Replies

1. 
   RSRose | Oct 08, 2002 10:09am | #1

   HV,

   Many people who use butcher blocks to actually prepare food, such as cutting and the like, just keep the wood oiled with mineral oil. However, as a kitchen table, I assume it is actually a piece of furniture and there is no intent to pound, cut or abuse it in any way or to prepare foods on it.

   In which case it is a dining table just like any dining table and you can finish it with any finish that you like. Does it already have a finish, that you want to "maintain?" The answer to your question would depend on the finish that already exists.

   If you're applying a new finish, I recommend that the final layers be varnish for durability. You could use varnish for the full finish or start with several coats of shellac which will bring out the grain and figure of the wood beautifully, then apply several layers of varnish over that.

   Another appropriate finish is sprayed laquer, either nitrocellulose or one of the newer water "borne" or catalyzed lacquer finishes. Like a varnish finish, these can be the entire finish or can be the top coats sprayed over shellac.

   Rich

   Edited 10/8/2002 3:10:30 AM ET by Rich Rose

   
   

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   Edited 10/8/2002 3:11:01 AM ET by Rich Rose

1. 
   riverr1 | Oct 08, 2002 05:26pm | #2

   Rich,

   "Another appropriate finish is sprayed laquer, either nitrocellulose or one of the newer water "borne" or catalyzed lacquer finishes"

   Rich, are you saying that the pre-cat's are water borne? If you are, that's not been my experience. Just wanted to clarify.

   Don

1. 
   RSRose | Oct 08, 2002 06:29pm | #3

   Don,

   No. They're two different formulations. My sentence was unclear. I was referring to nitro, water borne and catalyzed as 3 different spray lacquers.

   Rich

1. 
   riverr1 | Oct 08, 2002 06:32pm | #4

   Rich,

   Fair 'nough. I thought so, but I don't think it read that way so as I said, just wanted to clarify. Thanks.

   Don

2. 
   HVbuilds | Oct 09, 2002 06:00am | #6

   Rich, Thanks for your reply. It has never had a "finish" applied that I am aware of.  I think the mineral oil would give it the look we want. We would like it to appear natural, not glossy. It is long Grain, not end grain. Thanks for the idea.

   HV

   Edited 10/8/2002 11:03:45 PM ET by HVbuilds

1. 
   RSRose | Oct 09, 2002 09:20am | #7

   HV,

   I would NOT recommend mineral oil for a dining table. Sorry, I DID say that mineral oil is frequently used for cutting blocks, but failed to say that that's the only use for which it's recommended.

   Also, I don't think you appreciated the point about finishing the table with a DURABLE finish. Varnish or lacquer needn't be gloss, they can be low luster matte or satin finish.

   An oiled finish (as in boiled linseed oil or tung oil - not mineral oil) will give a low luster finish but is not durable enough for a dining table. You may get away with an oil/varnish mixture which will be low luster with few coats, higher luster as you apply more coats and build the varnish film that results from these rubbing finishes. You will get a thin varnish layer that's tougher than just an oiled surface, but not the equal of a multi-coat brush-on varnish or many coats of spray lacquer.

   Dining tables need protection. They get used hard. Unless you plan to cover the table with table pads every time you use it, any thin finish will get shabby-looking pretty quick.

   Rich

2. 
   RSRose | Oct 08, 2002 07:07pm | #5

   HV,

   Just curious - The term "butcher block" anymore is used to refer to several different types of construction.

   I used to understand it to mean a very thick table top (8" or so) of members glued long grain to long grain only, with the table surface being composed only of ENDGRAIN. These tables usually were no more than about 3' square. The individual boards in the table could be any cross section dimension, but typically were about 4' square and freqently had dovetail jointery on their long grain. Butchers actually chopped meat on such tables and they traditionally were made of maple.

   Another construction is a surface consisting of LONG GRAIN. Jointery is long grain to long grain across the width, with butt joints within the length direction. These are the usuall work bench, table top variety.

   Which is yours?

   Rich