How to Make Breadboard Ends

Breadboard ends are an attractive way to finish the ends of your woodworking projects such as tabletops, game boards and cutting boards that have flat surfaces. They also serve an important utility. The breadboard end serves to prevent the wooden surface from warping at the ends. The grain runs lengthwise on a flat-surfaced object such as a table. The grain of the breadboard ends runs perpendicular to the grain of the object and therefore can help prevent warping.

Woodworking project that requires breadboard ends
2 hardwood boards (measuring the same thickness and width as the wood in the project)
Straight router bit (half the thickness of the wood in the project)
Router
1/4-inch channel router bit
Wood glue
Box, wood screws (1/4 inch shorter than thickness of wood used in project)
Screw gun
Sandpaper, fine-grit

Instructions

- 1
  Rout a notch (width is half the thickness of wood, and depth is half the depth of wood) on each end of the wood used in the project along the top edge using a router equipped with a straight bit that is half the thickness of the wood used in the project.
- 2
  Rout a notch (width is half the thickness of wood, and depth is half the depth of wood) along one edge of each hardwood board.
- 3
  Make two 3/8-inch-long slots at approximately six inches and eight inches in from each end of the project in the center of the routed notch using a router and 1/4-inch straight bit.
- 4
  Apply a bead of wood glue along the center six inches of each notched edge of the project. Place one hardwood board over each end of the project so that the notches fit together and form a flush surface. Allow the glue to dry for 24 hours.
- 5
  Drive a wood screw through the center of each routed slot with a screw gun into the bottom of the hardwood boards on each end of the project. Use wood screws that are 1/4 inch shorter than the thickness of the wood used in the project.
- 6
  Sand the top and bottom of the breadboard ends using fine-grit sandpaper. Always sand with the grain.

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