Woods not to use for cutting boards

[Jay Jolliffe]

What woods would not be good for cutting boards. I want to make a few for my daughters & would like to know what not to make them out of.

[Dave Sweeney]

Stay away from any soft woods. The harder the wood the better.

[Tyler Purcell]

Also, avoid open grained wood, they are prone to holding moisture and bacteria.

[Jay Jolliffe]

I know hard woods are best. What I was wanting to find out is toxicity in different woods.

[Matthew Barrett]

I have made a bunch of end grain cutting boards from a design found in WOOD magazine that makes a great checkerboard style pattern. I use maple, cherry and walnut.

[Jon Todd]

I dont really believe it but Some people say walnut can be harmful because it can be toxic. But Like I said.....

[Steve knight]

some tropical woods that are oily would not be a good choice. like ipe and cocobolo and teak. or woods with lots of silica in them. like ipe and teak.

[Brian Penning]

The attached might help you. I noticed they don't have pine which gives me a rash when sanding it.
http://www.houseoftools.com/content/houseoftoolscom/information/WoodDust.htm

[Steve Rayboy]

some tropical woods that are oily would not be a good choice. like ipe and cocobolo and teak. or woods with lots of silica in them. like ipe and teak.

Steve,

I've already made a few cutting boards with Ipe. Are you concerned that the glue won't hold...or that it is toxic? One of those boards was for my wife, and she uses it almost everyday.

steve

[Mike Weaver]

Many of the tropical hardwoods can cause allergies when you sand them (from the dust). For using a finished cutting board though, I don't think it's an issue at all.

The oils in the woods are problematic for gluing, but that can be overcome.

I agree with the earlier poster - harder is better and it's better to avoid open grained woods.

-Mike

[George Bregar]

Steve,

I've already made a few cutting boards with Ipe. Are you concerned that the glue won't hold...or that it is toxic? One of those boards was for my wife, and she uses it almost everyday.

steve I think his point is twofold..oily woods don't glue up well, and the silica dulls knives (and jointer and plane knives for that matter)

[David Weaver]

It might be easier for people to inventory what they've made them out of.

Purpleheart and Maple is a nice mix. I've never tried it, but I'd like to.

Or maybe maple and lacewood.

[John Bush]

I have some laminated bamboo stair treads that have worked nicely. They are made of two 3/4 inch layers which are made of 1/4 inch by the 3/4 inch strips. When mineral oiled they look nice and seem quite hard and non-pourous. Any thoughts on using bamboo? Good thing is all I had to do was cut and oil.

[Steve knight]

bamboo should work well I will have to try it.

[Gary Keedwell]

It might be easier for people to inventory what they've made them out of.

Purpleheart and Maple is a nice mix. I've never tried it, but I'd like to.

Or maybe maple and lacewood.
LOML loves her purpleheart and maple end-grain cutting board.:)
Gary

[John Bush]

Hi Steve,

Let me know if you get to Seattle, I just built a wood storage rack and mixed with all the treasures is several pieces of the bamboo. I don't think my wife will miss it.