First off, boy did I underestimate how much wood a butcher block cutting board this size (approx. 15×20×2) would end up using.
The joints also aren't perfect, but I don't have the time or energy for perfection at the moment, this one is kind of a functional proof of concept. I'm going to give it to a friend of mine, but I've been upfront that it will not be perfect.
The next one, that will be made from the same beam, but MUCH cleaner, straighter-grained wood, will be more precise, more consistent color, probably marginally stronger because of the grain, just better in every way
But this only took two days and like three hours of work to go from a massive, rough-cut hunk of maple to this, so I'm pleased with it
Yep, end grain cutting boards usually take deceptively more wood than expected (unless the original board is the exact dimensions of the final piece). There's online calculators for that reason.
Neat to see it coming together, though. What are you going to use for the finish?
Two options, patient and impatient. Patient is taking the time to properly apply the many the recommended coats of tung oil, since I've got some that's cut with citrus oil and it looks and smells heavenly. Impatient is a 50/50 beeswax and mineral oil mix I made, quick and easy to apply, 85% as good looking as the tung oil, with like 1% the effort