The Coolest Cutting Board EVER MADE! | 3D Cutting Board Instructions

Think you can make a professional looking cutting board? Try making one that looks 3D. This video shows the steps I took to create a three dimensional end grain cutting board. The 3D effect comes from the colors of the wood species I used. I took walnut, sapele, cherry, and maple, and mixed them together to give the illusion of a 3D weave pattern. Since the cutting board is end grain, it’s rock solid and pretty thick. I made my end grain cutting board about 12x15” but you can make it as big as you want. Just add more pieces or longer strips.
Cutting boards are always fun to make. I think they are good gateway projects for people because you can make a cutting board look like just about anything. Cutting boards are also great woodworking gifts so woodworkers tend to make them around the holidays and when they have a personal special occasion coming up. If you haven’t tried to build a 3D cutting board, give it a shot. It’s a lot of fun and you make get the cutting board addiction that so many of us have.
PLANS FOR THIS PROJECT: newtonmakes.co...
•• About NewtonMakes••
I’m Billy and I make fun things. Sometimes, it’s something I need like tool storage ideas. Other times it’s silly or nerdy stuff that I want to build. If you want to get ideas for making stuff, or just want to watch something entertaining then make sure you subscribe.
Like that sweet t-shirt I was wearing? Check it out here: newtonmakes.co...
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Here’s a list of tools and materials that I used to make this project. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
•• Tools & Materials ••
My Amazon Store: www.amazon.com...
• Table Saw: amzn.to/2RwQTJa
• Table Saw Blade: amzn.to/3kezMHf
• Planer: amzn.to/38LarPW
• Jointer: amzn.to/310uabK
• Dewalt planer: amzn.to/38LarPW
• Combination square: amzn.to/3aPMN6n
• Drum sander: amzn.to/2MyjpKG
• Random Orbit Sander amzn.to/2RxjkXo
• 120 grit sandpaper: amzn.to/2QW835c
• 180 grit sandpaper: amzn.to/39y5kVM
• Titebond Wood Glue: amzn.to/2tU6B8d
• Microjig Grr-ripper: amzn.to/38J7Buz
• Butcher Block Oil: amzn.to/3mEy4jE
• Bessey Pipe Clamp: amzn.to/2RY4ubm
• Eye protection: amzn.to/37F5M1N
• Hearing Protection: amzn.to/31JRpHa
• Dust Deputy: amzn.to/3aXeqe6
• Rigid Shop Vac: amzn.to/2U1V6Gz

[@NewtonMakes]

Plans are available for this project: newtonmakes.com/shop/p/3d-cutting-board-plans

[@LJBenji14]

How long do you think this would take If I wanted to do 55x25 desk top? hahaha I love it but I bet it would take forever!

[@1031Investing]

Spectacular once again Billy!

[@tonyh5429]

Also you make the coolest stuff by far

[@NewtonMakes]

Thanks!

[@mathieufortin2234]

This video is gold! Thank you for sharing!

[@jakeerussell7496]

One trick I learned, when doing the final glue up. Use a very small amount of salt. I use a mortar and pestle to make very fine particles. Sprinkle a tiny amount after spreading the glue, line up and clamp. It keeps them perfectly lined up, no sliding. The first time you do it you'll probably use too much salt. It only takes a few particles to work.

[@teamvtube]

You can also flatten an end grain board using the thickness planer if you use very very light passes (no more than 1/8 turn per pass). At the very least you need to attach a sacrificial end cap to stop tearout but i found it easier to just made a "frame" out of pine which extended in front and behind the board to catch the snipe as well. This worked fine on my straight blade thicknesser when i made your square pattern board.

[@FatherOfTheParty]

I've done this as well. You can also put a roundover on the leading and trailing edge of the board to prevent chipout. Light passes, don't stand directly behind the planar just in case.

[@KollerKrew]

Awesome, looks great

[@JB-tb1rq]

You truly have an unmatched ability to break down complicated patterns and select the proper wood to use. So impressive and you make it looks stupid simple! Well done. Side note, you been working out bro? Filling those sleeves out nicely!!

