The wood block arrived with a long hairline crack that runs from one end to the other.

It's beautiful!! Exactly what we were looking for.

We bought it for a kitchen island we built. It is good quality and beautiful. I am oiling it regularly and the color is great.

I received the birch butcher block work surface a day or so earlier than originally scheduled. I was eager to get to work on the project so that was greatly appreciated. I have a tiny kitchen so I needed to cut it to fit a 32" X 31" space from it's original 3' X3' dimension. This I did with a new blade on my circular saw. I didn't have access to a table saw: that would have been the preferred method of cutting it, of course. Still it cut cleanly to my needed dimensions. Even though the butcher block was excellently packaged, there were some minor but obvious marks as a result of shipping and a few defects in the birch itself. Frankly, it's almost impossible to receive a product such as this without some minor issues. I just worked with what I had and was able to create a beautiful end product. Rarely are you working with absolutely flawless wood especially if it is a soft wood such as birch. I spent a good bit of time sanding both sides and edges using increasingly fine sandpaper. I finished with a 240 grit. I filled a couple of minor surface defects on the side I decided to use as the work surface. I'm the only person who will ever notice them, I'm pretty sure! I stained all surfaces with a Minwax golden pecan stain to match the other cabinets. Then, after some research, I decided to use Howard's Butcher Block Conditioner. I'm really glad I chose this product. In the past I've done the usual stain/urethane treatment but the Howard's is food safe since it's a combination of mineral oil and natural waxes. You have to love the tactile feel of wood and not have a problem applying a series of coats to thoroughly seal the butcher block. For me, it's a delight to rub the surface and feel it getting smoother and smoother. The final result is a lovely work surface with a rich, deep color. I'm looking forward to kneading bread on my new work surface!

Exactly what we needed for my husband to make my island. Be sure to oil and condition regularly to keep in good shape.