huonpine cheese board

[Makka]

A newby at this! I have a piece of Huon pine ( a slice from a full trunk) the surface has some holes some about a centimetre wide and blemish cracks in it.For a cheese board I assume they will need to be filled. I intend to oil the finished board with Grape seed oil.
What do I do about the cracks and holes?

[Horsecroft88]

I suspect some others might have some better advice than me, but I guess my take on it would be one of two options. You could try filling such blemishes as noted with a wood putty, and then sand off before coating the block with oil. I think that might work and shouldn't be a risk re food contamination ?? The alternative is not do anything, and simply oil it.

I only say that as Huon pine is such an amazing timber that water won't rot it, especially for what you are using this for and if any cheese were to get caught in such areas, simply scrubbing it in the sink after use with a dish scrubber should get such material out of those areas. I would keep the oil up to it if you are regularly using it and washing it after use, but only from the perspective of keeping such blemishes protected.

I have had a huon chopping block (no blemishes) and have used it for probably on 25 years and no dramas at all with it.

[Makka]

Thank you so much for your help. I also posted on "Woodworking all" and it was suggested I use an epoxy resin. I am giving that a try so thanks for your help.