[@NewtonMakes]

Working out by eating them cheese burgers. 🤣

[@earld1403]

Excellent animation in describing the steps needed to get the geometric look.

[@NewtonMakes]

I'm glad you liked it. Those are some of my favorite parts.

[@Gazman299]

Absolutely gorgeous, but I'm not sure that making a cutting board mesmerizing is the best idea. 🙂

[@travisfirst8525]

Thanks to you and this video I was able to make one myself! Will be watching more video's like this

[@mollyrockers2401]

Excellent! Thank you for sharing.

[@NewtonMakes]

Thanks for checking it out 👍

[@garyedick2910]

Nice work! I really like this board.

[@NewtonMakes]

I like that you like this board! 🤣

[@503grown]

Great video man! Making my first simple ones currently. Can't wait to try these! Thank for the info

[@marystralkus1319]

Found your channel by chance, I am no means a woodworker, never made anything ever, but your explanation and directions I'd be willing to give it a go!! With the help of hubby. Thank you so much for sharing, beautiful projects.

[@Glen6819]

I love it! Can’t wait to build one.

[@stefandookeeram1080]

Beautiful video. Loved the animations also it makes it so easy to understand

[@NewtonMakes]

The animation takes a lot of time to create but I feel like it helps to explain the story.

[@chrishicks1729]

Made a few after watching. I’m new but love how they turned out.

[@50calpulse76]

Great job very cool effect

[@Christian_1980]

One thing I've noted in these sort of videos is the amount of time these things take to make. This can easily be calculated by the amount of shirts you guys wear during the video. But brilliant none the less. Absolutely beautiful.

[@williamellis8993]

Really nice, Billy. It's always fun to be in the shop with you and see your thought process. Stay safe. Bill

[@NewtonMakes]

No one wants to enter my thought process. It's all strings and pulleys and levers.

[@thomasgronek6469]

Many thanks, looks fairly easy. You picked up a new subscriber.

[@fenyxhomedecor]

I absolutely love this board and I'm going to give it a try...cutting boards unintentionally became my niche out here in Northern Nevada with the high demand due to the ranchers and BBQ connection...lol...I have purchased several of your plans as well so they'll find they're way onto my Instagram as soon as I finish them. I appreciate you taking the time to make these videos and help all of us in the community better ourselves...keep up the good work.

[@NewtonMakes]

I can see that. I've seen several people out west make a lot of large cutting boards for ranchers. Glad you liked the project. Best of luck on making yours!

[@gcfwood742]

Very nice. Thank you!

[@YUSince]

Excellent 👏👏👏

[@holdemNE1]

Nice build. Enjoyable video. Thanks for posting. First time at your channel......subscribed. Keep up the good work.

[@NewtonMakes]

Glad you liked it. Hopefully you'll enjoy my other cutting board videos. 👍

[@Ed-nk7be]

I have made two cutting boards, the brick pattern and the square with thin maple stripe pattern. Then.... I tried making this 3D board. I gave myself plenty of wiggle room but still came out with a thinner board than I was aiming for around 1 and 1/2 inch thick got more like 3/4 inch when I finished flattening and sanding prior to final glue up. So many opportunities do go wrong especially getting that walnut triangle to fit a perfect 1 inch square. I love the first two, look really nice and beefy but this one was a magnitude way harder to get the precise results I was aiming for. First two board where a 5/10 skill level, this one was a 10/10 harder (for me, weekend warrior). I use a thin kerf blade. Would be great if you could include in your plans what issues to avoid or look out for. Those Rockler panel clamps look tempting even at $130 each as I lost so much thickness getting a flat glue up (I used 3 home made caules). I want to make the hounds tooth board to but seriously got to get better at this one first. Love your channel.

[@justinbyers1441]

I been wanting to make one of these, definitely will be using this video in the future, awesome walk through brother

[@NewtonMakes]

Thanks, man. I was hoping to show that it's really a pretty simple project but results in a cool look.

