Butcher Block Dining Table

In the past, butchers (people who work as meat cutters) use butcher blocks as cutting boards due to their high thickness. But since the 50s, manufacturers have started bringing in these thick blocks and making them into the butcher block dining table as we know it today. 

Features

Looks natural due to the wood texture.

Very thick solid wood table top. Any butcher block dining tables easily measure 1 inch and above.

The table top is always made from wood and not other materials. Wood is the material of choice because of its hygienic properties. Back in the old days, wood was used for this reason too. Common wood types are maple, teak and walnut. These 3 wood types belong to the hardwood category.

Due to this, the butcher block table has a heavy weight.

Butcher block kitchen tables are most widely available in the rectangular shape. There are only a few round ones.

Benefits

Very sturdy. The table top is very thick, giving you the necessary stable and "bulk" feel when you dine.

You can safely put heavy items onto the table. But usually you don't put heavy items on a dining table anyway.

Practically indestructible. Even if there are scratches or dents, simply resurface and refinish the table top. There is more than enough wood to spare because it is so thick. If you buy online, rest assured of its shipping condition quality because it is hard to damage this strong table.

Suitable for homes that have the country theme. The butcher block table has some rustic and antique properties.

Tips

How to buy

Although it sounds "manly", the butcher block table set does not always appear like its name suggests. You can still retain the table's modern style properties by having lacquered table legs, coupled with the butcher block as the table top, for example.

How much does it cost? In terms of price, you might think it is expensive because of the relatively thick table top, but it is actually very affordable. The actual price will depend on the wood type being used. For example, teak wood is more expensive than both maple and walnut ones.

In case you want to buy a butcher block (not the table) for chopping work, make sure it has the anti microbial property. You don't want your food to get dirty and infected with bacteria, do you?

Do you know that kitchen islands (rolling counters) mostly have butcher blocks as their main table surface?

How to clean

Although it can be resurfaced and refinished, you don't have to. As long as you clean the butcher block kitchen table quickly each time (proper maintenance), there is no need for resurfacing or other repair works.

How to clean the butcher block dining table? As described in the previous paragraph, wipe with a damp cloth every time after dinner. But before you do this, you should always use a feather duster or a microfiber cloth to dust off particles first. This is to protect the wood finish from getting scratched with the fine particles.

Do not expose your butcher block table to direct sunlight. Why? Because it is made from hardwood. You should never expose any hardwood to direct sunlight, which could drain the moisture away from the wood, making it dry. When it is dry, the wood is prone to cracks.

In conclusion, the butcher block dining table is a great kitchen furniture if you need the most durable dining table to last you for decades, especially if you are looking for a new dining table.

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