The Boardsmith Maple End Grain Cutting Board: problems, parts and running costs
Checked: 2026-10-19
Summary
The Boardsmith Maple End Grain Cutting Board (12x18x2) is a made-to-order end grain butcher block that needs regular oiling and ships on polyurethane feet. The main running cost is care products — mineral oil and Board Butter — and the warranty is only 60 days. It is a good buy near the $230 manufacturer-direct price and harder to justify above about $255.
Common problems and fixes
- Warping in the first weeks — Wirecutter saw the larger 16x22 in board warp within a week without feet; oiling it and laying it flat on a wire shelf flattened it back out. The included feet keep the board off a damp counter and help prevent this. Warranty covers defects in material and workmanship for 60 days. [6]
- It needs regular oiling and waxing — maple boards must be kept fed, and the manufacturer recommends buying a care kit with oil and Board Butter. This is upkeep, not a defect, so the warranty does not cover it. [1][4]
- The 60-day warranty is short — it runs 60 days against the one-year warranty on the Jones board Wirecutter recommends as its top pick. [6]
- Mineral streaks and visible glue joints — normal in maple and not fully avoidable; the manufacturer sells cosmetic “second” boards with these at a discount. [1]
- Heavy and tall — 9-11 lb and 2.75 in tall with the feet, which matters for storage and for users under 5'3" (160 cm). [4][6]
Parts and consumables
- Polyurethane feet — pre-installed, nest inside a wooden escutcheon and add 3/4 in; replacement pricing not reported. [1][6]
Yearly running cost
Not enough data. The only recurring cost reported is care — mineral oil and Board Butter, sold as a kit by the manufacturer — but the sources give no kit price and no re-oiling interval, so a yearly total cannot be computed.
When it is a good buy
The Boardsmith sells the 12x18x2 board with grooves and feet direct for $230, marked down from $270 (The Boardsmith, 2026). At that price it is a good buy for a heavy, thick end grain board you will keep oiled. Above about $255, Wirecutter’s listed price in March 2026, it is harder to justify against the Jones board at $185, which carries a one-year warranty instead of 60 days.