Butcher Block Counters

Remember when our kitchen looked like this, that was just a few weeks ago. Just after the new year. You can see my paint can out already!

Then I ripped out the counters and they sat without counters for a little while. Then we cut the counters and they looked great! But I had more plans for them.

I pinned a picture of some routered counters that I thought made the countertops look absolutely gorgeous. And I wanted that. So, my Father-in-law and husband delivered!

My FIL brought down a router for us and the boys picked up an ogee bit to practice with.

You can router one of two ways. By dropping the bit all the way down and moving across the piece of wood in increments or by dropping the bit down in increments. We chose to do it by dropping the bit down. So we made about 6 drops, around 1/8 each time.

This was our practice piece. It was left over butcher block from the counters. This is just a basic bit. I, of course, needed a little more drama, so wanted the Roman Ogee Bit.

They had to go to a wood-working store 45 minutes away to get the bit. Love them for that!

There it is. Isn’t it beautiful?!

In order for the end not to get eaten up and split we clamped a straight edge (in this case the inside of a cabinet door) just off the end so the router could keep going off the edge. Trust me, it worked.

One thing you have to remember is to go fast enough so the bit doesn’t burn the wood, but slow enough that it doesn’t cause rivets and splits in the wood. Also, don’t take too much off at a time. Even though making many passes leaves a ton of dust, it’s important to do so, because the butcher block can split and then it’s a pain in the butt.

All of these pictures make it look like Tom did all of the work, but I really did the hardest part:

I decided to leave the counters natural colored but I wanted them to wipe clean easily. Now. Before you freak out. Don’t freak out. I did a ton of internet searches and did the right research. I used my trusty Howard’s Feed and Wax, wiped on, wiped off. Then put 4 coats of Polycrylic in Gloss on top. I used Polycrylic for several reasons: 1. It is food safe. Not cutting board food safe, but if you happen to set a sandwich on top and then eat it, you will not die. Sometimes you put crackers on your dining room table, right?! We do. And I put poly on that. Okay, well, on our old table I did. I haven’t done this table yet! 2. We aren’t using it as a cutting board. So I don’t have to worry about any of those issues. 3. Polycrylic doesn’t yellow. Polyurethane yellows, not just over time either, sometimes, in the right conditions, it happens right away.

After each coat, except the last, I lightly sanded with a 220 grit sanding block. Just make sure you get all of the dust off after each time so you don’t make cookies and stare at the dust or a piece of hair underneath a layer of the poly. Because that would be enough to drive a person batty.

Obviously there is some touch up painting to do and a backsplash to put in, but I’m not one for big dramatic reveals all at once. I like to show you the process along the way. It makes it more real. And we’re all about keeping it real around here…..like the pile of dishes in the sink and the 4 loads of laundry I need to fold, real.

Happy Friday!