Comments on: 7 – A Cut Above http://thewoodwhisperer.com/butcher-block-cutting-board/ Education and Entertainment for the modern woodworker. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:46:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: thewoodwhisperer http://thewoodwhisperer.com/butcher-block-cutting-board/#comment-141960 thewoodwhisperer Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:29:31 +0000 http://nrswebconsulting.com/thewoodwhisperer/?p=89#comment-141960 You definitely don't want to use that picture as a model. It's a brand new board and it didn't stay pretty for long. Look at this picture to see what I'm talking about (ignore the crack): http://thewoodwhisperer.com/wp-content/uploads/crack-sm.jpg Ultimately, this is a work surface. By nature, it is going to get mangled, discolored, and dark. That's the sign of a well-used cutting board. And remember, the varnish (salad bowl finish) is only used to seal the grain from the inside. You don't want to create a film. Once the board is used for a while, you can refresh the surface with butcher block oil or beeswax. Maybe take it into the shop every year for a quick scrape and clean up. But that's really all there is to it. If these boards are being used, they won't stay pretty for long. You definitely don’t want to use that picture as a model. It’s a brand new board and it didn’t stay pretty for long. Look at this picture to see what I’m talking about (ignore the crack): http://thewoodwhisperer.com/wp.....ack-sm.jpg

Ultimately, this is a work surface. By nature, it is going to get mangled, discolored, and dark. That’s the sign of a well-used cutting board.

And remember, the varnish (salad bowl finish) is only used to seal the grain from the inside. You don’t want to create a film. Once the board is used for a while, you can refresh the surface with butcher block oil or beeswax. Maybe take it into the shop every year for a quick scrape and clean up. But that’s really all there is to it. If these boards are being used, they won’t stay pretty for long.

]]> By: Robert http://thewoodwhisperer.com/butcher-block-cutting-board/#comment-141957 Robert Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:22:41 +0000 http://nrswebconsulting.com/thewoodwhisperer/?p=89#comment-141957 I have recently completed my first cutting board and considering my skill level, it looks great. My only issue is that I have used Salad Bowl finish and it looked very nice, but after using (heavily, every day) it looked like the finish is getting some bold spot. Therefore, I have switched to Butcher Block oil, and now the maple parts got much darker. I love the look you have on the picture. Is it possible to get it and keep it somehow? I don't want to get a nice finish and never use my board in order to keep the nice look. Two of my family members, obviously overestimating my skills, have asked me to make 2 more and I'd like to get some nice finish that would last for a longer time. Please help. I have recently completed my first cutting board and considering my skill level, it looks great. My only issue is that I have used Salad Bowl finish and it looked very nice, but after using (heavily, every day) it looked like the finish is getting some bold spot. Therefore, I have switched to Butcher Block oil, and now the maple parts got much darker. I love the look you have on the picture. Is it possible to get it and keep it somehow? I don’t want to get a nice finish and never use my board in order to keep the nice look.
Two of my family members, obviously overestimating my skills, have asked me to make 2 more and I’d like to get some nice finish that would last for a longer time.
Please help.

]]> By: thewoodwhisperer http://thewoodwhisperer.com/butcher-block-cutting-board/#comment-141949 thewoodwhisperer Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:55:13 +0000 http://nrswebconsulting.com/thewoodwhisperer/?p=89#comment-141949 Hard to say if you'll have warping issues. All I can say is you might. Obviously a finished board is going to have fewer problems than an unfinished one. And yes, little feet would have made all the difference in the world with my board incident. Hard to say if you’ll have warping issues. All I can say is you might. Obviously a finished board is going to have fewer problems than an unfinished one. And yes, little feet would have made all the difference in the world with my board incident.

]]> By: Kevin http://thewoodwhisperer.com/butcher-block-cutting-board/#comment-141937 Kevin Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:41:00 +0000 http://nrswebconsulting.com/thewoodwhisperer/?p=89#comment-141937 Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions!!! It's much appreciated. My wife tends to be a bit picky on odor, so I don't think I will be able to bring it inside. I think I will have to go the route of mineral oil. Or, another option I have is I could wait to finish it until the spring. Would I have any issues with warping? I could bring it inside until the spring. Also, on your unfortunate accident with your board, would it have been helped out by having some feed on it keeping it off the ground? Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions!!! It’s much appreciated. My wife tends to be a bit picky on odor, so I don’t think I will be able to bring it inside. I think I will have to go the route of mineral oil.