[@daxpedron1899]

As we say in the military….BRAVO ZULU!!! Challenge accepted. I’ll try to make one…😊

[@marcososegueda]

Excellent!! I’ll try one of those thanks

[@stevegronsky8904]

Been sub'd for a long time. I enjoyed this (and others too) so I liked and saved it. Gonna have to do one of these.

[@NewtonMakes]

Do it. DO IT!

[@cirrusdesigngroup]

Thanks super cool and helpful

[@lawrencelunsford6028]

I've only made one end grain cutting board, never tried a 3D. This video will definitely help when I do make one, thanks Billy! :)

[@NewtonMakes]

Careful. Once you make a 3d cutting board you'll want to make more. 🤣

[@tonyh5429]

Cool project!

[@edejamircosta]

Helloooooo..........primeiro vídeo que eu vejo no seu canal. Usar o lápis com a borracha para segurar a peça, é o que eu faço habitualmente, além de riscar toda a peça para ter certeza daquele lixamento prefeito. Vou fazer uma igual a sua deste vídeo, mas do modo artesanal, afinal as suas máquinas são maravilhosas, e eu não cheguei nesse nível, ainda. Forte abraço aqui do Brasil.

[@mikeeldridge637]

Very cool !!!

[@skipdeedon9939]

Love the board, bought the plans awhile back. I have some stock that is less than 30”. Any reason I can’t make multiple panels at 16”? Thanks.

[@Craneguy7878]

Love the pattern! Great job. My only suggestion is that Titebond 2 is more than sufficient being water resistant and a cutting board shouldn’t be put in a dishwasher anyway. Titebond 3 is specifically meant for outdoor applications and is not technically food safe. Love seeing your videos. Keep up the good work!

[@rpwolfe72]

Titebond 3 holds the exact same food safe rating as titebond 2

[@j316finewoodworking6]

I made a 3D cutting board like QBert board...I have seen dozens of videos making them but I recommend MTM woodworks for that kind. Well done.

[@NewtonMakes]

Cutting boards are fun to make. Imagination is the limit.

[@justinbanks2380]

This pattern is so cool! I have no use for a cutting board, but I must make this, so now I have to come up with a project to use a top or sides using this technique! Thanks for the work! 🙄 (Just kidding, really thanks for the inspiration!)

[@NewtonMakes]

I have zero need for a cutting board. I have a ton of them. But sometimes we have to make something just because of the process or coolness. It's our burden in life.

[@justinbanks2380]

@@NewtonMakes I suppose it is. Thanks for talking me down off the ledge. 😉

[@rswoodland8162]

Nice 😀

[@NewtonMakes]

Thanks

[@liesl3904]

I love watching woodworking videos, and I think yours is the best explained and presented set of instructions for a project I have ever seen. Thank you for making things really clear, both in terms of each step, and the way each step leads into the final product. I have a question about the the offset strips: Could you make two sets of strips, one that ends with the pattern square and one that ends with the regular square, so that you wouldn't have to be so careful to keep the squares aligned in the final glue up and cut off the excess at the end? Thanks again for the awesome video.

[@NewtonMakes]

Absolutely and that's typically what I do unless I change directions mid project. That tends to happen once I start seeing something come together.

[@babacim8824]

Nice👍

[@brucefrith6524]

Could you please give exact measurements of what your ripping. I would love to make that pattern but need measurements please

[@anthonyinman3066]

Thanks!

[@NewtonMakes]

Thank you so much!

[@ClaireRousseau]

Wow, your finished cutting board looks absolutely amazing. That final glue up where you have to align all the blocks stressed me out! I was wondering how it could be made a little more idiot-proof as I know I would definitely mess it up. Do you think it would work/help to try and glue it up using a square form? Before cutting all the strips to final thickness, could you cut the blank in half and add a strip of cherry to the bottom of one half and a strip of the fancy cubes to the top of the other? This would mean you can clamp the final glue up against a straight edge for perfect alignment, maybe even use a square form and wedges to clamp it. No idea if that would solve the issue or just create more problems but I used to work in IT so I always try to minimise room for human error, lol.

