What wood to use and where to get it for butcher block island?

**Kaiser42** · 28th October 2022, 10:44 PM

Hi everyone,
I've decided my first proper project will be to make an end grain butcher's block island for my niece.
She's kinda short (about 5'1") and often complains about bench height.
I want to build her a butcher's block roughly 50cm x 70cm x 10cm. I'll figure out the legs and total height after.
I don't have a planer, sander or jointer... I do have a sliding compound mitre saw and my brand new table saw

.
Also have a trim router, belt sander and circular saw.

I was thinking of buying some hardwood posts and trimming them up.
Then glue and clamp them along the length. Once dry, cut them and roll them so end grain shows up, glue and clamp again.
Hopefully, if I've done that well enough it'll be only 8-10 hours sanding it flat

I'm struggling to find the right timber for it.

I'd appreciate any advice on where to go and what to buy.
I'm in north Brisbane but certainly willing to travel to get the right timber.

Cheers,
Brett

**IanW** · 3rd November 2022, 08:49 AM

Brett, I think just about any hardwood would do the job well as long as it's not a prolific "bleeder" like merbau. I would suggest finding some recycled (= well-seasoned) hardwood rafters or studs to use for your raw material, any new construction-grade hardwood you get at a timber yard is likely to have a pretty high MC. It would probably be ok if you are careful orienting the grain so that the inevitable shrinkage is symmetrical.

And if it's going to get washed & scrubbed like the butchers' blocks of old, make sure you use a good water-resistant glue!

Cheers,

**Kaiser42** · 3rd November 2022, 02:51 PM

Thanks for your response Ian.

Originally Posted by IanW

finding some recycled (= well-seasoned) hardwood rafters or studs to use for your raw material, any new construction-grade hardwood you get at a timber yard is likely to have a pretty high MC.

OK, thanks. I think I know of a couple of places not too far away that recycle knock-downs. I'll check them out.

Originally Posted by IanW

It would probably be ok if you are careful orienting the grain so that the inevitable shrinkage is symmetrical.

I don't how to do this yet, so I will definitely go with the first option (seasoned)

Originally Posted by IanW

And if it's going to get washed & scrubbed like the butchers' blocks of old, make sure you use a good water-resistant glue!

Cheers,

I'm going to get some Titebond III, I like the idea of longer working time to get things lined up properly. Trying to minimise the sanding

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