Or, another option I have is I could wait to finish it until the spring. Would I have any issues with warping? I could bring it inside until the spring.

Also, on your unfortunate accident with your board, would it have been helped out by having some feed on it keeping it off the ground?

]]> By: thewoodwhisperer http://thewoodwhisperer.com/butcher-block-cutting-board/#comment-141923 thewoodwhisperer Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:41:51 +0000 http://nrswebconsulting.com/thewoodwhisperer/?p=89#comment-141923 Hey Kevin. Oil-based finishes will definitely take a lot longer to cure in colder temps. In general, it is probably best to follow the manufacturer's instructions. Any way you can bring the boards inside after applying the finish? Even a bathroom with the vent on would be better than the cold garage. Hey Kevin. Oil-based finishes will definitely take a lot longer to cure in colder temps. In general, it is probably best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Any way you can bring the boards inside after applying the finish? Even a bathroom with the vent on would be better than the cold garage.

]]> By: Kevin http://thewoodwhisperer.com/butcher-block-cutting-board/#comment-141901 Kevin Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:04:57 +0000 http://nrswebconsulting.com/thewoodwhisperer/?p=89#comment-141901 Marc, question on your varnish finising method for these boards. I have a garage shop and it's cold this time of year in Wisconsin. Do I have any concerns with that type of finish when it's cold? Marc, question on your varnish finising method for these boards. I have a garage shop and it’s cold this time of year in Wisconsin. Do I have any concerns with that type of finish when it’s cold?

]]> By: thewoodwhisperer http://thewoodwhisperer.com/butcher-block-cutting-board/#comment-141745 thewoodwhisperer Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:36:02 +0000 http://nrswebconsulting.com/thewoodwhisperer/?p=89#comment-141745 Hey Don. Definitely nothing wrong with a long grain cutting board. I would just recommend they use it like any other cutting board. If it is made from durable wood and it is treated properly, it will last for a very long time. Hey Don. Definitely nothing wrong with a long grain cutting board. I would just recommend they use it like any other cutting board. If it is made from durable wood and it is treated properly, it will last for a very long time.

]]> By: Don http://thewoodwhisperer.com/butcher-block-cutting-board/#comment-141730 Don Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:00:11 +0000 http://nrswebconsulting.com/thewoodwhisperer/?p=89#comment-141730 I have recently gotten back into "trying" to make stuff with wood, mainly scrap wood from work. I watched your cutting board videos......love it. I am making an end grain cutting board, I understand the reasoning on end grain. I have a few friends that like the way the boards looked before I cross cut to expose the end grain. Other than wearing out faster and dulling knives, can a person just repair the cuts and keep up with the maintaining of the cutting board? Don I have recently gotten back into “trying” to make stuff with wood, mainly scrap wood from work. I watched your cutting board videos……love it. I am making an end grain cutting board, I understand the reasoning on end grain. I have a few friends that like the way the boards looked before I cross cut to expose the end grain. Other than wearing out faster and dulling knives, can a person just repair the cuts and keep up with the maintaining of the cutting board?
Don

]]> By: thewoodwhisperer http://thewoodwhisperer.com/butcher-block-cutting-board/#comment-139153 thewoodwhisperer Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:22:19 +0000 http://nrswebconsulting.com/thewoodwhisperer/?p=89#comment-139153 Wow, almost seems like you'd have to make something related to beer.... a chess/checker board maybe? :) You can enjoy a brew while playing game on it. :) Wow, almost seems like you’d have to make something related to beer…. a chess/checker board maybe? :) You can enjoy a brew while playing game on it. :)

]]> By: Billy Rappold http://thewoodwhisperer.com/butcher-block-cutting-board/#comment-139112 Billy Rappold Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:35:04 +0000 http://nrswebconsulting.com/thewoodwhisperer/?p=89#comment-139112 Planning on using OAK and CYPRESS to make some cutting boards this week. Been looking at your pod casts and appreciate all of your effort. I have several pieces of REDWOOD that had been BEER BARRELS circa 1890s in NEW ORLEANS. 17 foot long stuff five inches thick and nine inches and eleven inches wide. ANY IDEAS? When I cut into it...smells like BEER. Billy Planning on using OAK and CYPRESS to make some cutting boards this week. Been looking at your pod casts and appreciate all of your effort.
I have several pieces of REDWOOD that had been BEER BARRELS circa 1890s in NEW ORLEANS. 17 foot long stuff five inches thick and nine inches and eleven inches wide. ANY IDEAS? When I cut into it…smells like BEER.
Billy

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