The Boardsmith Maple End Grain Cutting Board

By The Boardsmith · Cutting Boards · Kitchen & Cooking

  • Sustainably harvested FSC-certified premium-grade maple
  • Joined with FDA-approved waterproof adhesive
  • Made to order in Texas, USA

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Summary

A made-to-order end grain butcher block in FSC-certified hard maple, built in Frisco, Texas for cooks who want a thick, heavy board and will keep it oiled. Check the wait and the warranty before you buy: boards are built to order, so delivery runs 2–3 weeks, and coverage is only 60 days.

Strengths

  • 2 in of end grain, thicker than the 1.5 in board Wirecutter’s main pick uses.
  • Polyurethane feet nest in wooden escutcheons and lift the board off damp counters.
  • Arrives soaked in mineral oil and coated in Board Butter, ready to use.
  • The juice groove can sit on the underside, keeping the top flat for daily work.
  • FSC-certified, FAS-grade domestic hard maple, built to order in Frisco, Texas.
  • Wirecutter named it an upgrade pick in March 2026, and Forbes Vetted did the same in 2023.

Weaknesses

  • Needs regular oiling and waxing, and the manufacturer recommends a care kit.
  • The 60-day warranty is short next to the one-year coverage on the Jones board.
  • Made to order, so 1–2 weeks to fabricate and 2–3 weeks to arrive.
  • Heavy at 9–11 lb and 2.75 in tall with the feet.
  • Wirecutter saw the larger 16x22 in board warp within a week, though it flattened after oiling.
  • Mineral streaks and visible glue joints are normal in maple; cosmetic seconds are sold at a discount.

Verified specifications

MaterialFSC-certified, FAS-grade domestic hard maple.
Constructionend grain, 2 in thick.
Size12 × 18 × 2 in, sold as the “Butcher” size.
Dimensions12 × 18 × 2 in before the feet; the feet add 3/4 in, for 2.75 in total height.
Weight9–10 lb after oiling per the manufacturer; Wirecutter lists 11 lb for the same size.
Feetpolyurethane, non-slip, pre-installed, nesting inside a wooden escutcheon.
AdhesiveFDA-approved waterproof adhesive for indirect food contact.
Finishhand-applied food-safe oil and Board Butter, after a 30+ minute soak in pharmaceutical-grade mineral oil.
Lead timemade to order in Frisco, Texas; 1–2 weeks to fabricate, 2–3 weeks total per Wirecutter.
Optionsjuice groove (paid, top or underside), finger grooves (+$15), and engraving for an extra cost.
Warranty60 days, covering defects in material and workmanship.
Full research notes and sources

Construction and materials

The board is 2 in of end grain hard maple, FSC-certified and FAS grade, joined with an FDA-approved waterproof adhesive rated for indirect food contact. The manufacturer soaks every board for 30+ minutes in pharmaceutical-grade mineral oil, then hand-applies food-safe oil and Board Butter. Polyurethane non-slip feet come pre-installed, nest inside a wooden escutcheon, and add 3/4 in, for 2.75 in total height.

How it was tested

Wirecutter (NYT), which has tested 25+ boards since 2018, named this its upgrade pick in March 2026: thicker and better footed than its main choice. Its testers ran staining trials with beet juice and garlic, measured juice-groove capacity, judged chopping sound and knife feel, watched for self-healing, and checked stability and dishwasher fit; the board arrived well oiled, finely sanded and beveled. Forbes Vetted named it an upgrade pick in 2023, and Serious Eats praised the smooth end-grain surface and out-of-box finish in 2024.

Oiling, upkeep and warranty

Maple needs regular oiling and waxing, and the manufacturer recommends buying a care kit. The board ships already soaked and coated, so it arrives ready to use. The included feet help prevent warping by keeping the wood off a damp counter. The warranty runs 60 days and covers defects in material and workmanship, short next to the one-year warranty on the Jones board Wirecutter recommends. Solid wood can be re-sanded and re-oiled over time if the surface takes damage.

The Boardsmith sells the 12 × 18 × 2 in board with grooves and feet direct for $230, marked down from $270 (The Boardsmith, 2026). Finger grooves add $15, and the juice groove and engraving are paid options. Wirecutter lists the Jones board it recommends at $185 with a one-year warranty (Wirecutter, 2026), against 60 days here. The recurring cost is care: mineral oil and Board Butter to keep the maple fed, which the manufacturer sells as a kit.

Which model this is

This page covers the 12 × 18 × 2 in “Butcher” size, sold direct and on Amazon as ASIN B0GXBYV2N2. The Boardsmith makes several maple end grain boards in the same family, including the larger “Carolina Cut” and “Big Block”, plus mosaic and walnut-bordered variants, so match the size before buying.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

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