Pine, poplar or oak for a kitchen knife block?

flatgrinder

flatgrinder

Joined
Dec 20, 2005
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Hi,

I'm making a small kitchen knife block and I'm thinking of using wood from the local hardware store, I was wondering which type of wood should I use?

They usually sell pine, poplar and oak. Are all of these okay? Or are some treated by chemicals that may be poisonous?

Thanks! :thumbup:
 
Fine grained is better which eliminates oak. The best would be hard maple or birch. Of your three poplar would be the best choice.
 
Pine contains resins, and is soft
Poplar is a very soft wood and may get marked up easily
Of the three you mentioned I would only use the oak as it is a nice looking hard and durable wood, however is is somewhat porous and if you later had the idea to make matching cutting board and utensils you would want to go with maple or birch
Thanks,
Del
 
Please do yourself a favor and don't use those woods. The poplar would work poorly, and the others would not work well at all.
There are several woodcraft Supply stores in CA and I'll bet if you look in the phone book you will find several wood suppliers /lumber yards in the Oakland area. Even if you just get a piece of walnut or cherry it would be better.

You are going to put too much time and work into a knife to have it end up a half way job.

I have lots of nice Rosewood for kitchen knife handles. Send me a PM with the size scales you need and I'll send you a set, gratis.
Stacy
 
If you need hard woods try McBeths (Oakalnd/Bezerkely) or in the South Bay, Southern Lumber Co.(San Jose). I'm live in the south bayarea and work in SSF.

Ric Lee
 
I like maple.

One question, why would somebody use corian for a block? Isn't it too hard?
 
Sawmill in Richmond might do ya, too. I haven't been in a while but I seem to remember lots of smaller scrap.

I *think* peach wood would work out okay, if so I've had some logs curing in the backyard here for a while. I know people use it a lot for wooden bowls and utensils.

If you are handy enough with getting the slots cut, you could even do a planed log. :)

*edit* just checked, 2 of the pieces are crotchey but have lots of straight wood, more than 6 inches diameter.

I'm in Davis, and could probably arrange some way to meet. I'd love to make a shop visit and see some tricks.
 
Keith, Corian and similar materials can me machined with typical carbide tipped tooling .That's what they use for making counter tops etc.
 
mete said:
Keith, Corian and similar materials can me machined with typical carbide tipped tooling .That's what they use for making counter tops etc.
Click to expand...

yes, but i thought that something made for counter tops would dull a knife.
 
The thread is about a knife block .For a cutting board only use wood or a plastic made for cutting boards [ poly propylene ? ].
 
Do it in olivewood! Order some online; you don't need a ton for a knifeblock and olivewood is great for it. Out of the three you have there I just couldn't justify using any for that purpose. You might also look at tulipwood!
 
koyote said:
There's also the concern that a knife block can dull knives, though.
Click to expand...

It will only dull the knives if you slide the blade edge against the front of the slot as you slide the knife in and out. Solution: make the slot slightly bigger then the blade and make sure the spine is touching the back edge of the slot when you push or pull the knife in or out.
 
I just saw that he was making a knife BLOCK,too. - Sorry.
I would use maple,but the poplar would work.
Stacy
 
I would us black walnut heartwood, it's what a lot of folks out here in central new york use, nice color, nice grain, it's a little soft, but you could alternate it with maple if you want a contrast with the slots edged with the maple. Give it a nice oil or paste wax finish. The oils and tannins have a sterilizing effect too if someone inadvertantly puts the knife back in the block without washing it.

-Page
 
I rest my knives in the block edge up. That eliminates dulling.

Poplar is not a bad choice as its very fine grained.

Maple or cherry would be better, since they're harder, and still very fine grained.
 
Thanks for all the advice!

I used poplar in the middle and maple on the sides (sandwich design) and base. All held together with waterproof wood glue and 5/16" dowels. I'll post pictures when I get it done.

Any ideas on finishing? Stains? Danish oil? etc. Thanks.
 
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