Butcher’s Block Restoration Options?

Our current house is being demolished as the owner wants to build a 4 story place with 12 car garage.  Caught up with him today and asked if I could have the old butcher’s block that was at the house.  Happily he agreed.

I would like to generally restore it as a filleting station, and am seeking members views on the best options.  Don’t know what the timber is, but it has lasted a long time in the salt air.  Was thinking of taking the top inch off with a chainsaw, chiselling the bark then sanding/oiling?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.  Thanks. Mick

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Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it - LH.

 

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Posts: 46

Date Joined: 30/04/15

Firewood!

Sat, 2020-08-15 21:54

Sorry couldn't resist! I'd make a makeshift router fence, mill the top down with a router and a big straight bit till its pretty, sand and tung oil. Worked well for me with a couple of projects over the years, would come up well with the tung oil to.

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timboon's picture

Posts: 2924

Date Joined: 14/11/10

 How big is it? It must be

Sun, 2020-08-16 08:38

 How big is it?

 

It must be seriously big otherwise I dont see the point & even then I don't see the point...

 

I burn three of those a week, I'm not being a smart ass but its just a timber round.

 

I could cut a 800mm round and call it a knights table but at the end of the day its a bit of wood...

 

Looks like Mauri to me looking at the bark...

 

Come down south and I'll cut you a brand new "butchers block"

sunshine's picture

Posts: 2549

Date Joined: 03/03/09

Chain saw operator with skills

Sun, 2020-08-16 09:32

To carefully remove as little as possible to get it flat .....then a plane to smooth off the top.   I would epoxy finish the sides to stabilise ....love the old butchers blocks and this one clearly has lots of history 

rob90's picture

Posts: 1522

Date Joined: 06/02/13

 thats a big chunk of log.

Sun, 2020-08-16 19:42

 thats a big chunk of log. Electric planer or belt sander with course grit will sort the top out. Chainsaw will be hard work to get clean and flat. Get a wire wheel on a drill to clean the sides up. It'll bring back some natural timber colour and clean the legs up too. As mentioned above epoxy resin to hold bark on solid and tongue oil for the top. Will come up a treat and be rite for many more years to come. If using a planer work from the edges in or in a circular motion so you don't blow the sides out. 

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 Hi my name is rob............. and I'm a........... fishaholic

Faulkner Family's picture

Posts: 17835

Date Joined: 11/03/08

 If using an electric planer

Sun, 2020-08-16 20:05

 If using an electric planer or router make sure there is no bits of metal on area being re finished.  Lots of small  bites at it will do a much better job than few big bites. Being an old block like it looks the timber will be well seasoned which you won't find in New stuff. Worth the effort

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RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together

OOH YEH's picture

Posts: 383

Date Joined: 16/06/15

Butchers block

Mon, 2020-08-17 05:46

I'm a x butcher and have restored a few . The  block is made out of wandoo a very hard wood . I would cut the top off with a chainsaw and wire brush the sides then repaint . Once that is finished to clean the block use a scraper and dust it with flour this drys the block and keeps it clean . They look great in a large kitchen area .