Carpentry and Woodworking - glue for cutting board?

Hello!

I plan on making a buthcer block type cutting board for my wife. I am using birch strips, probably 3/4" X 1 1/4". I am trying to decide what type of glue to use for this application. I don't want it to come apart in water, I don't want anything toxic, and I want it to last forever. What do you use on cutting boards?

Use Titebond II or two-part resorcinol glue. These are exterior, waterproof glues.

Using Birch is ok, but I would recommend using Maple over Birch. Maple has a much tighter grain which will help prevent any bacteria from going into the wood.

Only use one of the following on the butcher block top, Mineral oil, Salad Bowl Oil, or Butcher Block oil. You can find these at www.rockler.com

Do not soak the countertop when cleaning. Use a mild anti-bacterial soap mixed with Warm water. Just wipe it down and rinse. Dry it right away. Recoat the oil about every month. "Depends upon how much you use it" If you don't keep up with oiling it, the wood will dry and crack.

What most people don't realize is that Butcher Block Tops are supposed to be glued face grain to face grain, not edge to edge. do not make your pieces any larger than 2"x2" I just made a butcher block top for a friend which ended up being 1-1/2" thick. Find a local wood supplier or a place that has a surface sander aka Time Saver and let them sand it flat after you've glued it. You won't ever get it flat by trying to belt sand or orbital sand it. You will end up leaving divits in it. Make your pieces at least 4" longer than the length you want it to be, and cut it to size after the fact. You can make the width to the exact size you wish. You need to add length to the ends because of any snipe you might get if they choose to plane it down first. If you want a top to end up at 1-1/2" thick and see pieces that are about 1-1/2 wide,"as you will be face gluing it" start with 8/4 stock which the actual is 1-13/16"

Any questions, email me or post again

Thank you both for your replies! This cutting board will probably be about 1 1/4" thick, glued face to face as you mentioned. I do plan on planing it (I have a planer). I't won't be very big...probably 1 X 1 1/2'..big enough for veggies and stuff. There are only two mouths to feed here right now, so we don't need a big one. I already have the birch, but I might have some maple...I'll have to look. I think I have some cherry too, so I might alternate birch/cherry/birch strips. That might look cool.

No Cherry.

Reason being. The FDA only Approves Maple to be used for cutting boards because of the tight graining.

Hence, why you don't see cutting boards out of Cherry, Oak, Walnut, etc. Some Cutting boards are made out of beech, but Maple is really your overall best bet.

Try NOT using glue.
put the slats on the side and drill as so.
1st board and every other drill a hole to insert a dowel 1 & 1/2 inch from the ends.
2nd board and every other drill the hole 1 & 7/16ths from the ends.
Then beat a dowel through the holes.
That is basically how a friend of mine made one some 20 years ago.

I made several cutting boards for Xmas presents and glued them up with biscuits and Gorilla Glue.

Thanks for the advice. No cherry. I'm still waiting on my planer parts to arrive so I can fix my planer before I do this anyway. (infeed roller came apart...my fault).

If anyone has any info about 4 head molders, look at my new post and add your input! Thanks!