Maple Butcher Blocks

(End Grain, Up to 2″ Thick)

Maple wood butcher blocks can add a unique and custom style to your kitchen. When you choose to purchase a custom maple block from MHW, you are making a solid investment for your kitchen, as our blocks are built to last you a lifetime. We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our cutting boards and butcher blocks

About Our Maple Butcher Blocks

or any and all kitchen items from cutting boards and bowls to butcher blocks and countertops, there are countless things that must be taken into account. Unlike other wood projects, items found in the kitchen must also consider water damage, how these materials interact with kitchen utensils, whether or not these woods will lead to bacteria growth unknowingly, and whether they can withstand the continual use that is required of them.

With these concepts in mind, maple wood was one of the very first woods to be considered. Not only is maple wood known for its density and neutral tone that makes it perfect for various stains and projects but it is also fine-pored and highly durable. In fact, according to the Wood Database, “Hard maple ought to be considered the king of the Acer genus. Its wood is stronger, stiffer, harder, and denser than all of the other species of maple commercially available in lumber form.”

maple butcher blocks

However, to better understand just what makes maple wood so ideal for cutting boards and butcher blocks alike, let’s take a look at its main characteristics, strengths and weaknesses, and how this all applies to butcher blocks specifically below.

The Main Characteristics of Cherry Wood

Cherry wood is a prized material for woodworkers, contractors, artists, and designers alike. When cherry wood is first cut down, it’s color is a light pink and this color changes over time due to oxidation and UV light. This is why some cherry wood is bright and warm while other cherry wood is rich and dark. The one thing that all cherry wood product makers and buyers alike must keep in mind is that cherry wood is sure to change color as time goes on due to the ‘ripening process’ and this means that it may not match its surroundings in a matter of only six months to a year’s time.

When it comes to the actual texture of cherry wood specifically, cherry is a fine grain wood that is deciduous and sustainable in nature. It has a smooth finish and, depending on where the wood is cut from, you can either experience the softer and more malleable nature of the sapwood along the outside of the trunk or the firmer and more shock-absorbent nature of the heartwood in the center of each trunk.

How We Build Our Boards

What are the Most Common Uses for Maple Wood?

Maple wood comes in both hard and soft wood forms. Surprisingly, unlike cherry wood, maple wood’s sapwood is used far more often than its heartwood. Maple is one of the most popular woods in America for furniture making and is incredibly easy to grow and manufacture making it highly accessible compared to other popular woods on the market.

While the most common grain pattern in maple wood is straight-grained, you can also find birdseye grain patterns and swirl patterns in the harder wood specifically. Maple also has a fine and even texture to its grain making it perfect for all kinds of projects.

Soft maple is most commonly used for its density and durability in furniture making, construction, and flooring while woodworkers adore the sugar maple tree with its hard wood that is very easy to work with and shape accordingly. Soft maple has a 1,450 rating on the Janka scale making it one of the hardest domestic woods on the market likewise.

Because maple is such a light color, maple is often used to mimic other hardwoods such as walnut or cherry when they are harder to find during certain times of the year. This makes it incredibly versatile and means that you can stain your maple wood any way you please.

Lastly, maple is very resistant to scratches which is why it is one of the most top-used materials for furniture, flooring, and kitchen items specifically. While cutting on a plastic or cheap wood butcher block is sure to cause deep grooves that collect bacteria and can lead to illness in the consumer, maple wood butcher blocks are sure to be able to withstand cutting and wear without warping, splitting, or collecting food bacteria.

Protect Your Investment

Our board butter is a great way to keep your butcher block in great condition for years; and is also 100% food-safe.

Maple Wood’s Strengths

While maple wood remains one of the singular best woods on the market in a number of ways, when looking into what made this wood good for cutting boards and butcher blocks specifically, we chose to not just focus on its strengths but its weaknesses as well. With this being said, below are not just the highlights of maple wood but its pitfalls as well. By looking at both sides of this material, we hope it will be exceptionally obvious as to why this wood is one of our top three materials for production.

Maple wood is considered one of the most highly durable woods on the market as it has one of the highest Janka scale ratings, does not warp or bend easily, and is shock, cut, and dent-resistant. On top of this, maple wood is also straight-grained for the most part and fine-pored making it very sturdy and sound for construction, flooring, furniture building, and design alike. This is why it is so common in the furniture and flooring industry.

The versatility of maple wood is where this material truly shines. Maple wood can be used for countless projects and comes both as a soft and hard form making it perfect for countless industries. You can carve the heartwood of this tree with ease and use its sapwood to create the sturdiest furniture imaginable all while staining it any color you please since its natural neutral tone is great to mimic any and all wood colors and grain patterns.

While some wood materials are harder to find or manufacture, the ease in which maple wood is produced and the amount that is produced yearly makes it far more affordable for its high quality than other woods at the same level. On top of this, the fast that it lasts for far longer than other products made of different materials means that it is also cost-effective as well. This makes its low price even more enticing to countless industries and consumers.

Since maple wood is easy to produce and manufacture with very little effort, maple wood is considered one of the most eco-friendly and sustainable woods on the market. It can also be used to mimic more endangered wood species and this helps the environment significantly likewise. Furthermore, maple wood is consistently producing oxygen for our atmosphere and, at the rate that it is manufactured, this makes a big impact on our ecosystem yearly.

Lastly, maple wood is superbly easy to find because it is produced in countless areas across the nation and in mass production. The most common production location is near the Great Lakes but it is shipped across the nation daily and is one of the most popular woods out there so the supply accounts for this always.

With the highlights of maple wood now broken down, let’s take a look at the few weaknesses that must be considered with this material to determine if it is useful for your household products below.

How Do These Qualities Make for a High-Class Maple Butcher Block?

All in all, maple wood isn’t just a highly durable, dense, and affordable wood but it is also one of the very best woods out there for making long-lasting and high-quality butcher blocks. This is why it continues to be one of our main woods for production as our customers’ satisfaction is a top priority. We hope to keep every client happy for years to come with the best products available made of the best materials known to man. For more information regarding wood cutting board care, check out our in-depth article ‘6 Ways to Naturally Clean a Wood Cutting Board’ today!D

Learn What Customers Think of Our Maple Butcher Blocks

Custom Engraving Gallery

Recent Blog Posts

End Grain vs. Face Grain Cutting Boards

In the world of kitchen essentials, the cutting board stands as an indispensable tool. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or an occasional cook, the choice between end grain and face grain cutting boards can significantly impact your culinary experience. Each type has its own set of characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. Understanding the differences between the…

Wood Butcher Block Counterops

Wood butcher block countertops have gained popularity over granite for several reasons Warmth and Natural Appeal: Wood countertops offer a warm and inviting aesthetic that many homeowners find appealing. The natural grain and warmth of wood can add character and charm to a kitchen, creating a cozy atmosphere that granite, with its cool and polished…

Custom Wood Cutting Boards Make Great Holiday Gifts

A wood cutting board can make a great holiday gift for several reasons: Warm and Traditional: Handmade wood cutting boards evoke a sense of warmth and tradition, making them a fitting choice for any holiday where you gather with friends and family. They add a rustic charm to any kitchen and can enhance the ambiance…