How to Build a Butcher Block Cutting Board

Feed the hardwood through a planer to smooth its surface. Plane both sides of the lumber. Cut the lumber into thin strips on a table saw; 1-inch or 2-inch strips are common. Feed strips that remain rough through the planer until smooth.

Cut a clamping base such as a piece of plywood, to 1/4 inch less than the finished width of the butcher block cutting board. You will use the clamping base as a flat surface for arranging and gluing the hardwood strips. Lay the bar clamps on a work bench and place the clamping base on top of the bar clamps' bars. Lay wax paper over the clamping base to prevent glue from binding the workpiece to the clamping base.

Align a long strip of wood square with the side face of the clamping base and attach the strip to the base with heavy-duty spring clamps -- this strip is not part of the butcher block, but serves as an alignment surface for the ends of the rows of hardwood strips.

Cut a strip of hardwood to the desired overall length of the butcher block with a chop saw. Lay the strip on the clamping base and butt it against the alignment strip. Cut hardwood strips of random length for the center of the butcher block; traditional butcher blocks consist of two, full length pieces sandwiched around center of abutting smaller pieces.

Lay out the center strips of hardwood until you reach the desired overall width of the butcher block cutting board. Use a chop saw to trim the random length strips to fit within the overall length of the cutting board. Cut a hardwood strip to the overall length of the cutting board, and use this strip as the second end piece of the board.

Dry-fit the pieces prior to gluing. Check the overall dimensions of the pieces to ensure that they meet the desired overall size of the the workpieces. The butt joints between rows of random length pieces should not overlap. Remove the last, long piece and the final row of random length pieces from the clamping base. Scoot the remaining strips to the rear of the clamping base to allow for work room.

Apply glue to the edges of all of the wood strips and to the butts between the random-length pieces. Apply glue to two rows at a time. Work quickly to apply glue to all pieces before the glue begins to dry. After gluing and fitting the final strip, tighten the bar clamps to squeeze the pieces together. Occasionally, check the strips for alignment as you tighten the clamps. Once finished clamping, wipe glue from the surface of the workpiece with a rag. Allow the piece to cure for approximately 24 hours.

Sand the glued butcher block to a fine finish with sandpaper. Sand away wax paper adhered to the underside of the butcher block. Clean sawdust from the butcher block's surface with a tack cloth. To finish the butcher block, apply mineral oil to the butcher block's surface with a clean cloth.