Maple wood and butcher blocks are a natural match for any wood kitchen countertop project. Combining the beauty of maple wood with high durability and functionality makes maple an excellent choice for your next kitchen countertop project. Maple wood has an all round appeal to any kitchen environment. Maple is considered to be a superior wood for kitchen countertops because of its beauty, durability and strength, making it a good choice for wood kitchen countertops over other options.
Maple’s natural beauty and resilience make it a natural choice for your next wooden butcher block project. Maple Wood Butcher Block counters have a deep, mahogany-colored heartwood, whilst the sapwood is a soft, pale creamy white. Add value and beauty to your kitchen with custom designed Maple Wood Butcher Block counters. Whether you choose acrylic, resin or wooden butcher blocks to suit your kitchen design needs you are guaranteed to add an extra layer of sophistication to your kitchen.
This type of wood used in kitchen countertops is popular for being quite expensive, but some woodworkers feel that its high price is justified due to the quality of wood used. The maple is harvested from 100% solid hardwood trees grown in North America. The heartwood of maple trees grows in a single plane which extends straight up from the underbelly of the tree. Harvested trees are usually young and are left to fully develop their unique character and characteristic grain.
Maple wood has been in existence for hundreds of years and continues to be a favorite for many types of furniture and cabinetry. There are several reasons for this popularity. First of all the lumber is extremely durable and will outlast most other types of wood available on the market today.
Most woodworking projects should be left unfinished because unfinished wood just tends to look more rustic and less finished. Unfinished wood also takes much better to stains and will resist staining much longer than an unfinished piece. This quality however does come with a downside. Maple wood is very pricey compared to other types of lumber so unless you are well equipped in the garage with an old father’s scrap, you might want to consider purchasing prefinished or pre-finished maple butcher block.
Prefinished blocks are a quick and easy way of putting a fresh new look and gloss to an old kitchen or dining room. They are also much easier to work with since all the cuts are made in one side only. Unlike a cut over the top of an existing slab, you do not have to worry about the slabs cracking or splitting when you perform a quick chopping motion with your electric knife. The new surface is also much easier to work with because it locks in the cut just like a solid wood slab does which allows for very accurate and smooth cutting. This feature is much appreciated if you like to do several cuts in a row.
Preparing the surface of your butcher block is very easy. You can choose to leave the surface raw (unfinished) or you can sand it lightly and then seal it using mineral spirits or an epoxy. The only tools required for this preparation process is a high quality sandpaper and a shop Vac. Once your butcher block has been sanded and sealed it is ready for your finishing touches. The first thing you will notice is that there are many unique cuts and shapes available when it comes to Maple wood. You will find everything from a square edge to a triangle edge and even fruit and leaf designs!
Choosing the best blocks for your cutting projects will take some time. Since there are so many different pieces of maple wood available, you may need to do some research before selecting the perfect blocks for you. Remember, you want your knives to be safe. You can find wood blocks that have been treated with stain guard which will help protect your knives. You can also find counters that have been designed to accommodate different knife styles such as the euro style knife, double edge, pocket knife and other specialty knives.