What to use as a butcher table

[jaywroe]

Hi everyone. I'm looking to make a big butchering table but don't know what to cover the top in. Do you think puck board will clean up well and not damage the edge on the knives?

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[krthegunslinger]

Not sure how food safe it is but we have used crazy carpets for years. Easy on knife blade yet very tough and easy clean up.

[flyguyd]

We just use a sheet of arborite

[jaywroe]

Hdpe (high density polyethylene) is FDA approved and food grade but I'm wondering how hard it will be on an edge.

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[sirmike68]

I use those plastic 3x8 fold in half tables from Costco.

[J0HN_R1]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here...

Butcher block counter from Ikea ? They're like $100 for a 6' x 2' x 1.5" counter.

http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/ca...kitchen/24264/

[robson3954]

I cut some 3/8 puck board for my work bench. Haven't used it yet but I'm sure it'll be great. Wipe with bleach and store for next season.

[Travco1]

Plastic folding tables from Costco.

[roger]

Originally Posted by Travco1

Plastic folding tables from Costco.

Yes yes and just get a new one every season.

[Sooner]

Painted plywood sheet with fold out legs, covered in a sheet of poly. Everyone working brings their own cutting block of choice, plastic or wood.

Bulk meat to center where everyone can reach a slab for sausage or burger trim. One guy will cut all the steak and roasts.

Table legs are mounted to blocks to get the table higher. Can work standing straight and not bent over. When done the poly goes to the trash. Table washed and folded up out of the way to be used for whatever is needed next.

[sns2]

Originally Posted by J0HN_R1

I'm gonna go out on a limb here...

Butcher block counter from Ikea ? They're like $100 for a 6' x 2' x 1.5" counter.

http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/ca...kitchen/24264/

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say this is what I'd go for too

[PartTimeHunter]

Originally Posted by J0HN_R1

I'm gonna go out on a limb here...

Butcher block counter from Ikea ? They're like $100 for a 6' x 2' x 1.5" counter.

http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/ca...kitchen/24264/

Yeah but ... do you have to put it together?

[Xbolt7mm]

Originally Posted by sns2

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say this is what I'd go for too

I wonder wut kind of wood it is?

[J0HN_R1]

Originally Posted by Xbolt7mm

I wonder wut kind of wood it is?

Good to know
The countertop has a 9/64" top layer of solid beech, over particleboard.
FIXA diffusion barrier should be mounted to the underside of the countertop above a dishwasher for added protection against moisture.
The countertop is pre-treated with hard wax oil. No other treatment is necessary until the surface starts to wear.
Not suitable for use in damp rooms.

The $100-$130 ones are real wood laminated over particle board.

But the have solid beech / birch / & oak versions also (about $200 for the same size).

http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/20274961/

[trapperdodge]

Set of high saw horses and a piece of 3/4" plywood. Wash it down good before and after and designate it for only that purpose in the future. If you feel better about using poly you can.

[Sigma]

We used to use the fold up plastic tables but the wife got quite upset by all the knife marks on her tables. We now use tall saw horses with a sheet of 3/4" plywood covered with a 4x8 sheet of 1/8" puck board. We have 2 of these set up so that we can cut 2 quarters at a time with lots of room to flip the quarters around. The plastic fold up tables are used for wrapping and and holding the spare knives, sharpeners, wrapping supplies, etc. Once done, we pressure wash the tables and puck boards then clean with bleach before returning to storage. This setup is quite inexpensive for being used a couple of times each fall.
Sig

[Dick284]

I use a plywood table with folding legs (32"x96"), with blocking to get it up to the proper height, so there's no back strain.

I use those 18"x12" plastic cutting boards, I now have 6 of them, when it's slicing and dicing time they get used. The joy of them is they fit in the dish washer.(Canadian Tire)

A sheet of poly on the table makes clean up easy. A fresh coat of urathane every spring after a couple blasts with the pressure washer, helps keep the table's surface nice and easy to wash up, with soap and water followed by a final wipe down with bleach and water.

