Replies

1. 
   user-148830 | Dec 06, 2006 06:17am | #1

   Hey Ron,
   I think you may have overcompensated and caused your own problem. I could be wrong, but to me it sounds like you sealed off one face of the butcher block with this membrane. Glued it on you said. So you put something on one face that you didn’t put on the other, and although I know you don’t want both sides covered, it’s what you need to do to keep a piece balanced. It’s like gluing on p-lam but only to one face. Your substrate is gonna warp. That’s why you use backer laminate to balance out the panel.

   But this obviously won't work here. But with moisture only getting in on one face and the other sealed off, it seems inevitable that it
   will cup. I would pull the membrane. It’s doubtful there’s moisture coming from the fridge. Not impossible but doubtful. Water usually collects down lower. So get rid of the membrane and all I can say on that is good luck. Then resand the butcher block flat.

   Now if you can flip the butcher block, or if your clients can, from the sound of it, if they can flip the butcher block occasionally, then finish off both sides again with your finish of choice and instruct them to keep flipping it every so often. It may be small enough to do this. It’s the only thing keeping my cutting board flat, getting moisture on both sides.

   But if size constrains you, I would groove the bottom of the b-block with a series of small table saw cuts just like they do in flooring or outdoor benches. These trenches/ grooves will allow for expansion/ contraction and help to keep the top flat.

   If this still doesn’t work, then this moisture imbalance is always going to be a problem with the cabinet or island design that you have to work with. I’d slot screw on some battens to help hold it flat or rout in some slots on the bottom face for some sliding dovetail battens. Also tell your clients to quit using a garden hose on it when they wash it down. Good luck.
   Gary