Is this a problem?

January 21, 2025 11:41 AM

I just bought this John Boos maple cutting board. Expensive but not super expensive. I've slathered it with mineral oil because it seemed pretty dry. I just noticed a tiny, barely perceptible hairline crack, about an inch long. You can feel it more than see it. Is this a problem? Will it grow and spread and should I try to return it? I've had the thing three days and have cut on it once.
posted by swheatie to Home & Garden (9 answers total)

How deep does the crack seem to go? Is it in between two boards (i.e., adhesive failure) or within a board (actual crack in the wood)? Does it emanate from the edge of the block or is it entirely within the block? Are you sure it's a crack and not uneven sanding?
posted by slkinsey at 12:15 PM on January 21

Even when oiled, wood is very responsive to ambient moisture and my experience is that it's normal for cutting boards made of glued strips or blocks to develop small separations when it's dry.

It's winter in the northern hemisphere right now and the humidity may be low where you are. I'm in the midwest and it's currently 2 F with something like 20-30% RH.
posted by pullayup at 12:20 PM on January 21 [1 favorite]

It might grow, it might not. But for the price, I'd certainly return it now. A new cutting board shouldn't have cracks in it.
posted by ssg at 12:54 PM on January 21 [5 favorites]

Response by poster: In response to slkinsey, it's coming from the edge. I'm pretty sure it's a crack, but it is not deep, Just barely there.
posted by swheatie at 1:58 PM on January 21

Return. It's only 3 days old! Wood will swell and shrink due to humidity, but over the years, not in less than a week.
posted by Marky at 2:50 PM on January 21 [5 favorites]

Bring it to a store and talk to them about it. I am sure they will explain that this is normal, but you should then assess how much you trust/believe the person and decide to keep it or return it.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 3:59 PM on January 21

I bought a boos from the folks at butcher block co and they have a great help section.

Ours came with a hairline crack and it just kinda went away after the first month of oiling.

Check out this care guide..
posted by chasles at 8:42 PM on January 21

Here's the rest of their faqs BTW.
posted by chasles at 8:43 PM on January 21

Keep it for now. The warranty on it is a year. If the crack gets worse or causes problems in a year, return or exchange it.
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:13 AM on January 22