Located in one of the most heavily used rooms in the house, kitchen countertops attract plenty of attention. So it makes perfect sense that you would want to get this surface right. Few countertop materials are as beautiful and long-lasting as natural wood. Not only that, wood butcher block counters are one of the least expensive countertop materials you can buy.

Butcher block counters have one quality that elevates them over many other counter materials: do-it-yourselfers can easily work with them. Bulky and hard to cut, quartz and stone countertops are best left in the hands of professionals. Even solid surface or laminate countertops, though easier to work with, are most often installed by the pros. By contrast, wood countertops are relative easy to fabricate, install, and finish on a do-it-yourself basis. Raw, close-grained butcher block slabs can be special-ordered from many home improvement and flooring companies.

Tools and Materials

• Raw butcher block slab
• Table saw or a circular saw equipped with a track system for precise long cuts
• Mineral oil
• Clean cotton rags
• Long strips of cardboard and painter’s tape or 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch hardboard project panels
• Utility knife
• Oscillating electric sander
• (8) 1 1/2-inch zinc-plated corner braces
• (32) 1-inch brass Phillips drive wood screws
• Cordless drill equipped with a Phillips head driver bit
• Portable work light
• Electric belt sander (optional)
• Hot glue gun (optional)
• One-by-ten board (optional)