Cleaning an Old Butcher Block Wood Table
By cleda
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RE: Cleaning an Old Butcher Block Wood Table
Without knowing more about your newly acquired treasure its very difficult to guide you, but hear goes. Butcher blocks are meant to be sanded lightly and not to be finished (the food factor) its made of various woods to form one thick plank or just one type of wood made into a thick plank. What usually happens with bakers and butchers at the end of their day is a good dowsing of bleach maybe leave it on for a second or 2, just to clean it and kill any bacteria, then rinse and wipe/rub with linseed oil and maybe again if its kinda dry.
If your treasure has been finished then its not for the baker or butcher and its time to refinish. Your table is kinda old and might need other help ie rickety, wrapped etc. Time to make your treasure a treasureable heirloom. Repair refinish and restore.
Your local hardware store will help you with the stripper, again without knowing the type of wood or woods its kinda hard to guide you, but anything that's thick and that you don't have to leave on for long -20 min max, do another coat if you have to but do not scrape. Do not use a putty knife, it can leave nicks slashes and gouges which you probably have plenty of (which will leave great old character in the wood) then rinse (with a hose if possible after you wipe of the waste and old finish). Don't do the legs unless really grody. Its very time consuming and can take away from the character and age of the table/wood.
Sand lightly to bring back wood color, then bleach, little trick is to do the bleaching in the sun (don't leave wet to long, remember less is more) really brings out the color of the wood and rinse again, dry then refinish either with a water soluable poloycrylic or just linseed oil which will may need many coats/rubs.
A warning; do not use metal of any type. Your wood is old and maybe soft especially after stripping and cleaning dry thoroughly, sawdust like jo b said is cool and should even fill in any unseen cracks but no wire just use a fine sand paper (wet if possible) for your treasure.
Send us a before and after picture, wood love to see it as a treasured heirloom.
cyn
Post by cynthiah
RE: Cleaning an Old Butcher Block Wood Table
I just recently purchased a very old butcher block cart for $5. It was in very good condition structurally speaking but the top was in very poor condition loaded with stains & very soiled. I washed it with simple dish washing detergent & water & immediately dried it with a dry cloth. I then sanded it going with the grain until all of the stains were gone. I then took a new paint brush & painted olive oil on it. I let it dry & put a 2nd coat on & let it dry. I then buffed it with a cotton dry cloth. It came out beautiful & looks brand new. I sold it for $100. Good luck with yours.
Post by kidena
RE: Cleaning an Old Butcher Block Wood Table
I don't like where or how mineral oil is made, or where it comes from. I'd try high oleic safflower oil. It tends to last longer & doesn't seem to rot like other oils. It's great for cooking, as high heat doesn't cause it to be turned into trans fatty acids, which are very bad.
Post by c t
RE: Cleaning an Old Butcher Block Wood Table
If it's going to be used to prepare food on you will have to be careful of what cleaners you'd use... I'd use Bleach (or bleach in water) to clean it, then give it a thin coating of Mineral Oil. (others may recommend olive oil, but mineral oil doesn't go rancid like vegetable oils do).
Post by Cyinda
RE: Cleaning an Old Butcher Block Wood Table
This is what eHow says to do
http://www.ehow.com/how_2097765_sterilize-antique-butcher-block-table.html
Post by Fortunately
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