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John Boos® Product Care Information and Helpful Hints
The Importance of Oiling Your TopExtremes of humidity and dryness can swell and shrink Hard Maple and/or Oak enough to cause small seasonal checks to appear, usually at the ends of the tops or at the end of the lamination. This possibility, though remote, is an unavoidable condition of enjoying the character and beauty of a living material. Cracks filled with a cellulose filler of the right tint become practically invisible. You can help preserve your table by keeping your home humidified in the winter and by refreshing your table often with oil.
How To Clean Your TopThese tops are made of kiln dried hard maple and dried to a moisture content of 6% making them very susceptible to water and dampness. When cleaning your top, we ask that the following directions be followed very closely:
1) First scrape loose with a steel scraper or spatula any heavy food particles or foreign matter that may have adhered to the surfaces.
2) Brush or scrape all loose particles from the surface.
3) Take dish cloth and dip in warm soapy, or a VERY MILD DETERGENT water and wash top the same as any other wood surface.
4) Wash out dishcloth in clear, warm water, wring out, and go over surface again.
5) TAKE A DRY CLOTH AND GO OVER ALL SURFACES TO DRY THOROUGHLY.
6) An occasional application of mineral oil is recommended.
If any method, other than the one outlined above, is used in cleaning your top, very serious damage may result.
NO GUARANTEE OF ANY KIND IS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED EXCEPT AS PERTAINING TO MATERIAL AND WORKMANSHIP.
Simple Care InstructionsAll Butcher Blocks must be oiled on all surfaces with a natural mineral oil at least once a month to protect the wood.
With a minimum amount of care and maintenance on your Hard Maple Top, you can lengthen the life of the top from 5 to 10 years.
DO NOT:
1) Wash knives and forks or other utensils on the work surface of your top.
2) Wash your top with harsh detergents of any type.
DO:
Periodically (once every several weeks), depending upon use and household conditions, apply a heavy coat of mineral oil to the work surface of your top.
CAUTION:
Do not place counter tops near excessive heat (such as stove) without proper insulation between heat source and the edge of the counter top.
Do not cut off ends, drill holes, make cutouts or otherwise deface tops...without refinishing exposed unfinished wood. Guarantee is void if tops are modified.
How To Maintain and Preserve Your TopListed below are things that commonly occur with your butcher block depending upon your usage and the conditions of your home. Remedies to these occurances are also provided.
End Checks are a separation of the joints along the end of the top or block caused by excessive dryness and/or the top not being oiled enough. You can repair this by melting a 1 to 4 mixture of paraffin and mineral oil and fill all checks. Make sure paraffin seals the check thoroughly. Continue oiling.
Splits are separations of a joint along the full length of top caused by excessive dryness. This can be remedied by proceeding to seal the split. If the condition continues for an extended time period, contact your dealer.
Wind shakes are a small portion of wood grain lifting up from the table top caused by grain separation and/or excessive dryness. This can be repaired by cleaning and drying the top. Apply a small portion of white glue to piece of paper. Slip paper under the shake and remove, leaving some glue for adhesion. Place heavy weight on area overnight and let dry. Remove all excess glue using light sandpaper or fine steel wool. WORK ONLY WITH THE GRAIN, NOT AGAINST IT!
Warpage is when the top cups or bows caused by an imbalance of moisture content between top and bottom surfaces and/or oiling only one surface. This can be resolved by applying oil liberally to concave side. If not corrected within 2 weeks, tape plastic (i.e. plastic liners, dry cleaning wrap, etc.) to the convex side and oil the reverse side every day. Top will adjust to the new humidity and correct itself.
Rail expansion is when one rail is raised above the balance of the top caused by the raised rail expanding at a faster rate than the other rails. This can be fixed by continuing to oil as instructed for regular maintenance. Top will adjust to the new humidity and correct itself.
Stains are water spots, food stains, etc., caused by allowing food to remain on the table top too long, also giving notice that the top needs paraffin or wax. This can be fixed by using light sandpaper or fine steel wool on stain. Continue regular maintenance. Stain will dissipate in wood grain.
Damage is nicks, gouges, dents, etc., caused by the external environment. You can resolve this if the top is oiled by sanding and re-oiling the top. If the top is lacquered, lightly sand and refinish with lacquer or another compatible finish (consult a local finishing store).
Mineral streaks are dark streaks in the wood caused by a natural discoloring of the wood due to mineral deposits in the tree. In this case, you need not do anything. This adds to the individuality and uniqueness of your Butcher Block! |
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