Michigan Butcher Block - Stunning Good Looks

Michigan Butcher Block was first produced in the 1880's when the company's new owners realized laminated wood cutting surfaces were a solution to problems the meat cutting industry had had for years.

Due to the tight but porous grain of the wood, Michigan Butchers Block is easy to maintain and clean, durable and, if properly treated, not subject to warping or drying out.

Today, Butcher Block cutting surfaces are the standard.

Wood block products from the Michigan Maple Block Co. are found as countertops, home kitchen island and kitchen cart designs, commercial food service work tables, gourmet products and cutting boards, as well as Butcher Block furniture.

Look for both the Michigan Maple Co. and the Bally Block Co. when researching kitchen design ideas; they're both subsidiaries of the same company.

Beautiful And Practical

Woods used by Bally include Northern Maple - the traditional material in  butcher blocks, White Ash, Red Oak, and Lyptus, a plantation-grown wood from South America.

The blocks of wood are laminated either edge or end-grain to create a strong bond that doesn't warp and is durable yet is easy on expensive cutlery and cooking utensils and won't mar pots and pans.

 Because the wood is porous, disinfecting cleansers penetrate the wood's surface, unlike plastic which 'self-heals' - closes back over scratches and cuts, which traps bacteria.

Michigan Maple Block furniture is mostly finished natural, though some pieces have optional white bases, a nice idea in that the color white is complementary to most kitchen decors, and some cart designs have stainless steel bases.

Finishes are either Durakryl, a proprietary inert film that is highly durable and non-reactive, or Mineral Oil, which is standard on all Michigan Block cutting boards.

Countertops, kitchen island tops or workbenches can be purchased with this finish as an option.

Michigan Maple designs its island and cart furniture with pull-drawers and slatted shelves for convenient storage and stunning good looks.