#Meat chopping block how to#

Teak and mahogany or specialized woods need a specific sealant because of the oily nature of the wood itself. An oil based sealant like tung oil could be a good choice for softwood because it won’t make the wood shiny, and it’s a natural oil safe for areas where food is. Pine is quite porous, so the sealant will sink in and make it difficult to complete the sealing process. Expect to use fewer coats of water based polyurethane and finish this project considerably quicker. Hardwood is less porous, which will come in handy when sealing your counters.

#Meat chopping block how to#

Here are the main categories of wood you could be dealing with and how to ensure your counters are sealed properly. The products you use as a butcher block sealer must match the wood type. Not all butcher block countertops are made with the same type of wood. If so, you’ll need to choose a food-safe sealant that provides adequate protection against stains and bacteriaĭetermine What Kind of Wood You Are Working With Before you use any products on your butcher block, decide if you are using the butcher block as a cutting board. This process is going to take you several days (because of drying times), so hold off on those dinner parties for at least a week

Make sure you work in a well-ventilated area with butcher block sealers you may want to wear a mask and gloves as well Knowing your wood also gives you insight into how many coats and expected drying times for your sealing Different woods have varying characteristics, including how they accept different sealants You must know the type of wood used in your wood countertop. Here are some of the important things to keep in mind before you start. I don’t want to discourage you before you even start this process on your butcher block counters, but there is more to this process than simply throwing some mineral spirits or oil on your butcher blocks. Let’s dive in! Before You Begin: Important Tips To Keep In Mind In this guide, you’ll learn the right way to seal your butcher block counters, ensuring they look great and last long. I’ve navigated the complexities of this process so you don’t have to. Rout exposed edges of island/peninsula, if desired.Sealing butcher block countertops can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Insert 2-1/2' screws into pocket holes (Image 3). Flip both pieces of countertop over, wrong-side up, and clamp tightly together with two pipe clamps. Put two screw holes about every 8-10 inches. Drill downward into underside of counter that will be joined to other piece (Image 2). If they are flush, take the smallest width of counter and clamp upright in pocket hole jig. Butt counter pieces together the way they will be joined to see if there are any gaps if there are gaps, use a straight edge and circular saw to make both sides completely straight. Cut excess off width and length of pieces that will be joined together, leaving a few inches of excess width to trim to make joining sides completely straight. Since most islands and/or peninsulas are larger than standard counter depth, it will be necessary to connect two widths together. This will involve working on one side at a time and moving the clamps and straight edge. Once clamped together, rout the (optional) decorative edge as directed above. If there is a gap, it may be necessary to trim one or both pieces with the circular saw and straight edge to achieve a straight line and a nice, tight fit. Butt them together as they will be when installed then clamp both pieces down to work surface to hold them tightly in place (Image 1). When positioning two pieces of countertop together to make an L-shape, simply cut the two pieces to size.