| Either in the traditional maple or beech wood | | | | and scratches, a new coat of oil must follow |
| or an increasingly wider range of exotic | | | | each sanding. The blocks extensively used on |
| hardwoods, the butcher-block countertops have | | | | a daily basis are usually sanded down every |
| lately become broadly available. While | | | | couple of weeks or so and hence, the |
| traditionally the butcher blocks were meant | | | | re-oiling would follow the same frequency |
| to be used for chopping, cutting and slicing | | | | pattern, too. |
| meats, nowadays we find that this strictly | | | | |
| functional role is slowly left behind and the | | | | When choosing the oil finishing, it is |
| butcher-block tops are mainly employed on the | | | | important to select a food-grade inert oil, |
| grounds of the visual effect that wood | | | | like walnut oil, tung oil or food-grade |
| generates. | | | | mineral oil. Vegetal oils, although safe in |
| | | | contact with foods will eventually go rancid |
| In such instances, the wood is commonly | | | | and impart undesired odor and taste. Others, |
| finished with polyurethane-based or | | | | such as the Danish oil, although stable are |
| water-based varnish, acrylic lacquer, stain, | | | | not suitable for food contact. For increased |
| or any other sort of build-up finish, which | | | | water-repelling and stain protection |
| both seals the wood and creates the desired | | | | properties, mineral oil can be heated, mixed |
| looks. For those few left cases of | | | | thoroughly with beeswax and immediately |
| butcher-block tops that are actively used for | | | | applied, the resulting mixture being |
| food preparation, however, the range of | | | | something in-between a penetrating and a |
| finish choices is substantially narrowed down | | | | build-up finish. |
| to the oil finishes, which raises a bit of a | | | | |
| problem. | | | | The oil is applied extremely easy, by pouring |
| | | | it onto the wood surface and then smearing it |
| The problem is, the oil finishes are not | | | | with a paintbrush, rag or sponge. Never worry |
| finishing actually, but more of a continuous | | | | about applying too much oil, especially |
| treatment to the wood. As soon as the oil is | | | | during first time session. When the oil is |
| applied onto the wood surface, it will reach, | | | | indeed too much, it will stagnate onto the |
| due to capillarity, to the wood core, which | | | | wood surface for many days and would have to |
| will eventually leave the surfaces dry and | | | | be wiped off with a clean, dry rag or paper |
| hence, a new coat of oil will be required. | | | | towel, but it will take time for the wood to |
| Routine maintenance becomes, therefore, part | | | | achieve this level of oil saturation. Most |
| of the deal since, if the treatment is not | | | | often, the oil will go into the wood fiber |
| carried out periodically, the wood will start | | | | within a 2 to 24 hours interval. The speed at |
| exchanging moisture with the environment and, | | | | which the wood will suck the oil in will vary |
| consequently, the wood may swell or warp in | | | | with the type of oil used, the wood species |
| an excessively moist climate, or, conversely, | | | | and the grit the wood was sanded at. Woods |
| crack if the atmosphere is rather dry. | | | | with a naturally oily fiber, like walnut or |
| | | | black locust, will absorb the finish at a |
| Regular application of oil thus being the | | | | slower pace and so will do the wood polished |
| only way to secure a long, functional life | | | | down to a very smooth surface. Walnut oil |
| for your butcher block, it is usually carried | | | | generally gets absorbed slower than the |
| out monthly during the first year and once | | | | mineral oil but faster than the tung oil, |
| every 4-5 months ever after. Particular | | | | which also tends to dry the wood and |
| circumstances, however, will further adjust | | | | sometimes raise the fiber. |
| the frequency. Wood species with a higher | | | | |
| porosity such as beech or oak will require a | | | | Three to four coats of oil are required |
| more frequent treatment than maple, black | | | | before installation on both topside and |
| locust or other similarly tight-grain wood. | | | | bottom one, particularly insisting on the |
| The pace of wear and tear is another factor | | | | end-grain area, where the wood pores are open |
| to influence how often the re-oiling is to be | | | | wider and the oil is absorbed about twice |
| performed. As the butcher block is sanded | | | | faster. |
| down at times in order to remove cut marks | | | | |