Repairing a wooden cutting board.

Jerry1

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I'm hoping to get some input from our resident wood workers. I have a Boos cutting board and I'm wondering if it's practical to find a woodworker in my area to fix it (renew it). It's 3 inches thick and 12" square. I'm wondering if it possible to run it through a planner (or something) to smooth it out again. Also, wondering if it would make any sense to have it cut in half and make two boards out of it. We bought it a long time ago but don't really use it because I don't really like the thickness of it. Or, should I just sell it or give it away. I'd appreciate some input.
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If you don’t really like using it because it’s too thick, I would give it away. I notice the squares don’t line up properly either.

I have one like that acacia squares, but about half the thickness and it has standoffs. Love it - robust but not too heavy.
 
I'm not a woodworker - If the thickness (and it is thick!) is the primary reason for not using it, will you use it more often if it is refinished or you have 2 smaller ones just as thick?
 
I'm not a woodworker - If the thickness (and it is thick!) is the primary reason for not using it, will you use it more often if it is refinished or you have 2 smaller ones just as thick?
The two smaller ones would be half as thick. The trick would be finding someone who could slice it through the center, creating two 1-1/2 inch boards. Then, I do think I'd use it more.
 
Got it, misunderstood how you intended to cut it in half.
How depends on what tools the woodworker has. Someone with a big band saw could use a band saw. I would use my table saw, running the cutting board through vertically, - 4 cuts - one cut from each side. I can only get about 3” with the table saw. This would leave the center 6”x6” uncut that I would cut using a handsaw.
 
A butcher shop would likely have a band saw that large.

If it were me and I didn't want it as a cutting board, I'd sand it or see about getting in planned smooth, then oil it, and use it for a platter or charcuterie board.
 
I would first contact Boos to discuss options. Odds are it is only glued-up wood in there, but if there are nails or bolts that is a much different cutting problem. John Boos & Co. | The Trusted Tradition

Alternatively, sell it. Boos products are expensive and you would probably find a market for a big used one. Then us the proceeds to buy what you want, maybe even from Boos.
 
How depends on what tools the woodworker has. Someone with a big band saw could use a band saw. I would use my table saw, running the cutting board through vertically, - 4 cuts - one cut from each side. I can only get about 3” with the table saw. This would leave the center 6”x6” uncut that I would cut using a handsaw.
This is how I would do it also. Then belt sand it down and finish sanding it with fine grade paper and oil.
 
Any woodworker with a good bandsaw can "resaw" that in half. My bandsaw has a 14" capacity and it's nothing special. ( Also, just bought a new resaw blade!) Nothing hard or mysterious about this , it's a common technique. They of course would also have a thickness planer to take down that bad side and get rid of that defect. Of course it would need some sanding and a little router round over on the new edges and then a new oil finish. Would take me less than an hour prior to oil finish. Alternatively you could just plane down the bad side and refinish.
 
I'm thinking it would be a PITA to slice that big chonk into two 1 1/2" slabs, then run through a planer to try and get rid of the wows in the cut, and and and.

Also land on block planes being called that because of their look, like this one:
Vintage Wooden Block Plane Woodworking | eBay
 
A band saw may not be a good idea cutting such a long width since the blade is somewhat flexible. I'd go with the table saw and four cuts plus the final with a handsaw.
You got that right! Would have a mess and a lot more work to get it to a finished product. I agree aja.
 
I'm thinking it would be a PITA to slice that big chonk into two 1 1/2" slabs, then run through a planer to try and get rid of the wows in the cut, and and and.
Easy, Peasy... my only negative is cutting the name Boos in half. I feel bad about that.
 
Yes, it should be possible for an experienced woodworker to cut it in half if they have a well tuned bandsaw with a fresh blade. I would recommend also that they use a router to round over the edges. That's an end-grain cutting board. They are the best but that end-grain can be tough to plane down. If you want it resurfaced then try to find someone with a planer that has a helical head. They have carbide blades that would cut through it just fine.
 
Any woodworker with a good bandsaw can "resaw" that in half. My bandsaw has a 14" capacity and it's nothing special. ( Also, just bought a new resaw blade!) Nothing hard or mysterious about this , it's a common technique. They of course would also have a thickness planer to take down that bad side and get rid of that defect. Of course it would need some sanding and a little router round over on the new edges and then a new oil finish. Would take me less than an hour prior to oil finish. Alternatively you could just plane down the bad side and refinish.
I have a 14" bandsaw, probably the most common size for the home woodworker but the 14" capacity refers to the throat or cutting width, the max cutting height is about 6". Does your bandsaw actually have the ability resaw to a 14" height? Wouldn't think that would be all that common and would be a fairly large machine.
 
As noted a very large and powerful bandsaw and planer would be best - I’d call around sawmills, hardwood dealers and/of cabinetmakers near you. Even if they can’t help you, odds are they’ll know who could in your area. When I lived in Newark OH, I knew a shop that could handle the job for you, a simple job for them.

Four cuts with a table saw and a handsaw to finish would work, but you’ll probably lose a little more to kerf than with the bandsaw. And it’ll be harder to get it level again, but doable. As noted above, you’ll probably want to round over the fresh edges after you’ve cut it in half.

As you probably know, use mineral oil on the finished product. I did a full maple butcher block countertop in the mid 80’s, and it still looks great (saw it on Zillow).
 
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I have a 14" bandsaw, probably the most common size for the home woodworker but the 14" capacity refers to the throat or cutting width, the max cutting height is about 6". Does your bandsaw actually have the ability resaw to a 14" height? Wouldn't think that would be all that common and would be a fairly large machine.
Fair call out zinger: I misspoke. You are correct on the throat capacity, but I bought the extension piece from Powermatic and I have about a 12 1/4" resaw capacity ( just went to the shop and checked), if I took the upper roller guides off I could be 14 1/2" , but I would never do that.
 
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How much do these cost to be worth so much trouble and expense?
MSRP = $466.95
 
I assume both sides are cutting surfaces and only one side is damaged?
Correct. Unfortunately, it is the side that is the top when the Boos name is facing up.
 
A few have mentioned doing some work myself. Unfortunately, those days are gone. Used to do some woodworking when my FIL was alive (his tools/shop), but those days are long gone and I won’t be trying to hand plane it. Even if I did, I’d still want a router to round over the edges afterwards.
 
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