[@NewtonMakes]

Hard to tell. I think there are probably multiple ways to do it so we have to pick the one our brain likes best. Sometimes I use a gluing square - mdf panel with an mdf strip screwed into one edge. This gives a a good reference edge for assembly. But sometimes I say screw it and just glue it together.

[@wandymx9778]

👏👏👏👏 Braavvoo pak 👍👍👍👍 mantap bin keren

[@MrTireDetroit]

I purchased the plans and they’re very easy, thank you. I’m wanting to make this design at double the dimension/thickness of your plans. (2x2 squares) Do I just simply double your rough dimensions in your plans? Do I need adjust the 45° cuts to 22.5° to make them that large?

[@alfredsanturri922]

Great job your videos are great too how wide with a strips that you made appreciate a reply keep the good videos up very informative

[@NewtonMakes]

They were 1" wide and thick. Perfect 1" squares.

[@slaisebam]

I should have paid attention in wood class

[@hansolo.72]

Nice nice nice:-)

[@NewtonMakes]

Thanks

[@2194steve]

Hi can you tell me what blade you’re using in the table saw please Size teeth and so on, I’m having trouble deciding on what blade to get for my second hand table saw! Fabulous videos you make,and more importantly you make it simple to understand,thank you sir. Steve from the UK.

[@NewtonMakes]

The links should be in the video description.

[@joaobatistacosta9112]

Boa noite Sr. Newlton meu nome é João Batista sou do Rio de Janeiro Brasil, sou seu fã e inscrito no seu canal. E quero lhe dizer que gosto muito do seu trabalho o sr está de PARABÉNS só lamento não falar seu idioma seria muito melhor.

[@toddlapalm8308]

Newton, I have a situation that’s driving me crazy. I made a honeycomb cutting board, my first attempt at this design. For a new design I wanted to take some of the honeycomb pattern and eliminate some of the, let’s call them grout lines. Everything was going according to plan except for one of the last glue ups. It has to do with gluing 30° angles together. I’m having slippage issues and full glue contact issues as well. The big question is, how can I prevent major slippage issues and have excellent glue contact. Here’s my thought. I think it has to do with the amount of pressure I use with the clamps. I do use cauls during my glue up, which helps with the slippage, but as soon as I apply clamp pressure, my center cauls bend, which causes the wood to slip and prevents proper glue contact. I need your help with us because this is driving me nuts. Your advice would be greatly appreciated. And by the way, I’ve made a couple of your boards, which turned out fantastic. Keep up the good work.

[@MichaelPederson-ut5dy]

Can you purchase plans for this cutting board.

[@andylong6589]

dig it

[@NewtonMakes]

Thanks

[@mstev5956]

Love the board Shame you’re not making many vids nowadays

[@philliphince9626]

Is the walnut a different dimension?

[@hanstex20]

Hi.. what are the dimensions of the strips.

[@lindellroberts9415]

Love your finished products, magnificent craftsmanship! Your video shows what cuts are needed, but you don’t mention the dimensions you need to get these boards the right size before any glue ups. A lot of trial and error if you don’t have an approximate size to start with .

[@NewtonMakes]

The only dimension that I didn't give is the length, which is subjective depending on the size board you want. What's more important is people try to do things on their own and make the project personal to them.

[@dougbowman9651]

How much longer were your cherry strips vs the other material

[@mountaintopwoodworking2773]

What thickness were your boards before you cut the 45 degree cut?

[@abdullatifabdullah9642]

What kind of finish is used ? Where can I get it from ? Thanks

[@dougbowman9651]

From one woodworker to another, what was your initial rough cut length of your strips ( maybe 30 to 36"). Do you have dimensional plans available

[@NewtonMakes]

No plans available. Probably 30" or so.

[@paul50pb]

What thickness did you mill them to you dont tell that

[@philliphince9626]

What is the dimensions of your strips width.

[@russellcorcoran2231]

Do you do 3d woodwork?

[@santiagocollado6044]

Eso me encantó yo tengo un taller como puedo hacer eso para venderlo me gustaría saber la medida para hacerlo

[@Jeff-bp3xg]

Can you tell me the delineations of the cuts please.

