Thread: My First serious project - End Grain Butcher Block - WIP

What timbers did you decide on?
(looks good so far).
TM

its all Ironbark. The description on the delivery docket indicated that it was a re-sawn powerpole. Its as heavy as anything. Might need to reinforce the floor when we get it upstairs!

Looking good so far, that'll look nice with a coat of oil.

Another member of the Recycl;er's union!! Great!!

Looking good so far!

Where is Kennedy's?

Thanks for the feedback guys!

Kennedys is on Potassium Rd Narangba, near the dump shop (havnt been in there yet!)

As for the progress:
Removed the board from the clamps this morning and hit them with a cabinet scraper to get all the squeeze out off, then decided to give it a sand with 60 grit on the random orbit sander. Needless to say, this was a waste of time, so a quick trip over to Dads house to borrow his belt sander. 2 mins sanding and everything was square and flush. On closer inspection after the sanding was done, I was getting a bit concerned about the amount of cracking and fisures in the timber (see pics), so I am starting to think it might crack badly when I cross cut it for the endgrain. And looking at the colours of the long grain, I am starting to lean towards ditching the end grain idea, and just continue to dress up the face as it is now. Any comments?

All the legs and rails are now cut as well. Using a bit of poly glue to stabilize a few of the cracked rails. Hopefully this will work.

Off on a trip for the next few days -pains me to leave the project as it is, but I gotta do some work to support the habit!


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Originally Posted by anygivensunday9

The description on the delivery docket indicated that it was a re-sawn powerpole.

Without being nasty or anything, have you checked to see if this particular pole has been treated with anything. Going from the last lot of images you've put up of which shows lots of black shadowing, particularly around areas that look to be checking in the timber, I wouldn't be surprised if it has had some form of treatment and depending on when it was treated, some of the chemicals used are nasty.

Originally Posted by anygivensunday9

I am starting to lean towards ditching the end grain idea, and just continue to dress up the face as it is now. Any comments?

G'day mate. I see what you mean about staying with the long grain. It's come up really beautifully. Just a thought though. If this is to be a proper butcher board (ie not just for looks) then you will want to go with the end grain. Long grain will not be as forgiving to your knives in the long run and you will find you will need to sharpen them more often. If you think of the wood grain as a bunch of skewers or toothpicks, when you try and cut across them sideways you will meet lots of resistance, but if you cut across them from the top down the skewers will move around the knife blade and allow it to pass more easily. Similar concept to end grain vs long grain.

As for the cracking i would suggest getting the piece inside your house to acclimatize if you have time, that will give you a better idea of what it will do in the long run in terms of cracking.

Looking good, keep up the good work.

Originally Posted by Acco

Without being nasty or anything, have you checked to see if this particular pole has been treated with anything. Going from the last lot of images you've put up of which shows lots of black shadowing, particularly around areas that look to be checking in the timber, I wouldn't be surprised if it has had some form of treatment and depending on when it was treated, some of the chemicals used are nasty.

That is a very interesting point indeed, and something I had not thought of. In consultation with SWMBO, I have decided to varnish the top and use it as a mobile kitchen island