Hey everyone! I'm planning to create a butcher block desk top for my home office, and I'm totally new to woodworking. From what I've read, most hardwoods can work well if properly maintained. I want to know if there are specific hardwood species I should consider that stand out from the rest. The store I'm looking at has options like American walnut, red oak, euro white oak, hickory, hevea, beech, maple, and cherry – all in sizes that suit my needs. I'm thinking of using a dark stain, like walnut or red mahogany, and I'm curious if any of these woods take stain better or look better once stained. While this desk won't face heavy wear, hickory appears to be the hardest and thus, quite appealing. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
6 Answers
Staining is fine, but in a woodworking crowd, you'll notice many prefer showcasing the natural beauty of the wood. For darker options, walnut is perfect; for medium tones, cherry works, and for light, go maple. But please, if you stain any of those woods to look like mahogany, it's a serious faux pas in my book!
Honestly, I'd recommend choosing the wood species that matches the color you want. Why get a lighter wood and then try to stain it to look like walnut? If you prefer the look of walnut, just go for that directly!
Forget about staining! Go check out the woods in person and pick one you really like. As for hardness, remember that how you finish it and care for it will greatly affect its durability.
For me, I skip the stain and choose wood that's naturally the right color. Just go with what appeals to you, and I hope your project turns out great!
I suggest avoiding stain altogether. Stained red oak can end up looking like those old-fashioned kitchens we all dislike. Instead, pick a wood with a natural color you love, and then focus on a great finish—that's crucial!
I did a similar project and went with white oak. I mixed a bit of cherry stain with it, applied five coats of poly, and it turned out awesome! Just take your time with everything, and this community has a ton of helpful info if you need it!
That's true, but not everyone can splurge on walnut for everything!