Finishing a wood countertop that WILL be used as a cutting board
Peter Steinberg
14 years ago
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Comments (17)
tom999
14 years agosjerin
14 years agoRelated Discussions
Stain Butcher Block Kitchen Countertop/Cutting Board?
Comments (2)Don not stain the cutting board portion of your counter top at all. For the rest of the counter top you can put any stain you want on it. Finish is with Watco Butcher Block oil. Its a mix of Mineral Oil, Tung Oil and lindseed and leaves a Varniq finish that is safe for indirect food contact. There are a few others on the market like Durakryl-102, Emmitts Elixr and The Good Stuff. They are all safe for indirect food contact. Safe to cut on too just not recommended for heavy chopping. For more info see the link below. Here is a link that might be useful: The Butcher Block Top...See MoreMatching Cutting Boards to Countertops
Comments (13)Wood cutting boards are easiest on your knives and naturally antimicrobial. Soft nylon cutting boards are second best for your knives and can go in the dishwasher. The recycled whatever in resin ones are too hard and not good for your knife edge. Glass is good for cheese trays. Cheese knives aren't sharp anyway. Bamboo which has been impregnated with resin might be too hard. Never, ever cut on stone, especially granite. Very very bad for knives. Those stone "cutting boards" that the fabricator gives you are fine, with feet added to them, but they're TRIVETS!!!!! They're for putting hot pots on. Never cut on them if you value your knives. So... Match the countertop? Nah. FUNCTION is most important here. End grain butcher block is the best. Or Maple or other hardwood cutting board. If you have a hardwood counter you could match, but contrast might be prettier. :) Love your knives. Get a stone and learn to sharpen them. Get a steel and learn to straighten the edge. And cut on a good surface for cutting no matter what color it is. :)...See Morebutcher block/cutting board set into counter?
Comments (20)Here is mine, which is inset into the granite countertop. I left 6" between the end of the butcher block and the granite's end at the sink - enough room to keep it dry from the sink, but perfect for a good 'swipe' of cuttings/crumbs into the disposal (small cuttings, we do compost). On the other side we had originally intended to take the block all the way to the end, but loved our granite so much we felt it would look better to leave 13" - and again, glad we did as it's the perfect 'landing zone' for groceries, and I set up my pasta roller there as well. The block itself was cut so that it overlaps the granite, keeping crumbs out - it works. I get it pretty wet at times, but it's held up like a trooper, and it's given a very heavy dousing of mineral oil every week - I literally pour it on, and it soaks up in an hour. Underneath the butcher block is our trash cabinet - wonderful also for swiping crumbs. I couldn't live without ours now. I love it! It is easy to keep clean, and I use it for all prep except raw meat, poultry, fish. I have plenty of other prep space, but this is perfect given the proximity to the sink, the trash, and central location. Ours is removable via screws underneath (drawers and trash cabinet door would come out to remove), so every year it gets a good dose of mineral oil on the underside, and if we sell the house we can remove it to sand down any cut marks, No cut marks yet (shockingly) but I consider that natural patina : )...See MoreBar Island cut to counter height needs new counter
Comments (9)Thanks for input. Removing backsplash not an option & of course decisions are easier when replacing all! But, sounds like your idea is to tie new counter in to backsplash color. The backsplash & granite do look more color complementary to each other when seen in person! The granite background isn’t as white as appears & is warmer. It’s Santa Cecilia granite but the lightest example we’ve ever seen of it....See Morehestia_flames
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