One of the most important and critical of kitchen tools is a knife. You will never find a kitchen with only one knife. There are different knives that we use for specific tasks. For example, you get carving knives, paring knives, tomato knives, bread knives, cheese knives, and chef’s knives, to name a few.
With so many knives in your kitchen, where are you going to store them? It is not a good idea to keep them in a drawer, as they will rub against other objects and soon become blunt. It is neither safe to leave them lying around on the counter, and nor is it tidy. So, the best solution is to use a knife block. You can get knife blocks of various materials, but the wooden knife block is by far the most popular type.
Here we take a look at the best wood for making a knife block. Although you can use almost any type of wood, here are some of the most commonly used types of wood used:
Best Types of Wood for Making a Knife Block
Acacia
Acacia is one type of wood that is in abundant supply all over the United States. This makes it quite cheap to procure. It is a dense and durable wood, generally used for building boats, but it is easy to cut. Due to this reason, it makes robust wooden household items like knife blocks. As acacia is so dense, it is also less prone to dents and scratches. However, if you apply a finish to this wood, it will look smart and last for years.
Mahogany
Mahogany comes from Indonesia and is an expensive variety of wood. You can get this wood in a variety of colors. The wood tends to darken with time. You can control the color of mahogany by applying a suitable finish. It is a durable wood and serves as a substitute for teak in that it has the qualities of teak but at a much lower price.
Another advantage of mahogany is that the trees grow faster than many other types of wood, making it easier to procure. Mahogany takes stain and varnish quite well. Hence a knife block of this wood looks quite attractive.
Cedar
Cedar is a rot-resistant, durable and light wood. It will not deteriorate in the presence of moisture, which makes it suitable for a knife block the will be placed on the kitchen counter. The resins that exist in cedar keep the wood protected from insects and rot. It stains well, so you can add further durability to a knife block made of cedar and enhance its looks.
Walnut
Another excellent hardwood that you can use to make a kitchen knife block is walnut. The advantage of using walnut is that you don’t even need to finish it if required, and although this is an expensive wood, you will find that it looks great. The vibrant chocolate brown color of walnut is irresistible in any kitchen. Walnut is also an extremely durable material, so you can expect a knife block made from walnut to be with you for years to come.
Maple
If you are looking for wood that is good looking as well as reasonably priced, Maple is an excellent choice. You can get Maple in different shades, so you can select a suitable shade for matching with your kitchen decor. It also takes stain quite well, but it tends to become splotchy. Therefore, you need to exercise caution while applying a finish to it.
Maple has a fair degree of water resistance but can be attacked by insects, so you do well to treat a Maple knife block with organic insecticide to enhance its durability.
Pecan
Here is a wood that is even more durable than Maple because it is harder hence less prone to get damaged. But because the grain of Pecan wood is not very close, this wood can get damaged with water seepage, so using an adequate sealant would be advisable. However, due to the variety of different grain patterns that you get with Pecan, a knife block made of this wood would be an excellent addition to your kitchen.
Pinewood
The advantage of using Pinewood is that it is available all over the United States. You can buy this wood from any lumber supply shop, hence there is no issue about procuring it. It is a cost-effective wood, and it is softer than other woods and is therefore easy to cut. Pinewood has an excellent clean grain and can either be finished or left as it is and either way it will look good. Pine is a softwood that makes it a bit of a challenge if it has to bear a load. However, with a knife block, there should be no issue.
Teak
Teak is an all-time favorite due to its good looks and durability. However, teak is not readily available because of the massive demand, which pushes up the price considerably as well. It produces natural oil, which serves as a deterrent to insects, rot, and decay, making it a reasonably water-resistant wood. You have to take care of how you finish teak, but if you do it properly, you can make a great-looking knife block.
Cherry
There are few places in America where you would not find wooden items made from cherry wood. It is widely available and although not cheap, it is not too expensive either. Cherry has the right amount of hardness to make a good knife block to support your sharp knives. You will need to apply a suitable finish to it, which will produce satisfactory results. Cherry also has the property of darkening over time, developing a rich reddish-brown color, which is quite pleasing to the eye.
Conclusion
You want to take special care of your kitchen knives. They are critical tools for you to have a comfortable experience in the kitchen. Having a good knife block is the best way to keep your knives protected and handy when you need them. Hence making a knife block as a woodworking project is one of the most satisfying projects that you can undertake. However, you need to be aware of the suitable types of wood that you can use for making a knife block.
In this post, we have covered some of the best wood for making a knife block to make your job is for choosing material for your next woodworking project. Yes, you would do well to make a knife block that will look great in your kitchen and keep your knives safe and sound.
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