank you so much for your attention to detail.Your videos are always so instructive. Many of the techniques are applicable to other projects I have done.

I really appreciated the hints on preventing chip-out and planing opposing sides to offset any angle in your plane guide. Really excellent video.

I would really like to know what the full specs or make/model of that cove bit are. I know he says 7/8" but is that the cut height or radius? Thanks.

Is there any time for you to show us how to make a drip catcher for the cutting board. Thanks

thanks a bunch tom, i hope you have a wonderful new year, im looking forward to your video's this year, i do want to ask your opinion on this, im going to be making a walnut countertop and i would like to know what you think would be a good finish, i know there are many out there , but i respect your thoughts, thank you again for this video, ive made a lot of cutting boards but its always good to see how others do it, one last question, ive seen some wipe the excess glue off in the beginning and yet others who leave it and scrape it off after its dried...what do you think on this subject....be careful with the oil your using m it can soak into your skin and go straight to the intestines and before you get out the door you mess your pants....LOL...haha...

Great video and I really liked the detail and time you take explaining everything. I'm heading to the shop and make one of these after I pick up a nice piece of Cherry at the local lumber yard. I am a subscriber of the Fine woodworking and going to check out your Public TV show Rough Cut.

Instead of a hand plane, can i use a dewalt planer, i was told it’s a ban idea running end grain through a planer

Your talent is incredible! This video has answered soooo many of my questions! Thank you!

very nice video. Do you think its a good idea to run throght a thinkness planer the edge grain board after the first glue up? Does a drum sander do a better job?

Thank you for the detailed training. Merry Christmas

Beautiful work and very good teacher one of the best excellent information and great detail thanks you very much for you time to teach

Something happen,I'm trying to subscribe,but not allowing the red button. It,s not reacting,but I will try again other day because your patience is invaluable.

Hi mate a very nice board keep them coming

Tom, quick question. I just finished the cutting board yesterday. It came out beautiful. It’s amazing how silky smooth end grain can be. Now, I noticed today there was a slight cup in the board now? Could it be from using hard pine that was sitting in a log pile covered for four years or maybe from making it over the past week in a cool garage shop then bringing up into a warm/ dry house? Right away I brought back down to shop and put in the end vice to flatten again. This board was dead flat after planing? Should I bring up into the kitchen and settle out (maybe weighted own for a few weeks?). Or maybe add a strong back to underside? Or should I have let the wood acclimate once I split from the wood pile? ....so much for quick question..lol. Other than that it came out beautiful and can’t wait to make more now. Still have a lot of good size pieces of hard maple left to use. Since your my teacher now I thought you would have good insight for an amateur. You are the best! Thank you.

Fantastic tutorial. Best Regards from Poland.

Hey Tom. I'm new to your channel. I have made and sold many end grain cutting boards in my career. I have never heard of someone using a low angle jack plane on the end grain a after drum sanding. Very smart! I might steal that idea from you in time. Great idea. Also, you will stop all tearout from scraping or planing if you chamfer the short edges. That will allow you to send it through the planer or hand plane without having to flip it. Thanks for the insight!

How do you prevent cupping in the first few days after finishing?

Great video, I learned a lot, I’ve been making these boards, this was the best video I’ve seen. Thank You so much for doing this.

Fantastic presentation.....Thank you

Thanks for the detail ...

I'm so glad I can watch you any time I want to. I've missed your show on Create.

Great Job! Is it possible to add a juice groove around the top and if so what router bit would you use?

Awesome video, new subscriber!

Thanks for teaching us .

Brilliant.