Countertops and work benches

Most butcher block countertops are manufactured using traditional techniques going back to the 1800s. In fact, the first maker of butcher’s block was a form in Michigan that developed the process known as “wood welding,” which involves gluing pieces of wood together under pressure to form a solid bond.

There are two basic types of butcher’s block:

Edge grain

As suggested by the name this type uses pieces of wood glued together with the grain direction being parallel to the surface and often ends up appearing similar to hard wood flooring. The more expensive countertop will feature wood that has rails running the entire length of the counter, although some pleasing patterns can be created using smaller pieces or recovered wood. In fact, the tendency recently to create eco-friendly furniture using recovered wood is also becoming more popular and can produce extremely attractive kitchen counter-tops.

End grain

Once again – as the name suggests, this type of butcher block uses pieces of wood that have been glued together with the grain running perpendicular to the surface. Generally professional chefs prefer these and most blocks that are intended for use by a butcher will be end grain rather than edge grain. The reason they are preferred is the fact that the end grain allows the knives to slip between the grains, meaning any knives or cleavers used will stay sharper for longer. In olden days, it was typical that a butcher would buy a block at the beginning of his apprenticeship and never need to replace it as long as he lived. The surface is sanded down to produce a new layer of wood and the block becomes moulded as it ages.

Once the blocks are complete, it is easily possible to create furniture from the resulting wood blocks. Many different types of butcher-block countertop styles are available And in many different finishes. Standard wood finishes can be applied if there is no intention of using the countertop as a work surface and cutting food directly on it. If it sis to be used as a cutting board, it is possible to apply some non toxic oils, but a plain unfinished wood works well.

Kitchen counter tops can be extremely attractive when made in this way and stained to match existing woodwork. Butcher blocks certainly have come a long way since being the “Sanitary Meat Block,” it started out as. Most companies that make kitchen counter tops from these are bespoke and made by hand, which means no two pieces are exactly the same.