Restoring an Old Maple Butcher Block
We had the fortune of inheriting an old butcher block that previously belonged to my grandparents. This 200 pound plus monstrosity had become a fixture in the garage for the past five years and we finally decided to clean it up so we could use it in the kitchen. While the block is structurally in great shape, it was in dire need of some intense clean up and restoration. The makeover process all started with a bucket of hot sudsy water with a tad of bleach. We gave the block a good wipe down from top to bottom. The block had numerous stains, blemishes and cobwebs stuck to it so this bucket cleaning was first in order. We even cleaned the wheels on the bottom of the legs. The next process was to allow the block to dry in the sun for a few hours before we prepared the finish sander. We used the orbital sanders and began the process with an 80 grit sheet which is pretty abrasive but capable of removing years of debris, old oils, and nicks. After we sanded down the surface to our satis