[@NewtonMakes]

The plans are available to download at newtonmakes.com/shop/p/3d-cutting-board-plans

[@johngibson540]

Hi Newton, I am keen to make some boards. However, when researching woods in my location I came across expert articles that state that Black Walnut and Purpleheart are toxic. Yet I see these being used all of the time in board making. Any opinion re this? John

[@NewtonMakes]

Since walnut is probably one of the most popular species for cutting boards sold by companies (not woodworkers), coupled with the lack of evidence from hospitals reporting patient reactions to walnut boards, I'd say that you should go with your research and not a few outlying blog articles.

[@johngibson540]

@@NewtonMakes Thanks Newton. That’s reassuring. Now I have to resolve whether Tung oil is food safe, and not a allergen, and I will be good to go.

[@islandcharlie7132]

Beautiful! I don't have any sapele, can a person use red oak in it's place?

[@daveklein2826]

No, red oak is to porous

[@islandcharlie7132]

@@daveklein2826 Thank you. Is there any other wood I could use with out ordering the sapele?

[@daveklein2826]

@@islandcharlie7132 white oak, cherry, maple

[@NewtonMakes]

All that really matters is having four wood species with different shades of color. If you want to replace sapele get another mid to dark colored wood.

[@islandcharlie7132]

@@NewtonMakes Thank you for all your help.

[@dougbowman9651]

What would you sale this 3D board for , is it for sale

[@pepper7144]

what progression of grits did you use on the drum sander?

[@NewtonMakes]

I only use 120 in my drum sander.

[@williamgraham7269]

I was disappointed that only of the two triangle cuts for the walnut was captured in the video. That second triangle cut is probably the most complicated one in the entire process.

[@mickyork41]

I thought that. But perhaps was that the only cut needed? Did the 90 degree original corner form the apex of the triangle?

[@williamgraham7269]

@@mickyork41yes, quite so. Are there any further ratios, dimensions, etc given elsewhere?

[@dougbowman9651]

What was your angle ° on the bottom side of board

[@NewtonMakes]

About 45 degrees

[@dougbowman9651]

Thanks

[@aldolajak1267]

Yeah, I don't know if I want to be cutting food on a board that is 10% glue.

[@robertpearson8546]

Why did you rip at 90° then at 45°? Why not rip originally at 45° and not wast the extra material? TRADITION!

[@terripatterson7975]

See

[@dougbowman9651]

How many teeth on your saw blade

[@NewtonMakes]

48. Link in the video description.

[@dougbowman9651]

Thanks

[@user-cd6qz4rd1t]

++++

[@mim2046]

What is the point of doing a KZbin video and not telling anybody the dimensions of the blocks? Is it to try to get people to support your channel and then you magically give them that information? Doing a video and not telling anybody that size pieces they should be cutting doesn't do anybody any good.

[@davidjohnson7213]

You can easily work it out to siut your board. Us woodworkers are problem solvers. The idea is to get us to use our grey matter instead of having information spoon fed to us. Go have fun sussing it out, enjoy the process. 👍

[@mim2046]

@@davidjohnson7213 i don't have an issue being a problem solver. My issue with this video is it's purely clickbait and he concentrates more on trying to get people to donate, rather than providing quality videos for even newbie's to learn from. I myself am a long time (29 years) pro in the business and I don't need the dimensions, rather for those who may struggle in woodworking, giving that little bit of info can be an enormous help to green woodworkers

[@mim2046]

Let me get this right.... By people donating money to you MAGICALLY allows you to make better videos? How about you make better videos JUST BECAUSE. I wouldn't donate any money to someone who does false advertising. You said STEP BY STEP, but your video is not step by step. U give ZERO information on the width and thickness of each piece......Maple, Sapele And Cherry If you're going to do step by step videos, then you should be doing STEP BY STEP instructions. I don't know, but it all seems like common sense to me, when someone says STEP BY STEP in the video description, then they should be doing just that......unless you're doing click-bait.

[@Thistledoo47603]

Nice work, it looks fantastic.

[@NewtonMakes]

Thank you very much