Finding hard maple for end grain

[Brad_bb]

So I need to build a new end grain cutting table bed.  It's for an old antique french butchers bench.  The original one had cracked/split/lifted once it was brought inside.  It apparently lived it's life in non conditioned space.  It was also very worn and someone sanded it and the border.   It's going to be used, so I need to restore the top.

The top is glued up of endgrain 2"x2" hard (sugar) Maple blocks it looks like.  Not sure of the depth yet.  Could be 3 or 4 inches. I need to figure out how to remove it from the bordered top. Luckily it's pulled away from the border in most places.  If there is any glue it's likely going to be hyde glue I'm thinking.  The whole table bed is roughly 2'x4.5'. 

I don't get any hard maple to mill myself.  I'm going to have to find or buy the sugar/hard maple.  I wish I knew someone with scraps to build it with.  It's a shame to cut up nice grade boards when scraps or short pieces could be used.  With this thickness, maybe it's not worth trying to find scraps?  Any suggestions?

[low_48]

Is the border long grain or end grain? Hard maple can be a little tricky gluing. Get it too smooth and the glue doesn't like to bite. I've never done it, but read about using the water drop method. If you put a drop of water on the glue surface and it just sits there, the surface is too smooth. Use your moisture meter a LOT! No wild swings between boards for success.