Anyone had any experience with butcher block tops? i’ve just started a kitchen remodel, and the HO’s asked about pricing a top for the island. I’ve never installed, ordered or had any other dealings with them, but anyone have any advice? Having built a maple top for one of my workbenches, I know for sure that I have neither the time nor inclination to build one from scratch at the moment. I can’t seem to find anything locally (Nashville) but I googled them last night and found a number of suppliers, any better than others? Thanks in advance.
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I've dealt with BALLY Block in of all places, Bally, Pa.
We made a pr. of entrance doors 3/0 x 7/0 double doors ...I was hired to drill for the mechinism that latched the head jamb and threshold, after the contractor broke all his bits and cooked all his drills, trying to bore a 3 and half foot hole thru end grain maple.
I ripped the slab and got all his busted bits out, routed a dado in each half and reglued the slab...half a day. LOL
He spent a whopping 3 days trying to drill them.
Anyway, Bally is good stuff.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
" If ya plan to face tomorrow, do it soon"
These are good.
http://www.mapleblock.com/
A Michigan company.
Drill oversize holes in cab mounting blocks to allow for movement-no splitting.
A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
I have been told that Ikea has good prices on butcher block counter tops. I visited their Emeryville, Calif., store and it looked pretty good. (They say they have 55,000 people each week visit this store...) Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be shown on their web site. However, if you have a local store, it might be worth a visit.
No
NO, NO, NO, NO!!!!
Not IKEA, no way.Theirs is the absolute worst I have ever seen. Customer bought one for their own little project twoyears ago and was absolutely embarrassed by it. Knots, divots, narrow scrap piecings, bad gaps in glue joints, thinner than others...It looked like a kid made it from used pallets for his first woodworking project
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
So that would be a no?
Or a no-no?
LOL_______________________________________________________________
this post is a no speedo zone
I'm sorry, I guess I wasn't clear on that.Ikea makes cheap junk. I wouldn't have even had it in my own house.
I'd bet Mooney wouldn't even want it in one of his rentals...;)
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
they only come in 8' lengths, though. Also, they're not very thick. only 1 1/4 I think.
I cut the hole for an undermount sink in butcher block and followed the manufacturer's instructions exactly. Made a jig, routered the hole in several passes, sanded and coated with mineral oil and a coat of wax within hours.
The top was split at a joint at the sink corner the next morning. I separated it a bit more, squished in some glue and countersunk two screws on the bottom. I had to repeate this proceedure on the other side the day of installation.
It must be O.K., I haven't gotten a call-back.
Beware, the stuff they make this out of grows on trees,
Kowboy
I seal the end grain near cutouts like that with epoxy. Works better longer.Was this one you had split from Home Depot?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
"I seal the end grain near cutouts like that with epoxy. Works better longer."
Sounds like an excellent suggestion.
"Was this one you had split from Home Depot?"
Very funny, now it's me that's LMAO. No, it was from the Michigan butcher block guys, sealed on the bottom and pre-finished on the top.
Kowboy
I'll have to make a cal in business hours to find the name of the company that provides mine. They go up to 12' long with full length strips. Excellent and never had a failure.
You mention island. That means wider than normal. This outfit makes any size width but it takes a bit longer.
Remember when you mount it, use slots for your screws from under so the top can move with the seasons.
Find out from the customer whether they want a mineral oil rubbed finish like old school or if the want a polyurethene top. Most people who choose the oil rubbed then fail to properly care for it and do their best to ruin it with knives, water, blueberries, etc. Also, be sure they want long grain and not true butcher block end grain. Get the specifics nailed down so they are happy in the end.
I've got photos if you want.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Thanks for the input. As far as the tops from Ikea, I'd have to agree without even having seen one. That store is a purveyor of fine junk - glorified Wal-Mart furniture.
If you like particle board though, you'll love Ikea.
Anyhow, to answer your question, it will be wider (36") and probably needs clipped corners on the two back corners, as to not impede traffic flow. I had originally thought about just ordering a top from Woodcraft and then making mods, but they don't have anything close to that width. And yes, I have done everything in my power to dissuade them from an oiled/waxed finish.
My local planing mill makes them - whatever size you need. Any shop with an edge glue press can do the same. They're cheap, too.
I've bought blocks from Michigan Maple Block and from John Boos http://www.johnboos.com/residential/index.cfm
The Boos blocks were much better quality, smaller pieces of maple resulting in less warping and cracking. I have the Michigan Maple Block in my kitchen; wish I had bought Boos for myself. Never used Bally.
Billy
Here is a pic of the 4" one we installed last year. Still looks excellent. It drank a lot of mineral oil for the first six months. Delivered to the door from Boosbros (~$1,000). Can't say I could have built it for less...
Find out where you can get Boos butcher blocks, there are far and away better then any of the others that I've seen or used.
Doug