After posting my reveal pics from the 2022 Secret Santa Spinaker asked when I was going to give a tour of our butcher block. A little about it, my father-in-law, is a talented woodworker and cook. He and my mother-in-law have an old school butcher block which they have had for for almost 40 years and my wife remembered it from going up and what a difference maker it was for working in their kitchen.
Fast forward to 25 years ago, my wife and I had purchased our new home, and we recognized that having a butcher block would be very helpful, however, I hated to “waste space” under the butcher block so I designed a butcher block to have 2 shelves and a drawer. My father-in-law made the bottom shelf as I designed as a lattice work to allow for draining damp pots (I didn’t think that through and it has never been used for that as ruining floors is bad). Additionally, because of the way our first home kitchen was designed we needed the ability to move the butcher block (theirs weighs probably 400 lbs and just stays in place). Subsequently we had locking commercial casters put on it to make moving the butcher block easier.
There are a couple of trade-offs. The top isn’t as thick as theirs (ours is 5 inches thick compared to theirs which is probably 12 inches thick) and because it isn’t as thick it isn’t as heavy and because of the lighter weight and the fact that it is on casters there is a little bit of movement with certain actions (like kneading bread). That said, the movement is very nominal and the features that we built into the block have, in our opinion, out-weighed (pun intended) the disadvantages of the thinner block and the casters as the block is still very heavy.
The top is end cut maple. The base and drawers are made of hackberry (which is super hard) and the shelves are made of oak. The top is has small clamps that hold it onto the base at each of the legs. The drawer is attached to base on drawer with ball bearings. The nice thing is that it really expands storage and keeps items that we use frequently easily accessible. After 25 years we may need to order some new casters, however, with that one critique this butcher block has made a world of difference for us and cooking.
The top measures 24” x 30” x 5”
Total Height 34.5”
Leg length without wheels 25”
Caster wheels 3.5”
Everything revolves around it; cooking, cutting, and slicing, however, it also acts as a make-shift table, for eating supper late at night or a table for lunch. It has acted a bar during cocktail hour with friends, and a great location for family chats. Probably a longer post than anyone wanted, however, we do love our butcher block.
If anyone wants more specifications or has any questions let me know.
Fast forward to 25 years ago, my wife and I had purchased our new home, and we recognized that having a butcher block would be very helpful, however, I hated to “waste space” under the butcher block so I designed a butcher block to have 2 shelves and a drawer. My father-in-law made the bottom shelf as I designed as a lattice work to allow for draining damp pots (I didn’t think that through and it has never been used for that as ruining floors is bad). Additionally, because of the way our first home kitchen was designed we needed the ability to move the butcher block (theirs weighs probably 400 lbs and just stays in place). Subsequently we had locking commercial casters put on it to make moving the butcher block easier.
There are a couple of trade-offs. The top isn’t as thick as theirs (ours is 5 inches thick compared to theirs which is probably 12 inches thick) and because it isn’t as thick it isn’t as heavy and because of the lighter weight and the fact that it is on casters there is a little bit of movement with certain actions (like kneading bread). That said, the movement is very nominal and the features that we built into the block have, in our opinion, out-weighed (pun intended) the disadvantages of the thinner block and the casters as the block is still very heavy.
The top is end cut maple. The base and drawers are made of hackberry (which is super hard) and the shelves are made of oak. The top is has small clamps that hold it onto the base at each of the legs. The drawer is attached to base on drawer with ball bearings. The nice thing is that it really expands storage and keeps items that we use frequently easily accessible. After 25 years we may need to order some new casters, however, with that one critique this butcher block has made a world of difference for us and cooking.
The top measures 24” x 30” x 5”
Total Height 34.5”
Leg length without wheels 25”
Caster wheels 3.5”
Everything revolves around it; cooking, cutting, and slicing, however, it also acts as a make-shift table, for eating supper late at night or a table for lunch. It has acted a bar during cocktail hour with friends, and a great location for family chats. Probably a longer post than anyone wanted, however, we do love our butcher block.
If anyone wants more specifications or has any questions let me know.
Attached Files
Comment