Old butcher block for workbench top?

[Peter Bogiatzidis]

Hello,

I may have a chance to get some old butcher block that's being removed from a restaurant remodel. The plan is to use it for a workbench top. Any reason to be concerned about it from a health standpoint, considering how it has been used? My thought was to scrub it down with a water and bleach solution, then have it planed in order to both clean and true it up. Any comments or suggestions?

Thanks in advance to those who post a reply.

Peter.

[Woodman]

I'd imagine it would be relatively safe once you have implemented those measures you speak of. Bleach kills just about everything! including the HIV virus believe it or not.

-- Regards,

Dean Bielanowski, RN. BNurs. QUT, PGCert(CCU) Editor, Computer Pilot Magazine. The Monthly Magazine for Desktop Pilots & Flight Simulation Enthusiasts

Aviator - The Flight Simulation Company Providing Flight Simulation Hardware & Software for Over 12 Years! (Australasian Customers) (U.S., Canadian and International Customers)

[JackD]

Yep, bleach should be sufficient. Believe it or not it works best if it is diluted and not used full strength. As for planing, no need. Simply turn the block over. I guarantee that no one has been chopping on the underside.

-Jack

[Andy Dingley]

Even assuming it's full of whatever it's full of, then it's going to be safer as a workbench than it would have been to leave it in the restaurant kitchen. Give it a good bleaching if you want to, by all means.

Will you need to flatten it ? Sounds like a good excuse to buy a big L-N low-angle butcher-block flattening iron 8-)

How big is this thing ? I've seen butcher blocks in kitchens, but never one big enough to use as a benchtop.

-- Die Gotterspammerung - Junkmail of the Gods

[Tom Kohlman]

[Kevin L. Bowling]

Professional butcher blocks can be quite large.They weigh a ton too