The Butcher block has long been around, since the beginning of use for those original butcher blocks. The Monarch Block is only one of a variety of those types of butcher blocks that are used by commercial meat cutters now going on 100 years. It’s become very popular for people to place into their non commercial settings.
The natural beauty appeals to many non commercial settingowners and they will buy them, either as residential Islands, work surfaces of separate chopping boards. These boards are far more hygienic than the wooden blocks that were used in the past, which tended to split and allow bacteria to seep into the wood. Theses heavily laminated and glued under pressure butchers block are far more hygienic as the surface can be sanded down as many times as needed.
Big, solid and long lived, these butcher block chopping boards are usually made with the smaller home in mind and it is unlikely that a full size commercial block would be used in the kitchen as they are not as aesthetically pleasing.
The grain that is used on these butcher blocks is made so that they will last longer. When a butcher chops down on it with that knife, it will actually cut in between those fibers of wood. The hard maple wood that is used for these Monarch butcher blocks is very long lasting and can be used for years.
The dovetail and double dovetail joint combined with pressurized glue application produces a solid, heavy finished product that will last many years, and certainly longer than a single piece of wood. The joints are almost impermeable to bacteria although exposure to hot water such as in a dishwasher should be avoided.
Sometimes these boards are available used, either in flea markets or on websites such as ebay because they are so durable. the commercial ones tend to be less pleasing to the eye, but are extremely practical.
Burcher block furniture is a welcome addition to any residential. They are warm, handsome and long lived. This means they are actually better value for money in the long run than some of the cheaper alternatives. A butcher block working board will last a life time – or longer.