And don't forget the anti fatigue mats to stand on. What a difference they make.

[mulecrazy]

I have used puck board for years and love it. Easy on knives and cleanes up really nice. When it comes time for butchering I just throw it on my work bench, give it a wipe down and pour boiling water on it to sanitize. I have used the same sheet for 7 or 8 years and it is still in good shape. One of the keys to a great butchering table is having it high enough. When you are at hour 5 of butchering a moose your back will thank you for having the table at a nice mid torso height. I also use our shorter folding table to put the press or grinder on so they aren't too high.

[Norwest Alta]

Wooden hockey sticks make a great butcher block. I find the plastic cutting boards are hard on knives. Sometimes you can pickup prep tables at auction sales for pretty reasonable.

[calgarychef]

By the responses it pretty apparent that anything can be used. I have a couple of used whisky barrels that are the right height for me to work on and they're pretty sturdy too. I was at an auction and bought a stainless shelf and it fits on top of the barrels and works very well.

A piece of plywood with melamine would be my second choice, or a piece of melamine counter top. Plywood with heavy plastic stapled to it anything really.

I do like to have a nice big cutting board for cutting on though. Russel food equipment or CTR refrigeration are the places to get those.

[Buckhead]

Personally, I would not use anything with a wooden surface for cutting meat on. It's just too hard to clean properly - don't want any bacteria buildup.

If one is having trouble with the dulling the knife edge on a plastic surface then investing in a good steel is the answer. A couple strokes every few minutes or so will keep the edge razor sharp.

[Newview01]

I will be making some butcher tables using 3/4" plywood and attaching some folding table legs. The plywood will be covered with Altro Whiterock which is a hygienic wall covering system. It is glued on the plywood and thermoformed down the edges. They can be up to 3'6" X 9'6", and I will be selling them for $350 a piece. The Whiterock is perfectly smooth and handles knife blades reasonably well while not damaging the blade at all. Let me know if anyone is interested. Located in Lethbridge.

[Roughneck Country]

Originally Posted by flyguyd

We just use a sheet of arborite

X2

[Springer]

Plastic Costco tables , except i made some blocks for the legs so it sits higher.

[LIR]

Originally Posted by sirmike68

I use those plastic 3x8 fold in half tables from Costco.

I second this...

Last year my garage had three of these tables as well as my work bench covered in deer carcasses and limbs...

Looked like a horror movie ... but worked out very well...

[6mmhunter]

Does anyone know where to get a sheet of HDPE or puck board in Calgary? What is the approximate cost for a sheet?

[Norwest Alta]

Originally Posted by Buckhead

Personally, I would not use anything with a wooden surface for cutting meat on. It's just too hard to clean properly - don't want any bacteria buildup.

If one is having trouble with the dulling the knife edge on a plastic surface then investing in a good steel is the answer. A couple strokes every few minutes or so will keep the edge razor sharp.

I use bleach and a scrub brush. The kitchen boss has some kind of food safety certificate lol. She makes sure it is up to standard. She's a pita but better than having the trots and a belly ache.

[Arctic]

We used puck board at our caribou camps, still going after 30 years, just takes a dose of hot water and bleach to sterilize, stands up well and doesn't hurt knives. Usually available thru Home Building stores.

[jaywroe]

Originally Posted by 6mmhunter

Does anyone know where to get a sheet of HDPE or puck board in Calgary? What is the approximate cost for a sheet?

Home Depot/Home Hardware/Rona all have it listed on their websites. $20-60 from what I can see

[Abe89]

What are opinions other opinions on wood? It's been used for generations I'm sure as puck board hasn't been around for as long as hunting....I'm considering something dual purpose. Those blue heavy pallets you see are generally made out of hardwood. Considering a cutting board table top for the kitchen, easily hauled out to the barn for processing day....


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