# Cutting board construction question
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-board-construction-question/927847
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 11, 2020, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-board-construction-question/927847 "2020-12-11T18:30:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Greenhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenhead)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2020, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-board-construction-question/927847/1 "2020-12-11T18:30:11Z")
I’m about to start an edge grain cutting board project for a Christmas gift. I have made cutting boards in the past and have my list of supplies that I’ll need that I don’t already have. I’ve picked out my lumber (maple), and know the finished dimensions I want it to be (12x22 inches). What I’m curious about is does it matter which way my strips of lumber would run once finished.
Think of it like this. Let’s say the finished cutting board is on the table in front of you can see that the cutting board is made up of strips of wood that have been glued together. Should those strips be running left to right (perpendicular to the user) or up and down? Does it matter?
Thanks for the input.
-Jacob
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2020, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-board-construction-question/927847/2 "2020-12-11T18:34:56Z")
Every one I can recall has the boards running side to side. It probably doesn’t matter much but you would want the knife slicing across the joints so you don’t end up slicing in line with the joint and causing a separation between the boards.
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### Author:  [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2020, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-board-construction-question/927847/3 "2020-12-11T18:53:37Z")
I agree with @TriPolar. Normally when you’re glueing boards together for any finished product that’s a rectangle you’d have the long edges as the long side of the rectangle. I think it’s mostly aesthetics: visually it looks more longer and more elegant as opposed to squatter.
Practically though, there’s fewer glued up joints and less chance for joint failure. However, since this rectangle isn’t required to support any load, I don’t think joint failure is a concern.
I understand what **tripolar** is saying about cutting across the joint as opposed to along the length of the joint, I don’t know if that’s such a practical concern.
I’ve made several end grain cutting boards of small 1.5" squares and in that case no matter what shape it is, you’re inevitably cutting along a joint. It’s not an issue as long as the pieces are properly glued together.
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### Author:  [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2020, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-board-construction-question/927847/4 "2020-12-11T19:29:25Z")
With most modern glues, a properly constructed glue joint is stronger than the wood itself. I wouldn’t be concerned about splitting a glue joint by running a knife along it. (Of course on a cutting board you’d want to use waterproof glue.) Cutting along the grain might cause deeper scratches than cutting across the grain I suppose. But I agree that the choice is mainly an aesthetic one.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2020, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-board-construction-question/927847/5 "2020-12-11T21:31:37Z")
I wouldn’t change the esthetics of the piece because of a worry about cutting in line with a glue joint. It may have never been a concern, esthetics and tradition as GMANCANADA explained may be the only reason this is usually done.
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### Author:  [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2020, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-board-construction-question/927847/6 "2020-12-19T01:24:17Z")
Popped up in my YouTube feed today:
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAFWnPXB4Rk)
Love the look of the “pro” version but it’s too complicated.The guy doing it couldn’t even explain what he was doing.
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### Author:  [@Greenhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenhead)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2020, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-board-construction-question/927847/7 "2020-12-19T16:33:07Z")
Thanks everyone. I ended up going with the traditional esthetic look. In the long run it was easier. Flattening it was a task since I do not have a planer. If I decide to make another I’ll most likely make a sled and utilize my router, but it’s done and looks good. Just need to oil it up and that present is done.
-J
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### Author:  [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2020, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-board-construction-question/927847/8 "2020-12-19T16:55:42Z")
Good stuff! I once bought a beautiful cutting board that seemed like a rarity because, in addition to being fairly large, it was a good two inches thick, maybe more. I figured it would not be available for long, so I bought a second one as a sort of spare, which is still shrink-wrapped in a box somewhere in the basement. This was a great many years ago and of course have not seen one like it since, so I’m glad I have the spare. The first one is still a beautiful board and a great addition to the kitchen. It’s amazing how little wear it’s shown. I do sometimes use a synthetic cutting board on top of it, mainly for dealing with messy stuff, raw meats, etc. because I can throw the synthetic one into the dishwasher. The synthetic one is beginning to look really badly hacked up, but not the real wood one!
And yes, it is made up of numerous separate planks glued together longitudinally.
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### Author:  [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2020, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-board-construction-question/927847/9 "2020-12-19T16:56:48Z")
Pics or it didn’t happen!