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A butcher block is assembled wood suitable for durable activities like chopping, holding heavy stuff, sitting, lying upon etc. Since a butcher block is made from pieces of wood glued together, to make your furniture a true one-piece work, you’d better finish it and refinish whenever necessary.

Most people are used to just using a butcher block and never know that when they use it, the finish wears out. Then sharp pieces & edges of wood or growing bacteria can easily harm them. Antique butcher blocks are long lasting. That is why refinishing is unavoidably necessary.

Finishing an antique butcher block is a one-person job. Just follow these steps.

1. Scrub the surface with sandpapers. You can use any number of sandpapers depending on how damaged or torn the woods are. Sand the butcher block until you have the smoothness wished for.
2. Clean off the sanding dust afterwards. At this stage, you can blow the dust off the surface or wipe it out with cloth. Use water if necessary, then wait until it dries.
3. Coat the block with mineral oil. Apply the oil to it until the wood stops absorbing the oil. This step may be repeated for 6-10 times.
4. Remove excessive oil. You do not want to leave bumps of oil on the surface for the next step.
5. Apply thin coat of beeswax on the surface. Beeswax is a natural, non-toxic substance that keep the block waterproof. It also help prevent dust, bacteria etc.

Then your butcher block will be as good as new.

How Long Does It Take until I Refinish It Again?

It depends on how much you use it and how much harm it can do unfinished. For daily-used chopping blocks, it is suggested that you put mineral oil, such as linseed oil, on every night to prevent germs from growing where cracks are. Other than that, twice a month is recommended.