End grain cutting board not smooth after mineral oil

[Matthew Curtis]

I have made two end grain cutting boards and finished with mineral oil. The boards were put up so they would have plenty of air fir a few days. Today I got them and all of the maple was prowd of the other species (walnut, cherry). Just enough to notice.

I did not raise the grain before finishing. Was this my mistake?

They were in clamps for longer than 24 hours for the glue to dry. Then i used a drum sander to finish to 150. Then R.O.S. to 180 before the mineral oil.

Can I sand again? Then re-oil.
Or just not worry about it?

[Matthew Curtis]

I can actually feel all the glue lines. The seams with the maple are more prominent.

[Phil Mueller]

I’ve never raised the grain nor experienced any change in the surface after mineral oil, but it shouldn’t be a problem to re-sand it.

[Dan Jansen]

It’s possible the wood wasn’t dry. I have an end table made of old air dryed walnut that was smooth at glue up but now has a bump at each glue line from continuing to dry/shrink in the climate controlled house.

[Dan Hahr]

Let the glue dry a bit more inside the house. Then sand it once again. Glue lines will swell if finished that quickly. I give mine at least 3 days before finishing.

Dan

[Jeff Heath]

You can just take some 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper, and using the mineral oil, sand it again. You'll create a little bit of slurry, and that'll fill any holes and imperfections, as well. Smooth as a baby's bottom......until it gets used and washed.

[Matthew Curtis]

You can just take some 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper, and using the mineral oil, sand it again. You'll create a little bit of slurry, and that'll fill any holes and imperfections, as well. Smooth as a baby's bottom......until it gets used and washed.

Won't this discolor the maple? As it is walnut and cherry as well.

[Andrew Hughes]

It probably will muddy the maple a little. If you make a cutting board too pretty sometimes it won’t get used.
If you want thinner glue line thin the glue a little bit. Longer clamp time and and wait a week before you sand it.
Tb3 have lots solids it’s take a lot of pressure to squeeze out thick glue.
Plus adding water to the wood puffs it up a little so now the wood needs time to react.
I might be the wood shrinking back down leaving the glue proud.
And always go with the grain.
Good Luck