Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Most of our Customers say, "The bigger the better." Actually, it depends upon your available work space and usage. The balance is finding large enough cutting board to meet your needs while having enough space to safely use it. 

This time consuming process is to ensure the cutting board is completely saturated with mineral oil to its maximum capacity. Each species of wood and individual piece of lumber will absorb mineral oil differently. By fully submerging the boards for hours, there is a much better chance in fully soaking the board. This process also assists in stabilizing the board quickly after production and ensuring that that your cutting board arrives fully oiled and ready for immediate use.  

Mineral Oil that is designated as food grade. This type of mineral oil can be inexpensively found at Big Box stores in either Kitchen/Home and or Pharmacy areas. You will be surprised at how "thirsty" your board may get after normal usage. Purchasing large containers is recommended.

PLEASE DO NOT use oils such as cooking oils or nut oils to prevent the oil from eventually turning rancid or potential allergic reactions from the nut oil.

Absolutely. Every board is sealed with a 50/50 mixture of warm mineral oil and beeswax over all surfaces. This coating will repel moisture AND protect your cutting board from staining.  

If you will be cutting foods that can stain (i.e. Beets), making sure your cutting board is oiled and sealed with mineral oil/beeswax will significantly minimize the possibility of staining.

Large and heavy cutting boards are difficult to safely transport. A BLOCK WOOD uses a dual boxing strategy to almost completely eliminate damage.  

FIRST - Your cutting board is sealed in Food Grade Shrink Wrap to eliminate unwanted contact with your cutting board surfaces.

SECOND - Your cutting board is then packaged in its first box which fits closely around your cutting board.

THIRD - The first internal box is wrapped in large cell bubble wrap with thick foam corner cushion blocks placed on all four corners. This is then all placed inside a larger box and sealed.

The level of packaging provides substantial protection from drops, bumps, crushing and other forms of in transit damage. It can take quite a large amount of abuse.

Titebond III is the specific glue that is used for ALL A BLOCK WOOD boards. This water-based glue is waterproof, FDA approved and safe for direct food contact.

This is best explained visually.

LONG GRAIN - Shows on the "face" of the wood.

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Cutting Boards made with long or face grain will more quickly show knife marks that will not heal. These boards are easy to make and quick to produce. 

EDGE GRAIN - Shows on the "side" of the wood

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Edge grain cutting boards are assembled using the side of the wood as the cutting surface. These boards will also quickly show knife marks, are easy to make and quick to produce.  

END GRAIN - Shows on the "end" of the wood

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Cutting boards made with end grain construction will almost completely self-heal from knife marks after oiling and will keep knives from dulling more quickly. They are also more costly and take longer to produce. End Grain boards are normally less likely to warp due to the end grain construction.

There are actually several significant benefits of End Grain Cutting Boards.

Long / Edge Grain cutting boards are easier to make and therefor less costly to make. They will also show normal usage knife marks much more quickly due to the "splintering" of the wood. Resurfacing and repair will be required more often.

End Grain cutting boards are more difficult and time consuming to produce. They are easier on knife edges and will last much longer when properly maintained. These boards are also normally thicker than long/edge grain cutting boards.

Historically, both Butcher and Chopping Blocks are made using end grain construction
(wood is turned up on end), are much thicker than other cutting boards. They are thicker to provide more durability, stability and less potential warpage from heavy daily use, including use of a meat cleaver or similar to chop through bones and related. 

That would leave Cutting boards to be defined as being made with long/edge grain construction (wood grain running the length of the board).  

Today, the above names are almost always used interchangeably. To assist in this FAQ, A BLOCK WOOD will use the description of End Grain Cutting Boards and Long/Edge Grain Cutting Boards to more accurately describe the possible variations. End Grain Cutting Boards will have greater thickness to better absorb the use of high volume and
cleaver/chopping activity.  

Several studies have been published over the last several years discovering that surface moisture on the cutting boards is absorbed into the board's grain interior, carrying bacteria along with it. As the moisture is wicked inside and dries, the bacteria will die to the lack of moisture. Please see the following links:

https://www.news.ncsu.edu

https://www.consumerreports.org/food-safety/are-plastic-cutting-boards-better-than-wood/

Rubber feet provide several advantages. The feet keep the cutting board:

• stable when cutting or chopping
• provides some cushioning during use
• allows for easier handling when moving
• provides needed air-flow on the underside to keep the board from sitting in moisture.

If rubber feet are not utilized, the cutting board will unsafely slide on a smooth surface. A damp towel, rubber non-slip mat or similar must be used under the board to keep it from sliding.

On ALL boards larger than 12" x 18" = YES! Simply specify your choice during your product detail selections. A small additional charge may apply.

Please be aware that smaller boards are standard WITH feet and do NOT have an option to remove them due to board design.

Cutting Boards, Butcher and Chopping Blocks have thicknesses* of 2", 2.5" & 3".

Thicker boards = 

• More weight
• Greater stability
• Less change of warpage due to moisture

*Please note that board thickness may be +/- 1/16" in variance.

Cutting Board Sizes by Product Line include:

Signature Series 12" x 18", 15" x 20" & 18" x 24"

Natural Beauty - Brick Pattern 12" x 18", 15" x 20" & 18" x 24"

Natural Beauty - Chopping Blocks 15" x 15" & 18" x 18"

Natural Beauty - Specialty & Unique Board (range from) 5" x 16" to 8" to 21"

Limited Edition (range from approximately) 12" x 18" rectangle to 20" diameter

Absolutely! Just send me an email regarding your request or complete the form found at "Custom & Commission Work."

YES, this option is available on most cutting boards for a small additional charge

A BLOCK WOOD attempts to keep most products in-stock. If not, production times are normally 4 - 10 days until product shipment.

ALL U.S. Domestic lower 48 States Shipping is FREE!

Starting January 2022, A BLOCK WOOD will be able to ship Internationally. Currently, Carriers, Pricing, HTC Codes and Clearance Documents, etc. have not been completed and verified.

HOWEVER, if you live internationally, please contact me by email/contact form and I will do my best to obtain and create the needed information to ship to your Country.

This will be uncomfortable for some.....

Ceramic Tile:

• Durability = High
• Knife Impact = Will dull knives from "instantly" to "quickly"

Glass:

• Durability = High
• Knife Impact = Will dull knives from "instantly" to "quickly"

Plastic:

• Durability = Low to Medium. Plastic will show knife cuts and cannot be repaired
• Knife Impact = Good/Acceptable

Concrete / Bricks:

• Please, Just don't

Please do NOT:

• do NOT... put it in the dishwater
• do NOT.... soak it in water
• do NOT.... place the board in high/low temperatures
• do NOT.... place the board in high/low humidity locations
• do NOT.... place the board in drastic changes of temperature and or humidity
• do NOT.... use a serrated knife, including a bread knife with large teeth (Think Saw Blade)
• do NOT.... scrape debris and water off using a metal scraper (Use a plastic scraper)
• do NOT.... clean your cutting board with steel wool. The abrasiveness will rough the wood finish and steel particles will break off, imbed in your cutting board and rust/discolor your board
• do NOT.... apply mineral oil too infrequently
• do NOT.... use enough mineral oil. More is better. Just wipe off the access
• do NOT.... oil only on one side. Mineral Oil should be applied to all sides