Face, Edge or End Grain?
Face, Edge, or End Grain. What’s the difference?
There are three different types of cutting/serving boards; face grain, edge grain, and end grain cutting/serving boards. Each cutting board type has a different appearance, and each cutting board has its pros and cons. It is a personal choice as to which cutting board works best. So what are the differences in each type of cutting board?
A little understanding of how wood fibres or grain as it is often referred to, helps in understanding the differences between the types of wood cutting boards. Wood fibres are like straws. Imagine a bundle of straws. Those straws represent wood fibres that run lengthwise down a tree truck and then lengthwise down a piece of timber which is then turned into a wood cutting board.
A piece of timber has 4 sides and two ends. Generally speaking, the sides are called “edge”, the top and bottom are called “face” and the ends are called, well, “ends”.
Face grain is usually the wider top and bottom of a board where one sees the beautiful grain of a piece of wood. The limitation to face grain boards is that we are limited by the width and thickness of the timber we get from the mill.
Large Face grain cutting boards, tabletops, countertops, etc are made by gluing boards together at their edge leaving the face grain on top and bottom to show off the beautiful grain of the timber. You are still limited in the thickness of the board however.
Beautiful Edge grain cutting boards are the most common and affordable. They are formed by laying long strips of premium Australian hardwood rails side by side and gluing them together. The wood fibres run horizontally the same as Face grain boards. Edge grain boards can be made to any thickness and size as well as using different wood species such as the deep red of blue gum and lighter blackbutt can make for very attractive boards.
Edge and Face grain cutting surfaces are considered knife-friendly compared to other materials like plastic or glass cutting boards. Over time, you may notice visible knife marks on the board. This can easily be remedied by giving it a quick sprucing up. Sand the board with the grain of the wood and apply SAP Woodcraft Board Butter to reveal an entirely fresh, new work surface.
End grain cutting boards are a result of cross-cutting face grain cutting boards or edge grain cutting boards into strips and then gluing those pieces together exposing the end grain of the wood as the top and bottom of the cutting board. End grain cutting boards or butcher blocks are usually much thicker than cutting boards. End grain cutting boards take more timber and a lot more time to create which results in a more expensive board.
All three styles are made of natural premium hardwood, ideal for safe food prep surfaces and for impressive food displays while entertaining.
End grain cutting boards are often considered the superior option due to their knife-friendly surface and resistance to deep cuts. However, they can be more costly due to the construction process and do not show the grain of the timber.
Edge grain cutting boards are still a wise option and can be a more affordable choice. Pick the construction that is more aesthetically pleasing to your eye or kitchen style. Remember that proper care and maintenance are the keys that will extend the life of your cutting board, whether you choose end or edge grain, to keep it in excellent condition for years to come.
SAP Woodcraft makes face and edge grain cutting/serving boards because of their overall performance whilst maintaining at least some visual aesthetics and reducing the cost. End grain cutting boards are also available and can be created to your specific design needs. If you have a particular wood species, species combination, size, or specific look for a Cutting or Serving board SAP Woodcraft does custom cutting/serving boards so just ask!